N-CSRS 1 a13-16154_5ncsrs.htm N-CSRS

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM N-CSR

 

CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED
MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES

 

Investment Company Act file number

811-08748

 

Wanger Advisors Trust

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

 

227 W. Monroe Street

Suite 3000

Chicago, IL

 

60606

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip code)

 

Mary C. Moynihan

Perkins Coie LLP

700 13th Street, NW

Suite 600

Washington, DC 20005

(Name and address of agent for service)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:

312-634-9200

 

 

Date of fiscal year end:

December 31

 

 

Date of reporting period:

June 30, 2013

 

 

Form N-CSR is to be used by management investment companies to file reports with the Commission not later than 10 days after the transmission to stockholders of any report that is required to be transmitted to stockholders under Rule 30e-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (17 CFR 270.30e-1). The Commission may use the information provided on Form N-CSR in its regulatory, disclosure review, inspection, and policymaking roles.

 

A registrant is required to disclose the information specified by Form N-CSR, and the Commission will make this information public. A registrant is not required to respond to the collection of information contained in Form N-CSR unless the Form displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (“OMB”) control number. Please direct comments concerning the accuracy of the information collection burden estimate and any suggestions for reducing the burden to Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20549-0609. The OMB has reviewed this collection of information under the clearance requirements of 44 U.S.C. § 3507.

 



 

Item 1. Reports to Stockholders.

 



Wanger International

2013 Semiannual Report

Not FDIC insuredNo bank guaranteeMay lose value



Columbia Wanger Asset Management, LLC (CWAM) is one of the leading global small- and mid-cap equity managers in the United States with over 40 years of small- and mid-cap investment experience. As of June 30, 2013, CWAM managed $34.9 billion in assets. CWAM is the investment manager to Wanger USA, Wanger International, Wanger Select and Wanger International Select (together, the Columbia Wanger Funds) and the Columbia Acorn Family of Funds.

Investors should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of a mutual fund carefully before investing. For a free prospectus, which contains this and other important information about the Fund, contact your financial adviser, insurance company, qualified pension or retirement plan sponsor or call 1-888-4-WANGER. Read the prospectus carefully before investing.

An important note: Columbia Wanger Funds are available for purchase through variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies offered by the separate accounts of participating insurance companies and qualified pension or retirement plans.

Shares of the Fund may not be purchased or sold directly by individual owners of variable annuity contracts and/or variable life insurance policies (collectively, Contracts) or participants in qualified retirement or other plans (collectively, Qualified Plans). If you are the owner of a Contract or a participant in a Qualified Plan, please refer to the prospectus that describes your Contract or Qualified Plan for information about minimum investment requirements and how to purchase and redeem shares of the Fund.

The views expressed in "Health Care in the United States" and in the Performance Review reflect the current views of the respective authors. These views are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict so actual outcomes and results may differ significantly from those stated. These views are subject to change at any time based upon economic, market or other conditions and the respective parties disclaim any responsibility to update such views. These views may not be relied on as investment advice and, because investment decisions for a Columbia Wanger Fund are based on numerous factors, may not be relied on as an indication of trading intent on behalf of any particular Columbia Wanger Fund. References to specific company securities should not be construed as a recommendation or investment advice.




  Wanger International

  2013 Semiannual Report

    Table of Contents

  2    

Understanding Your Expenses

 
  3    

Health Care in the United States

 
  6    

Performance Review

 
  8    

Statement of Investments

 
  19    

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

 
  19    

Statement of Operations

 
  20    

Statement of Changes in Net Assets

 
  21    

Financial Highlights

 
  22    

Notes to Financial Statements

 
  25    

Board Approval of the Advisory Agreement

 



Wanger International 2013 Semiannual Report

Understanding Your Expenses

As an investor, you incur two types of costs. There are transaction costs, which may include redemption fees or exchange fees charged under your contract or qualified plan. There are also ongoing costs, which generally include management fees and other Fund expenses. Lastly, there may be additional fees or charges imposed by the insurance company that sponsors your variable annuity and/or variable life insurance product. The following information is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to help you compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.

Analyzing your Fund's expenses

To illustrate the ongoing costs, we have provided an example and calculated the expenses paid by investors in the Fund during the period. The actual and hypothetical information in the table below is based on an initial investment of $1,000 at the beginning of the period indicated and held for the entire period. Expense information is calculated two ways and each method provides you with different information. The amount listed in the "Actual" column is calculated using the Fund's actual operating expenses and total return for the period. You may use the Actual information, together with the amount invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the results by the expenses paid during the period under the Actual column. The amount listed in the "Hypothetical" column assumes a 5% annual rate of return before expenses (which is not the Fund's actual return) and then applies the Fund's actual expense ratio for the period to the hypothetical return. You should not use the hypothetical account values and expenses to estimate either your actual account balance at the end of the period or the expenses you paid during the period. See "Compare with other funds" below for details on how to use the hypothetical data.

Compare with other funds

Since all mutual funds are required to include the same hypothetical calculations about expenses in shareholder reports, you can use this information to compare the ongoing cost of investing in the Fund with other funds. To do so, compare the hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of other funds. As you compare hypothetical examples of other funds, it is important to note that hypothetical examples are meant to highlight the ongoing cost of investing in a fund only and do not reflect any transaction costs, such as redemption or exchange fees. Therefore, the hypothetical calculations are useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of investing in different funds. If transaction costs were included in these calculations, your costs would be higher.

January 1, 2013 - June 30, 2013

  Account value at the
beginning of the period ($)
  Account value at the
end of the period ($)
  Expenses paid during
period ($)
  Fund's annualized
expense ratio (%)*
 

 

Actual

 

Hypothetical

 

Actual

 

Hypothetical

 

Actual

 

Hypothetical

     

Wanger International

   

1,000.00

     

1,000.00

     

1,057.70

     

1,019.32

     

5.35

     

5.25

     

1.06

   

*Expenses paid during the period are equal to the Fund's annualized expense ratio, multiplied by the average account value over the period, then multiplied by the number of days in the Fund's most recent fiscal half-year and divided by 365.

It is important to note that the expense amounts shown in the table are meant to highlight only ongoing costs of investing in the Fund. Expenses paid during the period do not include any insurance charges imposed by your insurance company's separate account.


2



Wanger International 2013 Semiannual Report

Health Care in the United States

Critics of the U.S. health care system note that the World Health Organization (WHO) ranked the United States thirtieth in the world in life expectancy1 despite the fact that the United States spends more money per capita on health care than any other country. They argue that health care in the United States is inferior to health care in many other developed countries.

Scott W. Atlas's book, In Excellent Health, Setting the Record Straight on America's Health Care,2 analyzes the consequences of poor lifestyle choices made by many Americans and how the U.S. health care system operates compared to health care systems elsewhere. His book cites numerous studies indicating the U.S. health care system does a great job addressing the health concerns of Americans and is likely the best system in the world.

Life Expectancy

The United States is much more violent and accident-prone than other developed countries. Homicide rates in the United States are ten times that of the United Kingdom and five times that of Canada.3 Death rates from transportation accidents in the United States are 250% that of the United Kingdom and 160% that of Canada.4 Murder and accidents account for the majority of deaths among young adults in the United States,5 and deaths at young ages substantially impact life expectancies.

Robert Ohsfeldt's and John Schneider's book, The Business of Health,6 attempts to quantify the impact of fatal injuries on life expectancy. Using linear regression, they calculate that after standardizing for fatal injuries alone, the United States would edge out Switzerland by 0.3 years and have the highest life expectancy of any country in the world.7

Other studies indicate that violence and accidents account for much, but not all, of the life expectancy shortfall in the United States. A National Academy of Sciences panel addressing cross-national health differences issued a paper that indicated 57% of the life expectancy gap for

males under age 50 and 38% for females under 50 is explained by higher violence and accidents in the United States.8

The United States has a much higher incidence of obesity than other developed countries. Atlas notes that in 2010 34% of people in the United States were obese compared to 15% in Canada, 17% in Western Europe and about 24% in the United Kingdom.9 The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) estimates that obesity reduces life spans by up to eight to ten years.10 Sadly, the worst is yet to come for the United States, as obesity rates have increased and there appears to be a 25-year time lag between becoming obese and suffering premature death.11

Cigarette use in the United States is down substantially; smoking rates are now lower than most other OECD countries.12 However, studies have found a time lag of roughly 25 to 30 years between smoking and lung cancer mortality.13 The United States had the highest rate of smoking in the developed world from the 1930s to the mid-1980s and, according to a 2007 study, 53% of Americans were current or former smokers, compared to 43% of Western Europeans.14 Clearly the United States' legacy of smoking continues to impact health. The Surgeon General estimates that cigarette smoking causes 443,000 deaths in the United States yearly, nearly one-fifth of all deaths.15

With respect to neonatal mortality, Atlas writes that the United States has stringent reporting requirements and definitions. Birth registrations in the United States are done by hospitals and health care professionals, while many other countries rely on reporting by families or surveys.16 In the United States, a live birth is tabulated should a newborn breathe, have a beating heart, move voluntary muscles or show any other evidence of life.17 According to WHO, countries representing only 13% of births worldwide had reliable data meeting this definition.18

Elsewhere, definitions for live births vary greatly. Some countries consider births as live only if 28 weeks gestation was achieved, if a baby is 30 centimeters long, or if a baby survives 24 hours.19 Otherwise, the baby is classified as stillborn and is not considered an infant mortality. Atlas states, "... considering that roughly half of all U.S. infant mortality occurs in the first twenty-four hours, the single criterion of omitting deaths within the first twenty-four hours by many European nations generates their falsely superior infant mortality rates."20

Data from 2004 indicated that the United States had 12% of births classified as preterm (under 32 weeks gestation), a rate 50% to 100% higher than most European countries.21 These figures are impacted by the fact the United States has more multiple gestation pregnancies. Since the early 1980s, the incidence of triplets in the United States has more than tripled to over 140 births per 100,000.22 Atlas notes that in 2007, 17% of twins and 40% of triplets in the United States were associated with fertility treatments.

The United States health care system should be applauded for its efforts to save premature babies rather than write them off as stillborn, as many other countries do. Except for a very limited number of abusive cases, fertility treatment should be considered a virtue of the U.S. health care system. Yet, coupled with superior record keeping, these efforts depress the country's life expectancy ranking.

Diagnosis, Treatment and Outcomes

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lists heart disease as the top killer in the United States, accounting for 25% of deaths, followed by cancer at 23%, and stroke a distant third at 6%.23 Rather than judge a health care system on reported life expectancy, Atlas assesses health care quality in the United States based on actual medical care, especially diagnosis and treatment of important diseases, using objective data.


3



Wanger International 2013 Semiannual Report

Atlas notes the challenges facing the health care system due to the poor lifestyle choices of many Americans. The CDC estimates that 80% of diabetes, heart disease and stroke, and 40% of cancer, could be eliminated through reduction in obesity and smoking.24 The rate of diabetes in the United States is typically 33% to 100% higher than other developed countries.25 A 2007 study indicated that 12% of Americans over age 50 were diagnosed with cancer, compared to only 5% in a composite of 10 European countries.26

Atlas cites data showing more timely diagnosis and treatment in the United States as compared to other countries. He writes that, "... prolonged wait times are commonly found in health systems with government-controlled nationalized health insurance."27 Numerous countries with single payer systems had to create policies to address prolonged wait times, including Canada, England, Italy, Sweden and Spain.

The United States is among the world's leaders in per capita computerized tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners,28 which are crucial to accurately diagnosing leading fatal diseases and guiding lower risk and more effective treatments. In the United States, referring doctors book CT and MRI appointments within days. In other countries, people wait. In 2010, the average wait time in Canada for a CT scan was 4 weeks and for an MRI, 10 weeks.29 A 2011 study in the United Kingdom indicated thousands of people waited over six weeks for an MRI scan. With respect to breast cancer biopsies, another survey indicated that only 1% of U.S. patients waited three weeks or more while 44% of Canadian and 20% of U.K. patients waited that long.30

Treatment of diseases also tends to be very timely in the United States. One study indicated that no elective (non-emergency) cardiac bypass patients in the United States were known to have waited more than three months, while 47% in Canada and 89% in the United Kingdom waited at least that long.31

Furthermore, treatments in the United States tend to be aggressive. A 2009 paper written by

University of Pennsylvania professor Samuel Preston and doctoral candidate Jessica Ho states that 88% of Americans with high cholesterol are being medicated versus 62% of Europeans. Likewise a higher percentage of Americans over age 50 with heart disease receive medication. Among those with hypertension in the United States, 66% were being successfully treated, versus 25% to 49% in other countries.32

With respect to cancer, Preston and Ho cite studies showing that the United States tends to have the highest percentage of screenings for breast, cervical, prostate and colon cancer.33 If cancer is detected, Americans tend to receive more surgery, chemotherapy and advanced cancer drugs. A 2008 study calculated five-year survival rates for breast, colorectal and prostate cancers. Patients in the United States lead the world with a 74% survival rate. Second-best Canada came in at 71% and the United Kingdom was a laggard at 52%.

Atlas adds that new oncology drugs are most often approved and first used in the United States.34 Some 80% of worldwide medical innovation originates in the United States and, since the mid-1970s, U.S. scientists have won more than half of Nobel Prize awards in medicine and physiology.

The statistics are clear. Sick Americans are more likely to receive timely and aggressive health care than citizens of other countries. Atlas writes, "Availability of state-of-the-art medical technology, timely access to specialists, the most effective screening, the shortest wait times for life-changing surgeries, the newest, most effective drugs for more accurate, safer diagnosis and for the most advanced treatment are all superior in the United States."35

Many people appear to agree. In 2008, a McKinsey & Company study estimated that up to 85,000 patients sought in-patient treatment outside their home country. Of that number, 87% traveled to the United States for advanced medical technology, better quality care or quicker access to care. In contrast, critics of the U.S.

health care system don't appear to be traveling to Cuba for treatment. Based on the facts, I agree with Atlas.

Health Care Economics and Investment Implications

Atlas states that the, "... only real crisis in America's health care today is the unsustainable and increasing burden of health care costs..."36 and recommends free market reforms. Health care costs are not the topic of this essay, but world-class health care clearly is expensive, and costs in the United States are exacerbated by detrimental lifestyle choices. I also believe that poor government policies result in few incentives for cost restraint.

Columbia Wanger Asset Management, the investment manager of the Columbia Wanger Funds, strives to provide Columbia Wanger Fund investors with investments in health care companies that are pursuing breakthrough drugs and devices, with the potential to transform treatment of serious and poorly managed diseases. For example, in pivotal studies Seattle Genetics' drug Adcetris delivered 80% response rates in advanced Hodgkin's lymphoma patients who had exhausted all other treatment options.37 In addition, we seek to invest in companies with products and services that we believe increase the cost effectiveness of health care delivery. We attempt to avoid investing in health care companies that may be more likely to be subject to cost cuts or price controls.

Charles P. McQuaid
President and Chief Investment Officer
Columbia Wanger Asset Management, LLC


4



Wanger International 2013 Semiannual Report

The information and data provided in this analysis are derived from sources that we deem to be reliable and accurate. These views are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict so actual outcomes and results may differ significantly from the views expressed. The views/opinions expressed here are those of the author and not of the Wanger Advisors Trust Board, are subject to change at any time based upon economic, market or other conditions, may differ from views expressed by other Columbia Management associates and the respective parties disclaim any responsibility to update such views. These views may not be relied on as investment advice and, because investment decisions for a Columbia Wanger Fund are based on numerous factors, may not be relied on as an indication of trading intent on behalf of any particular Columbia Wanger Fund.

1  Atlas, Scott W., In Excellent Health, Setting the Record Straight on American's Heath Care, (Stanford, California, Hoover Institution Press), p. 2.

2  Ibid.

3  Ohsfeldt, Robert L., and Schneider, John E., The Business of Health, The Role of Competition, Markets, and Regulation, (Washington, D.C., The AEI Press), p. 19.

4  Atlas, Scott W., op. cit., p. 28.

5  Ibid., p. 28.

6  Ohsfeldt, Robert L., and Schneider, John E., op. cit.

7  Ibid., p. 22.

8  Steven H. Woolf and Laudan Aron, Editors; Panel on Understanding Cross-National Health Differences Among High-Income Countries; Committee on Population; Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education; National Research Council; Board on Population Health and Public Health Practice; Institute of Medicine, www.nap.edu.

9  Atlas, Scott W., op. cit., p. 105.

10  Ibid., p. 31.

11  Ibid., p. 107.

12  Ibid., p. 40.

13  Ibid., p. 41.

14  Ibid., p. 111.

15  Ibid., p. 108.

16  Ibid., p. 60.

17  Ibid., p. 67.

18  Ibid., p. 71.

19  Ibid., p. 68.

20  Ibid., p. 70.

21  Ibid., p. 73.

22  Ibid., p. 89.

23  Ibid., p. 119.

24  Ibid., p. 103.

25  Ibid., p. 113.

26  Preston, Samuel H., and Ho, Jessica Y., "Low Life Expectancy in the United States: Is the Health Care System at Fault?" University of Pennsylvania Scholarly Commons Working Paper Series, July 1, 2009, p. 4, http://repository.upenn.edu/psc_working_papers/13/. Accessed July 24, 2013.

27  Atlas, Scott W., op. cit., p. 159.

28  Ibid., p. 192-193.

29  Ibid., p. 194.

30  Ibid., p. 175.

31  Ibid., p. 187.

32  Preston, Samuel H., and Ho, Jessica Y., op. cit., p. 6.

33  Ibid., p. 3.

34  Atlas, Scott W., op. cit., p. 222.

35  Ibid., p. 233.

36  Ibid., p. 245.

37  Seattle Genetics is held in the following Columbia Wanger Funds: Wanger USA, 1.2%; Wanger Select, 1.3%.


5



Wanger International 2013 Semiannual Report

Performance Review Wanger International

 

 
Louis J. Mendes III
Co-Portfolio Manager
  Christopher J. Olson
Co-Portfolio Manager
 

Performance data shown represents past performance and is not a guarantee of future results. The investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data shown. Please visit columbiamanagement.com for most recent month-end performance updates.

Wanger International gained 5.77% for the semiannual period ended June 30, 2013, outperforming the 1.95% return of its primary benchmark, the S&P Global Ex-U.S. Between $500M and $5B Index. For comparison, the large-cap, developed market MSCI EAFE Index (Net) rose 4.10% during the period.

Many bond markets experienced a sharp rise in mid-term interest rates following the mid-May remarks by U.S. Federal Reserve Bank Chairman Ben Bernanke that the Fed could "take a step down in our pace of purchase" of bonds, an unconventional practice that has supported low interest rates through the present financial crisis. How the Fed will manage this policy shift is of critical importance to investors globally, since many risk assets are priced off of U.S. government bonds. While Bernanke's remarks are grounded in signs of a normalizing U.S. economy—ostensibly good news—10-year bond rates rose on average 100 basis points in the ensuing weeks, which triggered a sell-off in international equities as investors discounted the impact more expensive money would have on economic activity and asset values in diverse markets. While the outlook for the U.S. economy may be brightening, things still appear grim in many parts of the world. In June, fears of stagflation in Brazil sent over one million people into the streets demanding more accountability from a government whose popularity has reached historic lows. Slowing economic growth in China upset already weak commodity markets and sent resources shares tumbling in the second quarter of 2013. Japanese stocks also took a breather in the second quarter as the initial euphoria of "Abenomics" began to fade following two prior quarters of sharply rising markets. Despite the ebb and flow of sentiment, many of the Fund's holdings have continued to post growth in earnings.

Up 111%, the Fund's top performer in the semiannual period was Start Today, a Japanese online apparel retailer. The company has successfully managed costs to return to strong profitability after a rough 2012, during which its shares declined roughly 60%. Siam Makro, a Thai-based cash and carry retailer of goods and produce, rose 76% following a takeover bid from fellow Thai retailer CP-ALL. In recent years, Thailand has had a strong domestic economy as government policies and foreign investment have continued to increase the purchasing power of the rising middle class outside of urban Bangkok. Taiwan's St. Shine Optical, the world's leading manufacturer of daily disposable contact lenses, rose 69% with continued

expansion of its overseas presence, and increasing penetration of daily-wear contact lenses, which have become more affordable with rising regional incomes.

Commodity-related holdings, namely in energy and basic materials, came under pressure as anxiety about the macroeconomic outlook rose. Coal miner Mongolian Mining fell 62% during the six-month period on disappointing volume throughput to China as logistic improvements continue to be delayed. Brazilian gold miner Beadell Resources and Australia's Regis Resources each fell over 50% in the first six months of 2013 as gold prices dropped over 25%. Imtech, a Dutch technical installation and maintenance services provider, was down 68%. It became clear that an earnings-dilutive rights issue was in the offing, following the news of fraud in its German and Polish operations. In Korea, Samsung Engineering fell 49% as the outlook for earnings declined amidst weakening overseas construction orders. We opted to sell the Fund's position in this stock.

Considerable uncertainties mar the international landscape. We expect continued high volatility in the second half of the year. We believe that, while unsettling, volatility provides opportunities to buy good companies at attractive prices.

International investing involves special risks, including foreign taxation, currency risks, risks associated with possible differences in financial standards, operational and settlement risks and other risks associated with future political and economic developments. Stocks of small- and mid-cap companies pose special risks, including possible illiquidity and greater price volatility than stocks of larger, more established companies. Investing in emerging markets may involve greater risks than investing in more developed countries. In addition, concentration of investments in a single region may result in greater volatility.

Portfolio holdings are subject to change periodically and may not be representative of current holdings.

Fund's Positions in Mentioned Holdings

As a percentage of net assets, as of 6/30/13

St. Shine Optical

   

0.8

%

 

Start Today

   

0.8

   

Beadell Resources

   

0.3

   

Regis Resources

   

0.2

   

Imtech

   

0.2

   

Mongolian Mining

   

0.2

   


6




Wanger International 2013 Semiannual Report

Growth of a $10,000 Investment in Wanger International
May 3, 1995 (inception date) through June 30, 2013

Performance data shown represents past performance and is not a guarantee of future results. The investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data shown. Performance results reflect any fee waivers or reimbursements of Fund expenses by the investment manager and/or any of its affiliates. Absent these fee waivers and/or expense reimbursement arrangements, performance results would have been lower. For daily and most recent month-end performance updates, please call 1-888-4-WANGER.

This graph compares the results of $10,000 invested in Wanger International on May 3, 1995 (the date the Fund began operations) through June 30, 2013, to the S&P Global Ex-U.S. Between $500M and $5B Index with dividends and capital gains reinvested. Although the index is provided for use in assessing the Fund's performance, the Fund's holdings may differ significantly from those in the index.

Top 10 Holdings

As a percentage of net assets, as of 6/30/13

1. Far Eastone Telecom (Taiwan)
Taiwan's Third Largest Mobile Operator
  1.4
 

%

 
2. Coronation Fund Managers (South Africa)
South African Fund Manager
  1.1
 
 
3. Hexagon (Sweden)
Design, Measurement & Visualization Software & Equipment
  1.1
 
 
4. Melco Crown Entertainment — ADR* (Hong Kong)
Macau Casino Operator
  1.1
 
 
5. CCL Industries (Canada)
Largest Global Label Converter
  1.0
 
 
6. Partners Group (Switzerland)
Private Markets Asset Management
  1.0
 
 
7. Eurofins Scientific (France)
Food, Pharmaceuticals & Materials Screening & Testing
  0.9
 
 
8. Neopost (France)
Postage Meter Machines
  0.9
 
 
9. Taiwan Mobile (Taiwan)
Taiwan's Second Largest Mobile Operator
  0.9
 
 
10. Aalberts Industries (Netherlands)
Flow Control & Heat Treatment
  0.9
 
 

* ADR = American Depository Receipts

Top 5 Countries

As a percentage of net assets, as of 6/30/13

Japan

   

20.9

%

 

United Kingdom

   

9.7

   

Taiwan

   

7.0

   

Hong Kong

   

4.9

   

South Africa

   

4.1

   

Results as of June 30, 2013

 

2nd quarter*

 

Year to date*

 

1 year

 

5 years

 

10 years

 

Wanger International

   

-1.08

%

   

5.77

%

   

18.35

%

   

4.27

%

   

13.90

%

 
S&P Global Ex-U.S.
Between $500M and
$5B Index**
   

-3.46

     

1.95

     

15.91

     

2.88

     

12.36

   

MSCI EAFE Index (Net)

   

-0.98

     

4.10

     

18.62

     

-0.63

     

7.67

   
Lipper Variable
Underlying International
Growth Funds Index
   

-1.78

     

2.16

     

15.59

     

0.02

     

7.88

   

*Not annualized.

**The Fund's primary benchmark.

NAV as of 6/30/13: $30.10

Performance numbers reflect all Fund expenses but do not include any fees and expenses imposed under your variable annuity or life insurance policy or qualified pension or retirement plan. If performance included the effect of these additional charges, it would be lower.

The Fund's annual operating expense ratio of 1.07% is stated as of the Fund's prospectus dated May 1, 2013, and differences in expense ratios disclosed elsewhere in this report may result from including fee waivers and expense reimbursements as well as different time periods used in calculating the ratios.

All results shown assume reinvestment of distributions.

The S&P Global Ex-U.S. Between $500M and $5B Index is a subset of the broad market selected by the index sponsor representing the mid- and small-cap developed and emerging markets, excluding the United States. The MSCI Europe, Australasia, Far East (EAFE) Index (Net) is a capitalization-weighted index that tracks the total return of common stocks in 22 developed-market countries within Europe, Australasia and the Far East. The returns of the MSCI EAFE Index (Net) are presented net of the withholding tax rate applicable to foreign non-resident institutional investors in the foreign companies included in the index who do not benefit from double taxation treaties. The performance of the MSCI EAFE Index (Net) is provided to show how the Fund's performance compares to a widely recognized broad-based index of foreign market performance. The Lipper Variable Underlying International Growth Funds Index is an equally weighted representation of the 30 largest variable insurance underlying funds in the Lipper Variable Underlying International Growth Funds Classification, and shows how the Fund's performance compares with returns of an index of funds with similar investment objectives. Indexes are not managed and do not incur fees or expenses. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.

Lipper Inc., a widely respected data provider in the industry, calculates an average total return (assuming reinvestment of distributions) for mutual funds with investment objectives similar to those of the Fund.

Portfolio characteristics and holdings are subject to change periodically and may not be representative of current characteristics and holdings.


7




Wanger International 2013 Semiannual Report

Wanger International

Statement of Investments (Unaudited), June 30, 2013

Number of
Shares
     

Value

 
   

Equities – 97.7%

 
   

Asia – 46.7%

 
   

Japan – 20.9%

 
292,000
  Start Today
Online Japanese Apparel Retailer
 

$

5,717,824
 
514,600
  Wacom
Computer Graphic Illustration Devices
  5,688,398
 
443,589
  Kansai Paint
Paint Producer in Japan, India, China & Southeast Asia
  5,662,483
 
255,000
  NGK Spark Plug
Automobile Parts
  5,103,796
 
1,339,000
  Seven Bank
ATM Processing Services
  4,853,989
 
4,220
  Orix JREIT
Diversified Real Estate Investment Trust
  4,816,670
 
339,900
  Kuraray
Special Resin, Fine Chemical, Fibers & Textures
  4,763,767
 
125,000
  Hoshizaki Electric
Commercial Kitchen Equipment
  4,003,054
 
30,299
  Nakanishi
Dental Tools & Machinery
  3,862,053
 
238,000
  Japan Airport Terminal
Airport Terminal Operator at Haneda
  3,766,951
 
88,541
  Kintetsu World Express
Airfreight Logistics
  3,543,005
 
149,000
  Glory
Currency Handling Systems & Related Equipment
  3,495,770
 
143,300
  Ariake Japan
Manufacturer of Soup/Sauce Extracts for
Business-to-business Use
  3,489,591
 
190,400
  Park24
Parking Lot Operator
  3,454,242
 
830
  Kenedix Realty Investment
Tokyo Mid-size Office Real Estate Investment Trust
  3,304,040
 
170,000
  Daiseki (a)
Waste Disposal & Recycling
  2,974,003
 
220,500
  Ushio
Industrial Light Sources
  2,911,421
 
22,000
  Hirose Electric
Electrical Connectors
  2,897,624
 
234,000
  NGK Insulators
Ceramic Products for Auto, Power & Electronics
  2,891,671
 
62,000
  Sanrio
Character Goods & Licensing
  2,876,044
 
Number of
Shares
     

Value

 
141,039
  Nihon Parkerizing
Metal Surface Treatment Agents & Processing Service
 

$

2,792,999
 
77,000
  Benesse
Education Service Provider
  2,777,924
 
59,536
  Miraca Holdings
Outsourced Lab Testing, Diagnostic Equipment & Reagents
  2,735,854
 
39,300
  Disco
Semiconductor Dicing & Grinding Equipment
  2,710,634
 
206,500
  Nippon Kayaku (a)
Functional Chemicals, Pharmaceuticals &
Auto Safety Systems
  2,572,738
 
140,000
  Suruga Bank
Regional Bank
  2,538,827
 
121,000
  Nabtesco
Machinery Components
  2,512,294
 
35,000
  Rinnai
Gas Appliances for Household & Commercial Use
  2,488,695
 
35,100
  FP Corporation
Disposable Food Trays & Containers
  2,433,624
 
250
  Industrial & Infrastructure Fund
Industrial Real Estate Investment Trust in Japan
  2,431,418
 
280
  Nippon Prologis REIT
Logistics Real Estate Investment Trust in Japan
  2,429,631
 
58,000
  Itochu Techno-Science
IT Network Equipment Sales & Services
  2,400,948
 
72,000
  Toyo Suisan Kaisha
Instant Noodle Manufacturer
  2,395,637
 
65,500
  Hamamatsu Photonics
Optical Sensors for Medical & Industrial Applications
  2,365,417
 
166,000
  Doshisha
Wholesaler
  2,364,333
 
1,070
  Advance Residence Investment
Residential REIT
  2,319,745
 
370
  Mori Hills REIT Investment
Tokyo Centric Diversified Real Estate Investment Trust
  2,310,592
 
54,000
  Familymart
Convenience Store Operator
  2,304,096
 
51,500
  Santen Pharmaceutical
Specialty Pharma (Ophthalmic Medicine)
  2,228,652
 
109,100
  Aica Kogyo
Laminated Sheets, Building Materials &
Chemical Adhesives
  2,186,773
 
72,300
  Omron
Electric Components for Factory Automation
  2,155,481
 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.
8



Wanger International 2013 Semiannual Report

Wanger International

Statement of Investments (Unaudited), June 30, 2013

Number of
Shares
     

Value

 
   

Japan – 20.9% (cont)

 
48,711
  Ain Pharmaciez
Dispensing Pharmacy/Drugstore Operator
 

$

2,099,612
 
360
  Global One Real Estate
Office Real Estate Investment Trust
  2,091,463
 
133,900
  OSG
Consumable Cutting Tools
  2,003,206
 
80,000
  Icom
Two Way Radio Communication Equipment
  1,940,519
 
197,000
  Asahi Diamond Industrial
Consumable Diamond Tools
  1,862,077
 
21,000
  Shimano
Bicycle Components & Fishing Tackle
  1,788,882
 
200,900
  Sintokogio
Automated Casting Machines, Surface Treatment
System & Consumables
  1,660,851
 
45,500
  Milbon
Manufacturer of Hair Products for Business-to-business Use
  1,604,271
 
155,000
  Lifenet Insurance (a) (b)
Online Life Insurance Company in Japan
  1,265,423
 
23,800
  Horiba
Test & Measurement Instruments
  868,051
 
34,600
  MonotaRO (a)
Online MRO (Maintenance, Repair, Operations) Goods
Distributor in Japan
  842,437
 
     

149,559,500

   
   

Taiwan – 7.0%

 
3,714,000
  Far Eastone Telecom
Taiwan's Third Largest Mobile Operator
  9,953,914
 
1,671,000
  Taiwan Mobile
Taiwan's Second Largest Mobile Operator
  6,583,164
 
224,000
  St. Shine Optical
World's Leading Disposable Contact Lens OEM (Original
Equipment Manufacturer)
  5,790,303
 
2,115,000
  CTCI Corp
International Engineering Firm
  3,835,911
 
717,000
  Delta Electronics
Industrial Automation, Switching Power Supplies &
Passive Components
  3,256,243
 
1,249,000
  Taiwan Hon Chuan
Beverage Packaging (Bottles, Caps, Labels) Manufacturer
  2,914,612
 
603,000
  Advantech
Industrial PC & Components
  2,859,993
 
Number of
Shares
     

Value

 
140,000
  Ginko International
Largest Contact Lens Maker in China
 

$

2,346,037
 
680,000
  Flexium Interconnect
Flexible Printed Circuit for Mobile Electronics
  2,310,184
 
612,000
  Lung Yen
Funeral Services & Columbaria
  1,987,842
 
262,000
  President Chain Store
Taiwan's Number One Convenience Chain Store Operator
  1,712,647
 
894,000
  Lite-On Technology
Mobile Device, LED & IT Component Supplier
  1,562,675
 
298,000
  PC Home
Taiwanese Internet Retail Company
  1,553,938
 
543,181
  Chipbond
Semiconductor Back-end Packaging Services
  1,321,751
 
695,000
  Chroma Ate
Automatic Test Systems, Testing & Measurement
Instruments
  1,176,137
 
404,000
  CHC Healthcare
Medical Device Distributor
  1,069,383
 
     

50,234,734

   
   

Hong Kong – 4.9%

 
340,000
  Melco Crown Entertainment – ADR (b)
Macau Casino Operator
  7,602,400
 
753,000
  AAC Technologies
Miniature Acoustic Components
  4,224,687
 
1,531,750
  L'Occitane International
Skin Care & Cosmetics Producer
  4,114,770
 
1,746,000
  Lifestyle International
Mid to High-end Department Store Operator in
Hong Kong & China
  3,644,230
 
1,835,000
  Melco International
Macau Casino Operator
  3,443,084
 
2,888,000
  Sa Sa International
Cosmetics Retailer
  2,851,958
 
3,600,000
  Mapletree Greater China
Commercial Trust (b)
Retail & Office Property Landlord
  2,675,693
 
917,800
  MGM China Holdings
Macau Casino Operator
  2,435,526
 
1,700,000
  Vitasoy International
Well Known Hong Kong Soy Food Brand
Reinventing Brand
  2,046,360
 
162,300
  ASM Pacific
Semi Backend & Surface Mounting Equipment
  1,781,690
 
     

34,820,398

   

See accompanying notes to financial statements.
9



Wanger International 2013 Semiannual Report

Wanger International

Statement of Investments (Unaudited), June 30, 2013

Number of
Shares
     

Value

 
   

Singapore – 2.8%

 
3,850,000
  Mapletree Commercial Trust
Retail & Office Property Landlord
 

$

3,588,018
 
3,000,000
  Mapletree Logistics Trust
Industrial Property Landlord
  2,600,109
 
2,500,000
  Mapletree Industrial Trust
Industrial Property Landlord
  2,598,079
 
1,851,000
  CDL Hospitality Trust
Hotel Owner/Operator
  2,476,842
 
1,239,000
  Ascendas REIT
Industrial Property Landlord
  2,171,328
 
323,000
  Singapore Exchange
Singapore Equity & Derivatives Market Operator
  1,785,349
 
473,000
  Super Group
Instant Food & Beverages in Southeast Asia
  1,659,512
 
1,233,000
  Goodpack Limited
International Bulk Container Leasing
  1,527,266
 
473,000
  Petra Foods
Cocoa Processor & Chocolate Manufacturer
  1,412,156
 
     

19,818,659

   
   

Korea – 2.7%

 
76,570
  Coway
Household Appliance Rental Service Provider
  3,720,862
 
148,377
  Paradise Co
Korean 'Foreigner Only' Casino Operator
  2,994,929
 
46,952
  Kepco Plant Service & Engineering
Power Plant & Grid Maintenance
  2,137,821
 
40,000
  LS Industrial Systems
Manufacturer of Electrical & Automation Equipment
  1,998,998
 
6,865
  KCC
Paint & Housing Material Manufacturer
  1,962,503
 
1,495
  Lotte Chilsung Beverage
Beverages & Liquor Manufacturer
  1,800,465
 
89,014
  iMarketKorea
Procurement, Distribution of MRO (Maintenance, Repair,
Operations) Goods
  1,715,005
 
65,350
  Handsome
High-end Apparel Company
  1,656,840
 
74,000
  Nexen Tire
Tire Manufacturer
  1,052,067
 
14,260
  BS Financial Group
Regional Bank in Busan (Korea's Second Largest City)
  179,447
 
     

19,218,937

   
Number of
Shares
     

Value

 
   

India – 2.2%

 
32,877
  Asian Paints
India's Largest Paint Company
 

$

2,558,332
 
185,000
  United Breweries
India's Largest Brewer
  2,247,503
 
277,000
  Yes Bank
Commercial Banking in India
  2,141,297
 
91,100
  Colgate Palmolive India
Consumer Products in Oral Care
  2,081,059
 
694,809
  Adani Ports & Special Economic Zone
Indian West Coast Shipping Port
  1,754,243
 
1,217,418
  Redington India
Supply Chain Solutions for IT & Mobile Handsets in
Emerging Markets
  1,469,813
 
556,967
  Bharti Infratel
Communication Towers
  1,424,164
 
8,620
  Bosch
Automotive Parts
  1,308,568
 
12,300
  TTK Prestige
Branded Cooking Equipment
  651,686
 
199,131
  SKIL Ports and Logistics (b)
Indian Container Port Project
  298,325
 
     

15,934,990

   
   

Indonesia – 1.8%

 
5,367,900
  Tower Bersama Infrastructure (b)
Communications Towers
  2,803,150
 
3,249,542
  Archipelago Resources (b)
Gold Mining Projects in Indonesia, Vietnam &
the Philippines
  2,335,279
 
23,000,000
  Ace Indonesia
Home Improvement Retailer
  1,710,651
 
509,000
  Mayora Indah
Consumer Branded Food Manufacturer
  1,542,547
 
4,035,391
  Surya Citra Media
Free to Air TV Station in Indonesia
  1,107,455
 
945,500
  Matahari Department Store (b)
Largest Department Store Chain in Indonesia
  1,105,563
 
4,681,000
  MNC Skyvision (b)
Largest Satellite Pay TV Operator in Indonesia
  1,104,040
 
1,589,500
  Arwana Citramulia
Ceramic Tiles for Home Decoration
  511,580
 
636,500
  Mitra Adiperkasa
Operator of Department Store & Specialty Retail Stores
  446,875
 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.
10



Wanger International 2013 Semiannual Report

Wanger International

Statement of Investments (Unaudited), June 30, 2013

Number of
Shares
     

Value

 
   

Indonesia – 1.8% (cont)

 
780,500
  Southern Arc Minerals (b)
Gold & Copper Exploration in Indonesia
 

$

89,056
 
     

12,756,196

   
   

China – 1.4%

 
209,348
  WuXi PharmaTech — ADR (b)
Largest Contract Research Organization
Business in China
  4,396,308
 
1,640,000
  Want Want
Chinese Branded Consumer Food Company
  2,298,694
 
19,000,000
  RexLot Holdings
Lottery Equipment Supplier in China
  1,246,006
 
3,002,000
  AMVIG Holdings
Chinese Tobacco Packaging Material Supplier
  1,161,158
 
136,000
  Biostime
Pediatric Nutrition & Baby Care Products Provider
  760,523
 
435,000
  Digital China
IT Distribution & Systems Integration Services
  517,069
 
     

10,379,758

   
   

Thailand – 1.1%

 
9,174,600
  Home Product Center
Home Improvement Retailer
  3,387,702
 
400,000
  Airports of Thailand
Airport Operator of Thailand
  2,161,669
 
882,000
  Robinson's Department Store
Mass-market Department Store Operator in Thailand
  1,723,725
 
924,300
  Samui Airport Property Fund
Thai Airport Operator
  523,335
 
     

7,796,431

   
   

Philippines – 0.9%

 
6,165,000
  SM Prime Holdings
Shopping Mall Operator
  2,315,950
 
777,540
  Int'l Container Terminal
Container Handling Terminals & Port Management
  1,558,525
 
1,795,000
  Manila Water Company
Water Utility Company in Philippines
  1,344,880
 
5,500,000
  Melco Crown (Philippines) Resorts (b)
Integrated Resort Operator in Manila
  1,056,713
 
     

6,276,068

   
Number of
Shares
     

Value

 
   

Cambodia – 0.6%

 
5,774,000
  Nagacorp
Casino/Entertainment Complex in Cambodia
 

$

4,487,842
 
   

Mongolia – 0.4%

 
  118,952    

Turquoise Hill Resources (a) (b)

   

705,772

   
108,951
  Turquoise Hill Resources (a) (b) (c)
Copper Mine Project in Mongolia
  646,079
 
7,204,500
  Mongolian Mining (b)
Coking Coal Mining in Mongolia
  1,336,578
 
     

2,688,429

   
       

Total Asia

   

333,971,942

   
   

Europe – 31.5%

 
   

United Kingdom – 9.7%

 
448,000
  Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group
International Business Insurance Broker
  6,205,356
 
2,000,000
  Charles Taylor
Insurance Services
  5,718,770
 
350,000
  Telecity
European Data Center Provider
  5,393,523
 
110,920
  Spirax Sarco
Steam Systems for Manufacturing & Process Industries
  4,545,925
 
92,700
  Whitbread
The UK's Leading Hotelier & Coffee Shop
  4,312,373
 
353,326
  Domino's Pizza UK & Ireland
Pizza Delivery in UK, Ireland & Germany
  3,601,921
 
113,000
  Rightmove
Internet Real Estate Listings
  3,582,445
 
317,959
  WH Smith (a)
Newsprint, Books & General Stationery Retailer
  3,472,359
 
356,000
  Shaftesbury
London Prime Retail Real Estate Investment Trust
  3,225,596
 
270,000
  Smith & Nephew
Medical Equipment & Supplies
  3,023,962
 
78,000
  CRODA
Oleochemicals & Industrial Chemicals
  2,941,388
 
572,355
  BBA Aviation
Aviation Support Services
  2,437,634
 
347,000
  Abcam
Online Sales of Antibodies
  2,393,435
 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.
11



Wanger International 2013 Semiannual Report

Wanger International

Statement of Investments (Unaudited), June 30, 2013

Number of
Shares
     

Value

 
   

United Kingdom – 9.7% (cont)

 
715,966
  Elementis
Clay-based Additives
 

$

2,389,042
 
451,000
  Halford's
The UK's Leading Retailer for Leisure Goods & Auto Parts
  2,169,127
 
3,455,000
  Cable and Wireless
Leading Telecoms Service Provider in the Caribbean
  2,150,718
 
80,731
  Aggreko
Temporary Power & Temperature Control Services
  2,017,829
 
117,771
  Babcock International
Public Sector Outsourcer
  1,977,482
 
831,000
  Smiths News
Newspaper & Magazine Distributor
  1,911,662
 
274,715
  PureCircle (a) (b)
Natural Sweeteners
  1,462,397
 
48,186
  Fidessa Group
Software for Financial Trading Systems
  1,413,230
 
31,000
  Intertek Group
Testing, Inspection & Certification Services
  1,377,999
 
189,615
  Ocado (a) (b)
Leading Online Grocery Retailer
  860,282
 
36,815
  Tullow Oil
Oil & Gas Producer
  560,428
 
5,708
  Telecom Plus
UK Multi Utility
  108,346
 
     

69,253,229

   
   

Netherlands – 3.5%

 
291,319
  Aalberts Industries
Flow Control & Heat Treatment
  6,510,913
 
145,741
  UNIT4
Business Software Development
  4,723,461
 
113,383
  TKH Group
Dutch Industrial Conglomerate
  2,915,475
 
51,818
  Fugro
Subsea Oilfield Services
  2,815,600
 
98,582
  Arcadis
Engineering Consultants
  2,654,553
 
14,197
  Core Labs
Oil & Gas Reservoir Consulting
  2,153,117
 
27,926
  Vopak
World's Largest Operator of Petroleum & Chemical
Storage Terminals
  1,648,288
 
Number of
Shares
     

Value

 
207,240
  Imtech (a) (b)
Technical Installation & Maintenance
 

$

1,525,500
 
     

24,946,907

   
   

France – 3.2%

 
32,020
  Eurofins Scientific (b)
Food, Pharmaceuticals & Materials Screening & Testing
  6,756,949
 
100,921
  Neopost
Postage Meter Machines
  6,682,153
 
44,200
  Gemalto (a)
Digital Security Solutions
  4,001,989
 
30,533
  Norbert Dentressangle
Leading European Logistics & Transport Group
  2,483,954
 
96,450
  Saft
Niche Battery Manufacturer
  2,291,754
 
220,933
  Hi-Media (b)
Online Advertiser in Europe
  480,526
 
     

22,697,325

   
   

Switzerland – 2.9%

 
25,741
  Partners Group
Private Markets Asset Management
  6,967,544
 
20,880
  Geberit
Plumbing Supplies
  5,172,470
 
1,505
  Sika
Chemicals for Construction & Industrial Applications
  3,891,537
 
22,965
  Dufry Group (b)
Operates Airport Duty Free & Duty Paid Shops
  2,781,903
 
37,840
  Zehnder
Radiators & Heat Recovery Ventilation Systems
  1,686,585
 
     

20,500,039

   
   

Germany – 2.7%

 
183,492
  Wirecard
Online Payment Processing & Risk Management
  4,992,808
 
14,270
  Rational
Commercial Ovens
  4,777,346
 
68,400
  NORMA Group
Clamps for Automotive & Industrial Applications
  2,473,788
 
213,000
  TAG Immobilien
Owner of Residential Properties in Germany
  2,321,552
 
47,000
  Elringklinger (a)
Automobile Components
  1,566,231
 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.
12



Wanger International 2013 Semiannual Report

Wanger International

Statement of Investments (Unaudited), June 30, 2013

Number of
Shares
     

Value

 
   

Germany – 2.7% (cont)

 
57,879
  Aurelius
European Turnaround Investor
 

$

1,390,743
 
11,343
  Pfeiffer Vacuum
Vacuum Pumps
  1,174,599
 
26,200
  Deutsche Beteiligungs
Private Equity Investment Management
  630,276
 
     

19,327,343

   
   

Sweden – 2.1%

 
289,727
  Hexagon
Design, Measurement & Visualization
Software & Equipment
  7,744,803
 
399,345
  Sweco
Engineering Consultants
  4,540,651
 
83,593
  Unibet
European Online Gaming Operator
  2,798,441
 
     

15,083,895

   
   

Denmark – 1.8%

 
169,677
  SimCorp
Software for Investment Managers
  5,043,189
 
128,911
  Novozymes
Industrial Enzymes
  4,129,047
 
102,481
  Jyske Bank (b)
Danish Bank
  3,854,718
 
     

13,026,954

   
   

Italy – 0.9%

 
351,999
  Pirelli (a)
Global Tire Supplier
  4,069,158
 
833,343
  Geox (a)
Apparel & Shoe Maker
  2,071,373
 
     

6,140,531

   
   

Finland – 0.8%

 
56,294
  Vacon
Leading Independent Manufacturer of Variable Speed
Alternating Current Drives
  3,733,364
 
106,000
  Tikkurila
Decorative & Industrial Paint in Scandinavia & Central &
Eastern Europe
  2,392,275
 
     

6,125,639

   
Number of
Shares
     

Value

 
   

Norway – 0.7%

 
324,911
  Atea
Leading Nordic IT Hardware/Software Reseller &
Installation Company
 

$

3,276,202
 
90,000
  Subsea 7 (b)
Offshore Subsea Contractor
  1,577,947
 
     

4,854,149

   
   

Spain – 0.6%

 
587,190
  Dia
Leading Hard Discounter in Spain, Latin America &
the Eastern Mediterranean
  4,435,793
 
   

Russia – 0.6%

 
112,297
  Yandex (b)
Search Engine for Russian & Turkish Languages
  3,102,766
 
43,200
  QIWI — ADR
Electronic Payments Network Serving Russia &
the Commonwealth of Independent States
  1,002,240
 
     

4,105,006

   
   

Iceland – 0.5%

 
 

2,644,101

   

Marel (d)

   

1,891,740

   
1,700,000
  Marel (d)
Largest Manufacturer of Poultry & Fish Processing
Equipment
  1,798,506
 
     

3,690,246

   
   

Kazakhstan – 0.5%

 
494,896
  Halyk Savings Bank of Kazakhstan - GDR
Largest Retail Bank & Insurer in Kazakhstan
  3,652,333
 
   

Belgium – 0.4%

 
42,233
  EVS Broadcast Equipment
Digital Live Mobile Production Software & Systems
  2,928,071
 
   

Portugal – 0.3%

 
854,881
  Redes Energéticas Nacionais
Portuguese Power Transmission & Gas Transportation
  2,451,400
 
   

Turkey – 0.3%

 
130,830
  Bizim Toptan
Cash & Carry Stores in Turkey
  2,129,964
 
       

Total Europe

   

225,348,824

   

See accompanying notes to financial statements.
13



Wanger International 2013 Semiannual Report

Wanger International

Statement of Investments (Unaudited), June 30, 2013

Number of
Shares
     

Value

 
   

Other Countries – 14.0%

 
   

South Africa – 4.1%

 
1,278,520
  Coronation Fund Managers
South African Fund Manager
 

$

8,116,614
 
83,713
  Naspers
Media in Africa, China, Russia & Other Emerging Markets
  6,178,997
 
1,872,183
  Rand Merchant Insurance
Directly Sold Property & Casualty Insurance;
Holdings in Other Insurers
  4,767,359
 
218,654
  Massmart Holdings
General Merchandise, Food & Home Improvement Stores;
Wal-Mart Subsidiary
  3,966,056
 
254,433
  Mr. Price
South African Retailer of Apparel, Household &
Sporting Goods
  3,468,107
 
835,245
  Northam Platinum (b)
Platinum Mining in South Africa
  2,697,175
 
     

29,194,308

   
   

Canada – 3.8%

 
120,663
  CCL Industries (b)
Largest Global Label Converter
  7,443,773
 
106,322
  ShawCor
Oil & Gas Pipeline Products
  4,201,524
 
313,128
  CAE
Flight Simulator Equipment & Training Centers
  3,248,290
 
62,856
  Onex Capital
Private Equity
  2,852,038
 
  158,516    

DeeThree Exploration (b) (e)

   

1,122,589

   
119,569
  DeeThree Exploration (b)
Canadian Oil & Gas Producer
  864,053
 
58,433
  AG Growth
Leading Manufacturer of Augers & Grain
Handling Equipment
  1,896,836
 
65,101
  Black Diamond Group
Provides Accommodations/Equipment for Oil Sands
Development
  1,383,481
 
90,834
  Alliance Grain Traders
Global Leader in Pulse Processing & Distribution
  1,265,302
 
202,168
  Horizon North Logistics (a)
Diversified Oil Services Offering in Northern Canada
  1,220,659
 
26,123
  Baytex
Oil & Gas Producer in Canada
  941,392
 
Number of
Shares
     

Value

 
53,000
  Athabasca Oil Sands (b)
Oil Sands & Unconventional Oil Development
 

$

328,069
 
195,271
  Pan Orient
Asian Oil & Gas Explorer
  302,645
 
42,800
  Crew Energy (b)
Canadian Oil & Gas Producer
  210,805
 
35,542
  Americas Petrogas (a) (b)
Oil & Gas Exploration in Argentina, Potash in Peru
  30,077
 
     

27,311,533

   
   

United States – 2.8%

 
124,722
  Textainer Group Holdings (a)
Top International Container Leasor
  4,794,314
 
91,616
  Atwood Oceanics (b)
Offshore Drilling Contractor
  4,768,613
 
96,600
  Rowan (b)
Contract Offshore Driller
  3,291,162
 
57,853
  FMC Technologies (b)
Oil & Gas Well Head Manufacturer
  3,221,255
 
43,084
  Hornbeck Offshore (b)
Supply Vessel Operator in U.S. Gulf of Mexico
  2,304,994
 
41,979
  World Fuel Services
Global Fuel Broker
  1,678,320
 
     

20,058,658

   
   

Australia – 2.6%

 
1,089,000
  Challenger Financial
Largest Annuity Provider
  3,971,065
 
3,658,000
  Commonwealth Property Office Fund
Australia Prime Office Real Estate Investment Trust
  3,666,096
 
571,000
  IAG
General Insurance Provider
  2,834,273
 
780,001
  SAI Global
Publishing, Certification & Compliance Services
  2,583,865
 
251,000
  Domino's Pizza Enterprises
Domino's Pizza Operator in Australia/New Zealand &
France/Benelux
  2,566,279
 
651,000
  Regis Resources (b)
Gold Mining in Australia
  1,723,286
 
94,269
  Austbrokers
Local Australian Small Business Insurance Broker
  935,240
 
     

18,280,104

   

See accompanying notes to financial statements.
14



Wanger International 2013 Semiannual Report

Wanger International

Statement of Investments (Unaudited), June 30, 2013

Number of
Shares
     

Value

 
   

Israel – 0.7%

 
302,685
  Israel Chemicals
Producer of Potash, Phosphates, Bromine &
Specialty Chemicals
 

$

2,972,498
 
78,000
  Caesarstone (b)
Quartz Countertops
  2,123,940
 
     

5,096,438

   
       

Total Other Countries

   

99,941,041

   
   

Latin America – 5.5%

 
   

Brazil – 2.2%

 
320,000
  Localiza Rent A Car
Car Rental
  4,524,615
 
5,037,276
  Beadell Resources (b)
Gold Mining in Brazil
  2,350,101
 
173,209
  Arcos Dorados (a)
McDonald's Master Franchise for Latin America
  2,023,081
 
130,000
  Multiplus
Loyalty Program Operator in Brazil
  1,920,855
 
461,400
  Odontoprev
Dental Insurance
  1,900,314
 
100,000
  Linx
Retail Management Software in Brazil
  1,673,427
 
111,800
  Mills Estruturas e Servicos de
Engenharia
Civil Engineering & Construction
  1,515,151
 
     

15,907,544

   
   

Mexico – 1.8%

 
1,722,600
  Genomma Lab Internacional (b)
Develops, Markets & Distributes Consumer Products
  3,402,007
 
28,000
  Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste – ADR
Mexican Airport Operator
  3,114,720
 
600,222
  Gruma (b)
Tortilla Producer & Distributor
  2,728,398
 
816,000
  Bolsa Mexicana de Valores
Mexico's Stock Exchange
  2,029,066
 
641,824
  Qualitas
Leading Auto Insurer in Mexico & Central America
  1,535,529
 
     

12,809,720

   
Number of
Shares
     

Value

 
   

Chile – 0.6%

 
65,995

  Sociedad Quimica y Minera
de Chile — ADR
Producer of Specialty Fertilizers, Lithium & Iodine
 

$

2,666,198
 
2,300,000
  Grupo Hites
Mass Retailer for the Lower Income Strata
  1,806,771
 
     

4,472,969

   
   

Uruguay – 0.3%

 
230,870
  Union Agriculture Group (b) (e) (f)
Farmland Operator in Uruguay
  2,389,504
 
   

Colombia – 0.3%

 
1,503,000
  Isagen (b)
Leading Colombian Electricity Provider
  2,013,975
 
   

Guatemala – 0.3%

 
132,362
  Tahoe Resources (b)
Silver Project in Guatemala
  1,876,502
 
   

Argentina – —%

 
459,000
  Madalena Ventures (b)
Oil & Gas Exploration in Argentina
  122,202
 
       

Total Latin America

   

39,592,416

   
Total Equities
(Cost: $525,131,728) – 97.7%
   

698,854,223

(g)

 

Short-Term Investments – 1.4%

     
6,773,346
  JPMorgan U.S. Government
Money Market Fund, Capital Shares
(7 day yield of 0.01%)
   

6,773,346

   
3,334,246
  JPMorgan U.S. Government
Money Market Fund, Agency Shares
(7 day yield of 0.01%)
   

3,334,246

   
Total Short-Term Investments
(Cost: $10,107,592) – 1.4%
   

10,107,592

   

See accompanying notes to financial statements.
15



Wanger International 2013 Semiannual Report

Wanger International

Statement of Investments (Unaudited), June 30, 2013

Number of
Shares
     

Value

 

Securities Lending Collateral – 2.0%

 
14,168,673
 
  Dreyfus Government Cash
Management Fund,
Institutional Shares
(7 day yield of 0.01%) (h)
 

$

14,168,673

   
Total Securities Lending Collateral
(Cost: $14,168,673)
   

14,168,673

   
Total Investments
(Cost: $549,407,993) (i) – 101.1%
   

723,130,488

   
Obligation to Return Collateral for
Securities Loaned – (2.0)%
   

(14,168,673

)

 

Cash and Other Assets Less Liabilities – 0.9%

   

6,398,936

   

Net Assets – 100.0%

 

$

715,360,751

   

ADR = American Depositary Receipts

  GDR = Global Depositary Receipts

  REIT = Real Estate Investment Trust

Notes to Statement of Investments

(a)  All or a portion of this security was on loan at June 30, 2013. The total market value of securities on loan at June 30, 2013 was $13,479,204.

(b)  Non-income producing security.

(c)  Security is traded on a U.S. exchange.

(d)  The common stock equity holdings of Marel are stated separately on the Statement of Investments due to the application of the onshore or offshore foreign currency exchange rate. The appropriate exchange rate is applied to each purchased security lot based on the applicable registration obtained from Marel's regulatory governing body, the Icelandic Central Bank.

(e)  Denotes a restricted security, which is subject to restrictions on resale under federal securities laws. These securities are valued at fair value determined in good faith under consistently applied procedures established by the Board of Trustees. At June 30, 2013, the market value of these securities amounted to $3,512,093, which represented 0.49% of total net assets. Additional information on these securities is as follows:


Security
  Acquisition
Dates
 
Shares
 
Cost
 
Value
 

Union Agriculture Group

  12/8/10-
6/27/12
   

230,870

   

$

2,649,999

   

$

2,389,504

   

DeeThree Exploration

 

9/7/10

   

158,516

     

413,939

     

1,122,589

   
           

$

3,063,938

   

$

3,512,093

   

(f)  Illiquid security.

(g)  On June 30, 2013, the Fund's total investments were denominated in currencies as follows:

Currency

 

Value

  Percentage
of Net Assets
 

Japanese Yen

 

$

149,559,500

     

20.9

   

Euro

   

86,899,892

     

12.2

   

British Pound

   

71,886,833

     

10.0

   

United States Dollar

   

54,931,345

     

7.7

   

Taiwan Dollar

   

50,234,734

     

7.0

   

Hong Kong Dollar

   

36,350,175

     

5.1

   
Other currencies less than
5% of total net assets
   

248,991,744

     

34.8

   

Total Equities

 

$

698,854,223

     

97.7

   

(h)  Investment made with cash collateral received from securities lending activity.

(i)  At June 30, 2013, for federal income tax purposes, the cost of investments was $549,407,993 and net unrealized appreciation was $173,722,495 consisting of gross unrealized appreciation of $209,309,639 and gross unrealized depreciation of $35,587,144.

Fair Value Measurements

  Various inputs are used in determining the value of the Fund's investments, following the input prioritization hierarchy established by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). These inputs are summarized in the three broad levels listed below:

  Level 1 – quoted prices in active markets for identical securities

  Level 2 – prices determined using other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk and others)

  Level 3 – prices determined using significant unobservable inputs where quoted prices or observable inputs are unavailable or less reliable (including management's own assumptions about the factors market participants would use in pricing an investment)

The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.

  Examples of the types of securities in which the Fund would typically invest and how they are classified within this hierarchy are as follows. Typical Level 1 securities include exchange traded domestic equities, mutual funds whose NAVs are published each day and exchange traded foreign equities that are not statistically fair valued. Typical Level 2 securities include exchange traded foreign equities that are statistically fair valued, forward foreign currency exchange contracts and short-term investments valued at amortized cost. Additionally, securities fair valued by the Valuation Committee (the Committee) of the Fund's Board of Trustees (the Board) that rely on significant observable inputs are also included in Level 2. Typical Level 3 securities include any security fair valued by the Committee that relies on significant unobservable inputs.

  Under the direction of the Board, the Committee is responsible for carrying out the valuation procedures approved by the Board.

  The Committee meets as necessary, and no less frequently than quarterly, to determine fair values for securities for which market quotations are not readily available or for which the investment manager believes that available market quotations are unreliable, to review the appropriateness of the Trust's Portfolio Pricing Policy and the pricing procedures of the investment manager (the Policies), and to review the continuing

See accompanying notes to financial statements.
16



Wanger International 2013 Semiannual Report

Wanger International

Statement of Investments (Unaudited), June 30, 2013

appropriateness of the current value of any security subject to the Policies. The Policies address, among other things: circumstances under which market quotations will be deemed readily available; selection of third party pricing vendors; appropriate pricing methodologies; events that require fair valuation and fair value techniques; and circumstances under which securities will be deemed to pose a potential for stale pricing, including when securities are illiquid, restricted, or in default. The Committee may also meet to discuss additional valuation matters, which may include review of back-testing results, review of time-sensitive information or approval of other valuation related actions, and to review the appropriateness of the Policies.

  For investments categorized as Level 3, the significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement of the Funds' securities may include: (i) data specific to the issuer or comparable issuers, (ii) general market or specific sector news and (iii) quoted prices and specific or similar security transactions. The Committee considers this data and any changes from prior periods in order to assess the reasonableness of observable and unobservable inputs, any assumptions or internal models used to value those securities and changes in fair value. Significant changes in any of these factors could result in lower or higher fair value measurements. Various factors impact the frequency of monitoring (which may occur as often as daily), however the Committee may determine that changes to inputs, assumptions and models are not required with the same frequency.

The following table summarizes the inputs used, as of June 30, 2013, in valuing the Fund's assets:





Investment Type
 


Quoted Prices
(Level 1)
  Other
Significant
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
 
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
 



Total
 

Equities

 

Asia

 

$

13,439,615

   

$

320,532,327

   

$

   

$

333,971,942

   

Europe

   

6,258,123

     

219,090,701

     

     

225,348,824

   

Other Countries

   

48,371,542

     

51,569,499

     

     

99,941,041

   

Latin America

   

34,852,811

     

2,350,101

     

2,389,504

     

39,592,416

   

Total Equities

   

102,922,091

     

593,542,628

     

2,389,504

     

698,854,223

   
Total Short-Term
Investments
   

10,107,592

     

     

     

10,107,592

   
Total Securities
Lending Collateral
   

14,168,673

     

     

     

14,168,673

   

Total Investments

 

$

127,198,356

   

$

593,542,628

   

$

2,389,504

   

$

723,130,488

   

  The Fund's assets assigned to the Level 2 input category are generally valued using a market approach, in which a security's value is determined through its correlation to prices and information from observable market transactions for similar or identical assets. Foreign equities are generally valued at the last sale price on the foreign exchange or market on which they trade. The Fund may use a statistical fair valuation model, in accordance with the policy adopted by the Board, provided by an independent third party to value securities principally traded in foreign markets in order to adjust for possible stale pricing that may occur between the close of the foreign exchanges and the time for valuation. These models take into account available market data including intraday index, ADR, and ETF movements. Securities acquired via private placement that have a holding period or an extended settlement period are valued at a discount to the same shares that are trading freely on the market. These discounts are determined by the investment manager's experience with similar securities or situations. Factors may include, but are not limited to, trade volume, shares outstanding and stock price.

  There were no transfers of financial assets between levels 1 and 2 during the period.

  The Fund does not hold any significant investments categorized as Level 3.

  Certain common stock classified as Level 3 are valued at fair value, using a market approach, as determined in good faith under consistently applied procedures established by and under the general supervision of the Board. To determine fair value for these securities, for which no market exists, the Committee utilizes the valuation technique it deems most appropriate in the circumstances, using some unobservable inputs, which may include, but are not limited to, trades of similar securities, estimated earnings of the company, market multiples derived from a set of comparable companies, and the position of the security within the company's capital structure. Significant increases or decreases to any of these inputs could result in a significantly lower or higher fair value measurement.

See accompanying notes to financial statements.
17



Wanger International 2013 Semiannual Report

Wanger International

Portfolio Diversification (Unaudited) June 30, 2013

At June 30, 2013, the Fund's portfolio investments as a percentage of net assets were diversified as follows:

   

Value

  Percentage of
Net Assets
 

Industrial Goods & Services

 

Industrial Materials & Specialty Chemicals

 

$

52,468,786

     

7.3

   

Machinery

   

42,086,712

     

5.9

   

Other Industrial Services

   

40,725,614

     

5.7

   

Electrical Components

   

18,880,313

     

2.6

   

Conglomerates

   

10,817,130

     

1.5

   

Construction

   

10,523,531

     

1.5

   

Outsourcing Services

   

4,115,303

     

0.6

   

Industrial Distribution

   

4,084,709

     

0.6

   
     

183,702,098

     

25.7

   

Consumer Goods & Services

 

Retail

   

52,580,997

     

7.4

   

Food & Beverage

   

27,787,719

     

3.9

   

Casinos & Gaming

   

26,064,941

     

3.6

   

Other Durable Goods

   

16,840,868

     

2.4

   

Nondurables

   

16,564,821

     

2.3

   

Restaurants

   

10,480,573

     

1.5

   

Other Consumer Services

   

9,352,934

     

1.3

   

Consumer Goods Distribution

   

7,826,867

     

1.1

   

Travel

   

4,524,615

     

0.6

   

Apparel

   

3,728,214

     

0.5

   

Educational Services

   

2,777,924

     

0.4

   

Furniture & Textiles

   

2,123,940

     

0.3

   
     

180,654,413

     

25.3

   

Information

 

Computer Hardware & Related Equipment

   

24,522,056

     

3.4

   

Mobile Communications

   

22,704,911

     

3.2

   

Business Software

   

20,598,109

     

2.9

   

Internet Related

   

12,864,208

     

1.8

   

Computer Services

   

11,070,674

     

1.5

   

Semiconductors & Related Equipment

   

8,124,259

     

1.1

   

Financial Processors

   

7,780,397

     

1.1

   

Instrumentation

   

4,409,605

     

0.6

   

Telephone & Data Services

   

2,150,718

     

0.3

   

TV Broadcasting

   

1,107,455

     

0.2

   

Satellite Broadcasting & Services

   

1,104,040

     

0.2

   

Electronics Distribution

   

517,069

     

0.1

   

Advertising

   

480,526

     

0.1

   
     

117,434,027

     

16.5

   
   

Value

  Percentage of
Net Assets
 

Finance

 

Insurance

 

$

29,133,329

     

4.0

   

Banks

   

17,220,610

     

2.4

   

Brokerage & Money Management

   

15,714,434

     

2.2

   

Finance Companies

   

7,646,352

     

1.1

   

Specialized Finance

   

2,029,066

     

0.3

   
     

71,743,791

     

10.0

   

Other Industries

 

Real Estate

   

47,342,822

     

6.6

   

Transportation

   

13,728,949

     

1.9

   

Regulated Utilities

   

5,918,600

     

0.8

   
     

66,990,371

     

9.3

   

Energy & Minerals

 

Oil Services

   

24,785,235

     

3.5

   

Mining

   

15,912,946

     

2.2

   

Oil & Gas Producers

   

4,482,261

     

0.6

   

Agricultural Commodities

   

3,654,806

     

0.5

   

Oil Refining, Marketing & Distribution

   

1,648,288

     

0.2

   
     

50,483,536

     

7.0

   

Health Care

 

Medical Supplies

   

10,529,774

     

1.5

   

Medical Equipment & Devices

   

7,955,399

     

1.1

   

Pharmaceuticals

   

6,624,960

     

0.9

   

Health Care Services

   

2,735,854

     

0.4

   
     

27,845,987

     

3.9

   

Total Equities:

   

698,854,223

     

97.7

   

Short-Term Investments:

   

10,107,592

     

1.4

   

Securities Lending Collateral:

   

14,168,673

     

2.0

   

Total Investments:

   

723,130,488

     

101.1

   
Obligation to Return Collateral
for Securities Loaned:
   

(14,168,673

)

   

(2.0

)

 
Cash and Other Assets
Less Liabilities:
   

6,398,936

     

0.9

   

Net Assets:

   

715,360,751

     

100.0

%

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.
18




Wanger International 2013 Semiannual Report

Statement of Assets and Liabilities
June 30, 2013 (Unaudited)

Assets:

 

Investments, at cost

 

$

549,407,993

   
Investments, at value (including securities on
loan of $13,479,204)
 

$

723,130,488

   

Foreign currency (cost of $1,437,918)

   

1,422,563

   

Receivable for:

 

Investments sold

   

7,204,801

   

Fund shares sold

   

32,768

   

Securities lending income

   

23,808

   

Dividends

   

747,885

   

Foreign tax reclaims

   

664,103

   

Trustees' deferred compensation plan

   

114,527

   

Prepaid expenses

   

3,962

   

Total Assets

   

733,344,905

   

Liabilities:

 

Collateral on securities loaned

   

14,168,673

   

Payable for:

 

Investments purchased

   

2,964,395

   

Fund shares redeemed

   

500,981

   

Investment advisory fee

   

17,733

   

Administration fee

   

975

   

Transfer agent fee

   

1

   

Trustees' fees

   

849

   

Custody fee

   

47,087

   

Reports to shareholders

   

133,491

   

Trustees' deferred compensation plan

   

114,527

   

Other liabilities

   

35,442

   

Total Liabilities

   

17,984,154

   

Net Assets

 

$

715,360,751

   

Composition of Net Assets:

 

Paid-in capital

 

$

498,670,591

   

Overdistributed net investment income

   

(14,776,742

)

 

Accumulated net realized gain

   

57,769,383

   

Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:

         

Investments

   

173,722,495

   

Foreign currency translations

   

(24,976

)

 

Net Assets

 

$

715,360,751

   

Fund Shares Outstanding

   

23,766,233

   
Net asset value, offering price and redemption
price per share
 

$

30.10

   

Statement of Operations
For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2013 (Unaudited)

Investment Income:

 
Dividend income (net foreign taxes withheld
of $989,525)
 

$

8,933,261

   

Interest income

   

10

   

Securities lending income, net

   

175,192

   

Total Investment Income

   

9,108,463

   

Expenses:

 

Investment advisory fee

   

3,242,942

   

Administration fee

   

178,930

   

Transfer agent fees

   

247

   

Trustees' fees

   

15,003

   

Custody fees

   

182,006

   

Reports to shareholders

   

96,309

   

Audit fees

   

23,546

   

Legal fees

   

22,885

   

Chief compliance officer expenses (See Note 4)

   

10,110

   

Commitment fee for line of credit (See Note 5)

   

2,040

   

Other expenses

   

25,123

   

Net Expenses

   

3,799,141

   

Net Investment Income

   

5,309,322

   
Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on
Investments:
 

Net realized gain (loss) on:

 

Investments

   

61,679,342

   

Foreign currency translations

   

(255,221

)

 

Net realized gain

   

61,424,121

   

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:

         

Investments

   

(26,610,042

)

 

Foreign currency translations

   

(626

)

 

Net change in unrealized depreciation

   

(26,610,668

)

 

Net realized and unrealized gain

   

34,813,453

   

Net Increase in Net Assets from Operations

 

$

40,122,775

   

See accompanying notes to financial statements.
19



Wanger International 2013 Semiannual Report

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets

  (Unaudited)
Six Months
Ended
June 30,
2013
  Year Ended
December 31,
2012
 

Operations:

 

Net investment income

 

$

5,309,322

   

$

10,657,545

   

Net realized gain (loss) on:

 

Investments

   

61,679,342

     

59,347,239

   

Foreign currency translations

   

(255,221

)

   

(293,590

)

 

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts

   

     

536,207

   

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:

 

Investments

   

(26,610,042

)

   

63,222,289

   

Affiliated investments

   

     

4,709,968

   

Foreign currency translations

   

(626

)

   

(3,456

)

 

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts

   

     

(447,630

)

 

Foreign capital gains tax

   

     

299,433

   

Net Increase in Net Assets from Operations

   

40,122,775

     

138,028,005

   

Distributions to Shareholders From:

 

Net investment income

   

(13,530,998

)

   

(8,399,015

)

 

Net realized gains

   

(50,758,012

)

   

(64,994,967

)

 

Total Distributions to Shareholders

   

(64,289,010

)

   

(73,393,982

)

 

Share Transactions:

 

Subscriptions

   

21,633,933

     

19,075,946

   

Distributions reinvested

   

64,289,010

     

73,393,982

   

Redemptions

   

(49,062,620

)

   

(136,654,538

)

 

Net Increase (Decrease) from Share Transactions

   

36,860,323

     

(44,184,610

)

 

Total Increase in Net Assets

   

12,694,088

     

20,449,413

   

Net Assets:

 

Beginning of period

   

702,666,663

     

682,217,250

   

End of period

 

$

715,360,751

   

$

702,666,663

   

Overdistributed net investment income

 

$

(14,776,742

)

 

$

(6,555,066

)

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.
20




Wanger International 2013 Semiannual Report

Financial Highlights

The following table is intended to help you understand the Fund's financial performance. Certain information reflects financial results for a single share held for the periods shown. Per share net investment income (loss) amounts are calculated based on average shares outstanding during the period. Total return assumes reinvestment of all dividends and distributions. Total return does not reflect payment of the expenses that apply to the variable accounts or contract charges, if any, and are not annualized for periods of less than one year.

    (Unaudited)
Six Months Ended
June 30,
 

Year Ended December 31,

 

Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

2010

 

2009

 

2008

 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

 

$

31.19

   

$

28.79

   

$

36.16

   

$

29.68

   

$

20.69

   

$

44.04

   

Income from Investment Operations:

 

Net investment income

   

0.24

     

0.46

     

0.42

     

0.35

     

0.30

     

0.52

   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

   

1.61

     

5.27

     

(5.31

)

   

6.93

     

9.61

     

(18.37

)

 

Reimbursement from affiliate

   

     

     

0.00

(a)

   

     

     

   

Total from Investment Operations

   

1.85

     

5.73

     

(4.89

)

   

7.28

     

9.91

     

(17.85

)

 

Less Distributions to Shareholders:

 

Net investment income

   

(0.62

)

   

(0.38

)

   

(1.64

)

   

(0.80

)

   

(0.93

)

   

(0.34

)

 

Net realized gains

   

(2.32

)

   

(2.95

)

   

(0.84

)

   

     

     

(5.16

)

 

Total Distributions to Shareholders

   

(2.94

)

   

(3.33

)

   

(2.48

)

   

(0.80

)

   

(0.93

)

   

(5.50

)

 

Increase from regulatory settlements

   

     

     

     

     

0.01

     

   

Net Asset Value, End of Period

 

$

30.10

   

$

31.19

   

$

28.79

   

$

36.16

   

$

29.68

   

$

20.69

   

Total Return

   

5.77

%

   

21.56

%(b)

   

(14.62

)%(b)

   

24.92

%(b)

   

49.78

%

   

(45.60

)%

 

Ratios to Average Net Assets/Supplemental Data:

 

Total gross expenses

   

1.06

%(c)(d)

   

1.08

%(d)

   

1.06

%(d)

   

1.07

%(d)

   

1.05

%(d)

   

1.02

%

 

Total net expenses

   

1.06

%(c)(d)

   

1.05

%(d)(e)

   

1.00

%(d)(e)

   

1.04

%(d)(e)

   

1.05

%(d)(e)

   

1.02

%(e)

 

Net investment income

   

1.48

%(c)

   

1.51

%

   

1.25

%

   

1.12

%

   

1.23

%

   

1.67

%

 

Portfolio turnover rate

   

26

%

   

34

%

   

36

%

   

32

%

   

37

%

   

36

%

 

Net assets, end of period (000s)

 

$

715,361

   

$

702,667

   

$

682,217

   

$

925,761

   

$

1,442,428

   

$

972,860

   

Notes to Financial Highlights

(a)  Rounds to zero.

(b)  Had the investment manager and/or its affiliates not waived a portion of expenses, total return would have been reduced.

(c)  Annualized.

(d)  In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.

(e)  The benefits derived from custody fees paid indirectly had an impact of less than 0.01%.

See accompanying notes to financial statements.
21




Wanger International 2013 Semiannual Report

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited)

1.  Nature of Operations

Wanger International (the Fund), a series of Wanger Advisors Trust (the Trust), is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act), as an open-end management investment company organized as a Massachusetts business trust. The investment objective of the Fund is to seek long-term capital appreciation. The Fund is available only for allocation to certain life insurance company separate accounts established for the purpose of funding participating variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies and may also be offered directly to certain qualified pension and retirement plans.

2.  Significant Accounting Policies

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Security valuation

Securities of the Fund are valued at market value or, if a market quotation for a security is not readily available or is deemed not to be reliable because of events or circumstances that have occurred between the market quotation and the time as of which the security is to be valued, the security is valued at its fair value determined in good faith under consistently applied procedures established by the Board of Trustees (the Board). A security traded on a securities exchange or in an over-the-counter market in which transaction prices are reported is valued at the last sales price at the time of valuation. A security traded principally on NASDAQ is valued at the NASDAQ official closing price. Mutual funds and exchange traded funds are valued at their closing net asset value as reported to the applicable exchange. A security for which there is no reported sale on the valuation date is valued at the mean of the latest bid and ask quotations.

Short-term investments maturing in 60 days or less are valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value.

A security for which a market quotation is not readily available and any other assets are valued at their fair value determined in good faith under consistently applied procedures established by the Board. The Trust has retained an independent statistical fair value pricing service that employs a systematic methodology to assist in the fair valuation process for securities principally traded in a foreign market in order to adjust for possible changes in value that may occur between the close of the foreign market and the time as of which the securities are to be valued. If a security is valued at a fair value, that value may be different from the last quoted market price for the security.

Foreign currency translations

Values of investments denominated in foreign currencies are converted into U.S. dollars using the New York spot market rate of exchange at the time of valuation. Purchases and sales of investments and dividend and interest income are translated into U.S. dollars using the spot market rate of exchange prevailing on the respective dates of such transactions. The gain or loss resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates is included with net realized and unrealized gain or loss from investments, as appropriate.

Restricted securities

Restricted securities are securities that may only be resold upon registration under federal securities laws or in transactions exempt from registration. In some cases, the issuer of restricted securities has agreed to register such securities for resale at the

issuer's expense either upon demand by the Fund or in connection with another registered offering of the securities. Many restricted securities may be resold in the secondary market in transactions exempt from registration. Such restricted securities may be determined to be liquid under criteria established by the Board.

Security transactions and investment income

Security transactions are accounted for on the trade date (date the order to buy or sell is executed) and dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date, except that certain dividends from foreign securities are recorded as soon as the information is available to the Fund. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis and includes amortization of discounts on debt obligations when required for federal income tax purposes. Realized gains and losses from security transactions are recorded on an identified cost basis.

Awards, if any, from class action litigation related to securities owned may be recorded as a reduction of cost of those securities. If the applicable securities are no longer owned, the proceeds are recorded as realized gains.

The Fund estimates the tax character of distributions from real estate investment trusts (REITs). Distributions received in excess of income are recorded as a reduction of the cost of the related investments. If the applicable securities are no longer owned, any distributions received in excess of income are recorded as realized gains.

Expenses

General expenses of the Trust are allocated to the Fund and the other series of the Trust based upon relative net assets or other expense allocation methodologies determined by the nature of the expense. Expenses directly attributable to the Fund are charged to the Fund.

Fund share valuation

Fund shares are sold and redeemed on a continuing basis at net asset value. Net asset value per share is determined daily as of the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the Exchange) on each day the Exchange is open for trading by dividing the total value of the Fund's investments and other assets, less liabilities, by the number of Fund shares outstanding.

Securities lending

The Fund may lend securities up to one-third of the value of its total assets to certain approved brokers, dealers and other financial institutions to earn additional income. The Fund retains the benefits of owning the securities, including receipt of dividends or interest generated by the security. The Fund also receives a fee for the loan. The Fund has the ability to recall the loans at any time and could do so in order to vote proxies or to sell the loaned securities. Each loan is collateralized by cash that exceeded the value of the securities on loan. The market value of the loaned securities is determined daily at the close of business of the Fund and any additional required collateral is delivered to each Fund on the next business day. The Fund has elected to invest the cash collateral in the Dreyfus Government Cash Management Fund and the income earned is paid to the Fund, net of any fees remitted to Goldman Sachs Agency Lending, the Fund's lending agent and borrower rebates. The Fund's investment manager, Columbia Wanger Asset Management, LLC (CWAM), does not retain any fees earned by the lending program. Generally, in the event of borrower default, the Fund has the right to use the collateral to offset any losses incurred. In the event the Fund is delayed or prevented from exercising its right to dispose of the collateral, there may be a potential loss to the Fund. Some of these losses may be indemnified by the lending agent. The Fund bears the risk of loss with respect to the investment of collateral. The net lending income earned by the Fund as of June 30, 2013, is included in the Statement of Operations.


22



Wanger International 2013 Semiannual Report

Notes to Financial Statements, continued (Unaudited)

The following table presents the Fund's gross and net amount of assets available for offset under a securities lending agreement as well as the related collateral received by the Fund as of June 30, 2013:

  Gross
Amounts of
  Gross Amounts
Offset in the
  Net Amounts of Assets
Presented in the
  Gross Amounts Not Offset in
the Statement of Assets and Liabilities
     

  Recognized
Assets
  Statement of
Assets and Liabilities
  Statement of
Assets and Liabilities
  Financial
Instruments (a)
  Cash Collateral
Received
  Securities
Collateral Received
 

Net Amount (b)

 

Securities loaned

 

$

13,479,204

   

$

   

$

13,479,204

   

$

   

$

13,479,204

   

$

   

$

   

(a)  Represents the amount of assets that could be offset by liabilities with the same counterparty under master netting or similar agreements that management elects not to offset on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

(b)  Represents the net amount due from counterparties in the event of default.

Federal income taxes

The Fund has complied with the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code available to regulated investment companies and, in the manner provided therein, distributes substantially all its taxable income, as well as any net realized gain on sales of investments and foreign currency transactions reportable for federal income tax purposes. Accordingly, the Fund paid no federal income taxes and no federal income tax provision was required.

Foreign capital gains taxes

Gains in certain countries may be subject to foreign taxes at the fund level. The Fund accrues for such foreign taxes on realized and unrealized gains at the appropriate rate for each jurisdiction. The amount, if any, is disclosed as a liability on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

Distributions to shareholders

Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date.

Indemnification

In the normal course of business, the Trust on behalf of the Fund enters into contracts that contain a variety of representations and warranties and that provide general indemnities. The Fund's maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims against the Fund. Also under the Trust's organizational documents, the trustees and officers of the Trust are indemnified against certain liabilities that may arise out of their duties to the Trust. However based on experience, the Fund expects the risk of loss due to these warranties and indemnities to be remote.

3.  Federal Tax Information

The timing and character of income and capital gain distributions are determined in accordance with income tax regulations, which may differ from GAAP. Reclassifications are made to the Fund's capital accounts for permanent tax differences to reflect income and gains available for distribution (or available capital loss carryforwards) under income tax regulations.

Management is required to determine whether a tax position of the Fund is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by the applicable taxing authority, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefit to be recognized by the Fund is measured as the largest amount of benefit that is greater than fifty percent likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. Management is not aware of any tax positions for which it is reasonably possible that the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits will significantly change in the next twelve months. However, management's conclusions may be subject to review and adjustment at a later date based on factors including, but not limited to, new tax laws, regulations, and administrative interpretations (including relevant court decisions). The Fund's federal tax returns for the prior three fiscal years remain subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service.

4.  Transactions With Affiliates

CWAM is a wholly owned subsidiary of Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (Columbia Management), which in turn is a wholly owned subsidiary of Ameriprise

Financial, Inc. (Ameriprise Financial). CWAM furnishes continuing investment supervision to the Fund and is responsible for the overall management of the Fund's business affairs.

CWAM receives a monthly advisory fee based on the Fund's average daily net assets at the following annual rates:

Average Daily Net Assets

 

Annual Fee Rate

 

Up to $100 million

   

1.10

%

 

$100 million to $250 million

   

0.95

%

 

$250 million to $500 million

   

0.90

%

 

$500 million to $1billion

   

0.80

%

 
$1 billion and over    

0.72

%

 

For the six months ended June 30, 2013, the annualized effective investment advisory fee rate was 0.91% of the Fund's average daily net assets.

CWAM provides administrative services and receives an administration fee from the Fund at the following annual rates:

Wanger Advisors Trust Aggregate
Average Daily Net Assets of the Trust
 

Annual Fee Rate

 

Up to $4 billion

   

0.05

%

 

$4 billion to $6 billion

   

0.04

%

 

$6 billion to $8 billion

   

0.03

%

 
$8 billion and over    

0.02

%

 

For the six months ended June 30, 2013, the annualized effective administration fee rate was 0.05% of the Fund's average daily net assets. Columbia Management provides certain sub-administrative services to the Fund.

Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. (CMID), a wholly owned subsidiary of Ameriprise Financial, serves as the Fund's distributor and principal underwriter.

Columbia Management Investment Services Corp. (CMIS), a wholly owned subsidiary of Ameriprise Financial, is the transfer agent to the Fund. For its services, the Fund pays CMIS a monthly fee at the annual rate of $21.00 per open account. CMIS also receives reimbursement from the Fund for certain out-of-pocket expenses.

Certain officers and trustees of the Trust are also officers of CWAM. The Trust makes no direct payments to its officers and trustees who are affiliated with CWAM.

The Board has appointed a Chief Compliance Officer of the Trust in accordance with federal securities regulations. The Fund, along with other affiliated funds, pays its pro-rata share of the expenses associated with the Office of the Chief Compliance Officer. These expenses are disclosed separately as "Chief compliance officer expenses" in the Statement of Operations.

The Trust offers a deferred compensation plan for its independent trustees. Under that plan, a trustee may elect to defer all or a portion of his or her compensation. Amounts deferred are retained by the Trust and may represent an unfunded obligation of the Trust. The value of amounts deferred is determined by reference to the change in value of Class Z shares of one or more series of Columbia Acorn Trust or a money market fund as specified by the trustee. Benefits under the deferred compensation plan are payable in accordance with the plan.


23



Wanger International 2013 Semiannual Report

Notes to Financial Statements, continued (Unaudited)

For the six months ended June 30, 2013, the Fund engaged in purchase and sales transactions with funds that have a common investment manager (or affiliated investment managers), common directors/trustees, and/or common officers. Those sale transactions complied with provisions of Rule 17a-7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and were $121,931.

5.  Borrowing Arrangements

During the six months ended June 30, 2013, the Trust participated in a credit facility with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., along with Columbia Acorn Trust, another trust managed by CWAM, in the amount of $150 million prior to January 11, 2013, and in the amount of $200 million thereafter. The credit facility was entered into to facilitate portfolio liquidity. Under the facility, interest is charged to each participating fund based on its borrowings at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate plus 1.00%. In addition, a commitment fee of 0.08% per annum of the unutilized line of credit is accrued and apportioned among the participating funds based on their relative net assets. The commitment fee is disclosed separately as "Commitment fee for line of credit" in the Statement of Operations. The Trust renewed the line of credit in July in the amount of $150 million, and will continue to do so each year, at then current market rates and terms.

No amounts were borrowed for the benefit of the Fund during the six months ended June 30, 2013.

6.  Fund Share Transactions

Proceeds and payments on Fund shares as shown in the Statement of Changes in Net Assets are in respect of the following numbers of shares:

    (Unaudited)
Six months ended
June 30, 2013
  Year ended
December 31, 2012
 

Shares sold

   

644,036

     

635,020

   
Shares issued in reinvestment
of dividend distributions
   

2,098,205

     

2,667,193

   

Less shares redeemed

   

(1,502,652

)

   

(4,471,543

)

 

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding

   

1,239,589

     

(1,169,330

)

 

7.  Investment Transactions

The aggregate cost of purchases and proceeds from sales other than short-term obligations for the six months ended June 30, 2013, were $186,965,946 and $210,546,483, respectively.

8.  Shareholder Concentration

At June 30, 2013, one unaffiliated shareholder account owned 19.9% of the outstanding shares of the Fund. The Fund has no knowledge about whether any portion of those shares was owned beneficially by such account. Affiliated shareholder accounts owned 56.2% of the outstanding shares of the Fund. Subscription and redemption activity by concentrated accounts may have a significant effect on the operations of the Fund.

9.  Subsequent Events

Management has evaluated the events and transactions that have occurred through the date the financial statements were issued and noted no items requiring adjustment of the financial statements or additional disclosure.

10.  Information Regarding Pending and Settled Legal Proceedings

Ameriprise Financial and certain of its affiliates have historically been involved in a number of legal, arbitration and regulatory proceedings, including routine litigation, class actions, and governmental actions, concerning matters arising in connection with the conduct of their business activities. Ameriprise Financial believes that the Funds are not currently the subject of, and that neither Ameriprise Financial nor any of its affiliates are the subject of, any pending legal, arbitration or regulatory proceedings that are likely to have a material adverse effect on the Funds or the ability of

Ameriprise Financial or its affiliates to perform under their contracts with the Funds. Ameriprise Financial is required to make 10-Q, 10-K and, as necessary, 8-K filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission on legal and regulatory matters that relate to Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates. Copies of these filings may be obtained by accessing the SEC website at www.sec.gov.

There can be no assurance that these matters, or the adverse publicity associated with them, will not result in increased fund redemptions, reduced sale of fund shares or other adverse consequences to the Funds. Further, although we believe proceedings are not likely to have a material adverse effect on the Funds or the ability of Ameriprise Financial or its affiliates to perform under their contracts with the Funds, these proceedings are subject to uncertainties and, as such, we are unable to estimate the possible loss or range of loss that may result. An adverse outcome in one or more of these proceedings could result in adverse judgments, settlements, fines, penalties or other relief that could have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial condition or results of operations of Ameriprise Financial.


24




Wanger International 2013 Semiannual Report

Board Approval of the Advisory Agreement

Wanger Advisors Trust (the "Trust") has an investment advisory agreement (the "Advisory Agreement") with Columbia Wanger Asset Management, LLC ("Columbia WAM") under which Columbia WAM manages Wanger International (the "Fund"). More than 75% of the trustees of the Trust (the "Trustees") are persons who have no direct or indirect interest in the Advisory Agreement and are not "interested persons" (as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act")) of the Trust (the "Independent Trustees"). The Trustees oversee the management of the Fund and, as required by law, determine at least annually whether to continue the Advisory Agreement for the Fund.

The Contract Committee (the "Committee") of the Board of Trustees (the "Board"), which is comprised solely of Independent Trustees, makes recommendations to the Board regarding any proposed continuation of the Advisory Agreement. After the Committee has made its recommendations, the full Board determines whether to approve continuation of the Advisory Agreement. The Board also considers matters bearing on the Advisory Agreement at its various meetings throughout the year, meets at least quarterly with Columbia WAM's portfolio managers (the Board's Investment Performance Analysis Committee meets frequently with them as well), and receives monthly reports from Columbia WAM on the performance of the Fund.

In connection with their most recent consideration of the Advisory Agreement for the Fund, the Committee and all Trustees received and reviewed a substantial amount of information provided by Columbia WAM, Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC ("Columbia Management") and Ameriprise Financial, Inc. ("Ameriprise") in response to written requests from the Independent Trustees and their independent legal counsel. In addition, the Trustees reviewed the Management Fee Evaluation dated June 2013 (the "Fee Evaluation") prepared by the Trust's chief compliance officer, senior vice president and general counsel, at the request of the Board. Throughout the process, the Trustees had numerous opportunities to ask questions of and request additional materials from Columbia WAM, Columbia Management and Ameriprise.

During each meeting at which the Committee or the Independent Trustees considered the Advisory Agreement, they met in executive session with their independent legal counsel. The Committee also met with representatives of Columbia WAM, Columbia Management and Ameriprise on several occasions. In all, the Committee convened formally on four separate occasions to consider the continuation of the Advisory Agreement. The Board and/or some or all of the Independent Trustees met on other occasions to receive the Committee's status reports, receive presentations from Columbia WAM, Columbia Management and Ameriprise representatives, and to discuss outstanding issues. In addition, the Investment Performance Analysis Committee of the Board, also comprised exclusively of Independent Trustees, reviewed the performance of the Fund, met in a joint meeting with the Committee, and presented its findings to the Board and the Committee throughout the year. The Compliance Committee of the Board also provided information to the Committee with respect to relevant matters.

The materials reviewed by the Committee and the Trustees included, among other items, (i) information on the investment performance of the Fund and of independently selected peer groups of funds and of the Fund's performance benchmark over various time periods, (ii) information on the Fund's advisory fees and other expenses, including information comparing the Fund's fees and expenses to those of peer groups of funds and information about any applicable expense limitations and fee breakpoints, (iii) data on sales and redemptions of Fund shares, and (iv) information on the profitability to Columbia WAM and Ameriprise, as well as potential "fall-out" or ancillary benefits that Columbia WAM and its affiliates may receive as a result of their relationships with the Fund. The Trustees also considered other information such as (i) Columbia WAM's financial condition, (ii) the Fund's investment objective and strategy, (iii) the size, education and experience of Columbia WAM's investment staff and its use of technology, external research and trading cost measurement tools, (iv) the portfolio manager compensation framework, (v) the allocation of the Fund's brokerage, and the use of "soft" commission dollars to pay for research products and services, (vi) Columbia WAM's risk management program, and (vii) the resources devoted to, and the record of compliance with, the Fund's

investment policies and restrictions, policies on personal securities transactions and other compliance policies.

At a meeting held on June 5, 2013, upon the recommendation of the Committee, the Board unanimously approved the continuation of the Advisory Agreement.

In considering the continuation of the Advisory Agreement, the Trustees reviewed and analyzed various factors that they determined were relevant, none of which by itself was considered dispositive. The material factors and conclusions that formed the basis for the Trustees' determination to approve the continuation of the Advisory Agreement are discussed below.

Nature, quality and extent of services. The Trustees reviewed the nature, quality and extent of the services provided by Columbia WAM and its affiliates to the Fund under the Advisory Agreement, taking into account the investment objective and strategy of the Fund, its shareholder base, and knowledge gained from meetings with management, which were held on at least a quarterly basis. In addition, the Trustees reviewed the available resources and key personnel of Columbia WAM and its affiliates, especially those providing investment management services to the Fund. The Trustees also considered other services provided to the Fund by Columbia WAM and its affiliates, including: managing the execution of portfolio transactions and selecting broker-dealers for those transactions; monitoring adherence to the Fund's investment restrictions; producing shareholder reports; providing support services for the Board and committees of the Board; managing the Fund's securities lending program; communicating with shareholders; serving as the Fund's administrator; and overseeing the activities of the Fund's other service providers, including monitoring for compliance with various policies and procedures as well as applicable securities laws and regulations.

The Trustees concluded that the nature, quality and extent of the services provided by Columbia WAM and its affiliates to the Fund under the Advisory Agreement were appropriate for the Fund and that the Fund was likely to benefit from the continued provision of those services by Columbia WAM. They also concluded that Columbia WAM currently had sufficient personnel, with appropriate education and experience, to serve the Fund effectively, and that the firm had demonstrated its continuing ability to attract and retain well-qualified personnel. In addition, they considered the quality of Columbia WAM's compliance record.

Performance of the Fund. The Trustees received and considered detailed performance information at various meetings of the Board, the Committee and the Investment Performance Analysis Committee of the Board throughout the year. They reviewed information comparing the Fund's performance with that of its benchmark(s) and with the performance of comparable funds and peer groups as identified by Lipper Inc. ("Lipper") and Morningstar, Inc. ("Morningstar"). The Trustees evaluated the performance of the Fund over various time periods, including over the one-, three- and five-year periods ending December 31, 2012. The Trustees also considered peer performance rankings for similar time periods, although they generally focused more on the five-year period.

The Trustees considered that the Fund's returns were excellent versus its peer group and benchmark over the five-year period ending December 31, 2012. The Trustees noted that the Fund underperformed its Morningstar peers but not its Lipper peers for the one- and three-year periods and had outperformed its benchmark for both periods. They also considered that the Fund exposed shareholders to less risk than its peers.

The Trustees noted that the Fund's performance was satisfactory over the longer term but that the decline in recent performance was being monitored closely by the Board and the Investment Performance Analysis Committee.

Costs of Services and Profits Realized by Columbia WAM. At various Committee and Board meetings, the Trustees examined detailed information on the fees and expenses of the Fund in comparison to information for comparable funds provided by Lipper and Morningstar. The Trustees noted that the Fund's net expenses were higher than the Lipper peer group expenses, but lower than the Morningstar peer group. The Trustees also took into account that the actual advisory fees paid by the Fund were lower than the Morningstar median but higher than Lipper peers.

The Trustees also reviewed the advisory fee rates charged by Columbia WAM for managing other investment companies, sub-advised funds and other institutional


25



Wanger International 2013 Semiannual Report

Board Approval of the Advisory Agreement, continued

separate accounts, as detailed in materials provided to the Committee by Columbia WAM and in the Fee Evaluation. The Trustees noted that the Fund's advisory fees were generally comparable to Columbia Acorn International's advisory fees at the same asset levels. The Trustees also examined Columbia WAM's institutional separate account fees for parallel investment strategies and determined that institutional account advisory fees tended to be lower than or equal to the Fund. The Trustees noted that Columbia WAM performs significant additional services for the Fund that it does not provide to sub-advised funds or non-mutual fund clients, including administrative services, oversight of the Fund's other service providers, Trustee support, regulatory compliance and numerous other services, and that, in servicing the Fund, Columbia WAM assumes many legal and business risks that it does not assume in servicing many of its non-fund clients.

The Trustees concluded that the rate of advisory fees payable to Columbia WAM were reasonable in relation to the nature and quality of the services to be provided and the investment performance of the Fund, taking into account Columbia WAM's recent steps to improve performance of the Fund.

The Trustees reviewed the analysis of the historic profitability of Columbia WAM in serving as the Fund's investment manager and of Columbia WAM and its affiliates in their relationships with the Fund. The Committee and Trustees met with representatives from Ameriprise to discuss its methodologies for calculating profitability and allocating costs. They considered that Ameriprise calculated profitability and allocated costs on a contract-by-contract and Fund-by-Fund basis. The Trustees also considered the methodology used by Columbia WAM and Ameriprise in determining compensation payable to portfolio managers and the competitive market for investment management talent. The Trustees were also provided with profitability information from Lipper, which compared Columbia WAM's profitability to other similar investment managers in the mutual fund industry. The Trustees concluded that Columbia WAM's and its affiliates' profits were within a reasonable range of those of competitors with similar business models. The Trustees discussed, however, that profitability comparisons among fund managers may not always be meaningful due to the lack of consistency in data, small number of publicly-owned managers, and the fact that profitability of any investment manager is affected by numerous factors, including its particular organizational structure, the types of funds and other accounts managed, other lines of business, expense allocation methodology, capital structure and other factors.

Economies of Scale. At various Committee and Board meetings and other informal meetings, the Trustees considered information about the extent to which Columbia WAM realizes economies of scale in connection with an increase in Fund assets. The Trustees noted that the advisory fee schedule for the Fund includes breakpoints in the rate of fees at various asset levels. The Trustees concluded that the fee structure of the Fund was reflective of a sharing of economies of scale between Columbia WAM and the Fund.

Other Benefits to Columbia WAM. The Trustees also reviewed benefits that accrue to Columbia WAM and its affiliates from their relationships with the Fund, based upon information provided to them by Ameriprise and as outlined in the Fee Evaluation. They noted that the Fund's transfer agency services are performed by Columbia Management Investment Services Corp., an affiliate of Ameriprise, which receives compensation from the Fund for its services provided. They considered that an affiliate of Ameriprise, Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. ("CMID"), serves as the Fund's distributor under an underwriting agreement but receives no fees for its services to the Fund. In addition, Columbia Management provides sub-administration services to the Fund. The Committee received information regarding the profitability of the Fund agreement with Columbia WAM affiliates. The Committee and the Board also reviewed information about and discussed the capabilities of each affiliated entity in performing its duties.

The Trustees considered other ways that the Fund and Columbia WAM may potentially benefit from their relationship with each other. For example, the Trustees considered Columbia WAM's use of commissions paid by the Fund on its portfolio brokerage transactions to obtain research products and services benefiting the Fund and/or other clients of Columbia WAM. The Committee reviewed Columbia WAM's annual "soft dollar" report and met with representatives from Columbia WAM to review

Columbia WAM's soft dollar spending. The Committee also considered that the Compliance Committee of the Board regularly reviewed third-party prepared reports that evaluated the quality of Columbia WAM's execution of the Fund's portfolio transactions. The Trustees noted that these reports showed that Columbia WAM's execution capabilities were generally better than industry peers. The Trustees determined that Columbia WAM's use of the Fund's "soft" commission dollars to obtain research products and services was consistent with current regulatory requirements and guidance. They also concluded that Columbia WAM benefits from the receipt of proprietary research products and services acquired through commissions paid on portfolio transactions of the Fund, and that the Fund benefitted from Columbia WAM's receipt of those products and services as well as research products and services acquired through commissions paid by other clients of Columbia WAM.

After full consideration of the above factors, as well as other factors that were instructive in evaluating the Advisory Agreement, the Trustees, including the Independent Trustees by separate vote, concluded that the continuation of the Advisory Agreement was in the best interest of the Fund. On June 5, 2013, the Trustees approved continuation of the Advisory Agreement through July 31, 2014.


26



Wanger International 2013 Semiannual Report

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27



Wanger International 2013 Semiannual Report

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28




Wanger International 2013 Semiannual Report

Columbia Wanger Funds

Trustees

Laura M. Born
Chair of the Board

Steven N. Kaplan
Vice Chair of the Board

Michelle L. Collins
Maureen M. Culhane
Margaret M. Eisen
John C. Heaton
Charles P. McQuaid
David J. Rudis
David B. Small
Ralph Wanger (Trustee Emeritus)

Officers

Charles P. McQuaid
President

Robert A. Chalupnik
Vice President

Michael G. Clarke
Assistant Treasurer

Joseph F. DiMaria
Assistant Treasurer

P. Zachary Egan
Vice President

Fritz Kaegi
Vice President

John M. Kunka
Assistant Treasurer

Stephen Kusmierczak
Vice President

Joseph C. LaPalm
Vice President

Bruce H. Lauer
Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer

Louis J. Mendes III
Vice President

Robert A. Mohn
Vice President

Christopher J. Olson
Vice President

Christopher O. Petersen
Assistant Secretary

Scott R. Plummer
Assistant Secretary

Linda K. Roth-Wiszowaty
Assistant Secretary

Robert P. Scales
Chief Compliance Officer, Chief Legal Officer, Senior Vice President and
General Counsel

Andreas Waldburg-Wolfegg
Vice President

Investment Manager

Columbia Wanger Asset Management, LLC
227 West Monroe Street, Suite 3000
Chicago, Illinois 60606
1-888-4-WANGER
(1-888-492-6437)

Transfer Agent,
Dividend Disbursing Agent

Columbia Management Investment Services Corp.
P.O. Box 8081
Boston, Massachusetts
02266-8081

Distributor

Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc.
225 Franklin Street
Boston, Massachusetts
02110

Legal Counsel to the Funds

Perkins Coie LLP
Washington, DC

Legal Counsel to the Independent Trustees

Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Chicago, Illinois

This document contains Global Industry Classification Standard data. The Global Industry Classification Standard ("GICS") was developed by and is the exclusive property and a service mark of MSCI Inc. ("MSCI") and Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC ("S&P") and is licensed for use by Columbia Wanger Asset Management, LLC ("CWAM"). Neither MSCI, S&P, nor any other party involved in making or compiling the GICS or any GICS classifications makes any express or implied warranties or representations with respect to such standard or classification (or the results to be obtained by the use thereof), and all such parties hereby expressly disclaim all warranties of originality, accuracy, completeness, merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose with respect to any of such standard or classification. Without limiting any of the foregoing, in no event shall MSCI, S&P, any of their affiliates or any third party involved in making or compiling the GICS or any GICS classifications have any liability for any direct, indirect, special, punitive, consequential or any other damages (including lost profits) even if notified of the possibility of such damages.

This report, including the schedules of investments and financial statements, is submitted for the general information of the shareholders of the Wanger Advisors Trust.

A description of the Fund's proxy voting policies and procedures and a copy of the Fund's voting record for the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 are available (i) on our website, columbiamanagement.com, (ii) on the Securities and Exchange Commission's website at www.sec.gov, and (iii) without charge, upon request, by calling 888-492-6437.

The Fund files a complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q. The Fund's Form N-Q is available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov and may be reviewed and copied at the SEC's Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. Information on the operation of the Pubic Reference Room may be obtained by calling 800-SEC-0330. The Fund's complete portfolio holdings are disclosed at www.columbiamanagement.com approximately 30 to 40 days after each month-end.


29



Columbia Wanger Funds

© 2013 Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC. All rights reserved.

(8/13) 710322




Wanger International Select

2013 Semiannual Report

Not FDIC insuredNo bank guaranteeMay lose value



Columbia Wanger Asset Management, LLC (CWAM) is one of the leading global small- and mid-cap equity managers in the United States with over 40 years of small- and mid-cap investment experience. As of June 30, 2013, CWAM managed $34.9 billion in assets. CWAM is the investment manager to Wanger USA, Wanger International, Wanger Select and Wanger International Select (together, the Columbia Wanger Funds) and the Columbia Acorn Family of Funds.

Investors should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of a mutual fund carefully before investing. For a free prospectus, which contains this and other important information about the Fund, contact your financial adviser, insurance company, qualified pension or retirement plan sponsor or call 1-888-4-WANGER. Read the prospectus carefully before investing.

An important note: Columbia Wanger Funds are available for purchase through variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies offered by the separate accounts of participating insurance companies and qualified pension or retirement plans.

Shares of the Fund may not be purchased or sold directly by individual owners of variable annuity contracts and/or variable life insurance policies (collectively, Contracts) or participants in qualified retirement or other plans (collectively, Qualified Plans). If you are the owner of a Contract or a participant in a Qualified Plan, please refer to the prospectus that describes your Contract or Qualified Plan for information about minimum investment requirements and how to purchase and redeem shares of the Fund.

The views expressed in "Health Care in the United States" and in the Performance Review reflect the current views of the respective authors. These views are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict so actual outcomes and results may differ significantly from those stated. These views are subject to change at any time based upon economic, market or other conditions and the respective parties disclaim any responsibility to update such views. These views may not be relied on as investment advice and, because investment decisions for a Columbia Wanger Fund are based on numerous factors, may not be relied on as an indication of trading intent on behalf of any particular Columbia Wanger Fund. References to specific company securities should not be construed as a recommendation or investment advice.




  Wanger International Select

  2013 Semiannual Report

    Table of Contents

  2    

Understanding Your Expenses

 
  3    

Health Care in the United States

 
  6    

Performance Review

 
  8    

Statement of Investments

 
  13    

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

 
  13    

Statement of Operations

 
  14    

Statement of Changes in Net Assets

 
  15    

Financial Highlights

 
  16    

Notes to Financial Statements

 
  20    

Board Approval of the Advisory Agreement

 



Wanger International Select 2013 Semiannual Report

Understanding Your Expenses

As an investor, you incur two types of costs. There are transaction costs, which may include redemption fees or exchange fees charged under your contract or qualified plan. There are also ongoing costs, which generally include management fees and other Fund expenses. Lastly, there may be additional fees or charges imposed by the insurance company that sponsors your variable annuity and/or variable life insurance product. The following information is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to help you compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.

Analyzing your Fund's expenses

To illustrate the ongoing costs, we have provided an example and calculated the expenses paid by investors in the Fund during the period. The actual and hypothetical information in the table below is based on an initial investment of $1,000 at the beginning of the period indicated and held for the entire period. Expense information is calculated two ways and each method provides you with different information. The amount listed in the "Actual" column is calculated using the Fund's actual operating expenses and total return for the period. You may use the Actual information, together with the amount invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the results by the expenses paid during the period under the Actual column. The amount listed in the "Hypothetical" column assumes a 5% annual rate of return before expenses (which is not the Fund's actual return) and then applies the Fund's actual expense ratio for the period to the hypothetical return. You should not use the hypothetical account values and expenses to estimate either your actual account balance at the end of the period or the expenses you paid during the period. See "Compare with other funds" below for details on how to use the hypothetical data.

Compare with other funds

Since all mutual funds are required to include the same hypothetical calculations about expenses in shareholder reports, you can use this information to compare the ongoing cost of investing in the Fund with other funds. To do so, compare the hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of other funds. As you compare hypothetical examples of other funds, it is important to note that hypothetical examples are meant to highlight the ongoing cost of investing in a fund only and do not reflect any transaction costs, such as redemption or exchange fees. Therefore, the hypothetical calculations are useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of investing in different funds. If transaction costs were included in these calculations, your costs would be higher.

January 1, 2013 – June 30, 2013

  Account value at the
beginning of the period ($)
  Account value at the
end of the period ($)
  Expenses paid during
period ($)
  Fund's annualized
expense ratio (%)*
 

 

Actual

 

Hypothetical

 

Actual

 

Hypothetical

 

Actual

 

Hypothetical

     

Wanger International Select

   

1,000.00

     

1,000.00

     

1,017.80

     

1,017.41

     

7.17

     

7.17

     

1.45

   

          

*  Expenses paid during the period are equal to the Fund's annualized expense ratio, multiplied by the average account value over the period, then multiplied by the number of days in the Fund's most recent fiscal half-year and divided by 365.

It is important to note that the expense amounts shown in the table are meant to highlight only ongoing costs of investing in the Fund. Expenses paid during the period do not include any insurance charges imposed by your insurance company's separate account.


2



Wanger International Select 2013 Semiannual Report

Health Care in the United States

Critics of the U.S. health care system note that the World Health Organization (WHO) ranked the United States thirtieth in the world in life expectancy1 despite the fact that the United States spends more money per capita on health care than any other country. They argue that health care in the United States is inferior to health care in many other developed countries.

Scott W. Atlas's book, In Excellent Health, Setting the Record Straight on America's Health Care,2 analyzes the consequences of poor lifestyle choices made by many Americans and how the U.S. health care system operates compared to health care systems elsewhere. His book cites numerous studies indicating the U.S. health care system does a great job addressing the health concerns of Americans and is likely the best system in the world.

Life Expectancy

The United States is much more violent and accident-prone than other developed countries. Homicide rates in the United States are ten times that of the United Kingdom and five times that of Canada.3 Death rates from transportation accidents in the United States are 250% that of the United Kingdom and 160% that of Canada.4 Murder and accidents account for the majority of deaths among young adults in the United States,5 and deaths at young ages substantially impact life expectancies.

Robert Ohsfeldt's and John Schneider's book, The Business of Health,6 attempts to quantify the impact of fatal injuries on life expectancy. Using linear regression, they calculate that after standardizing for fatal injuries alone, the United States would edge out Switzerland by 0.3 years and have the highest life expectancy of any country in the world.7

Other studies indicate that violence and accidents account for much, but not all, of the life expectancy shortfall in the United States. A National Academy of Sciences panel addressing cross-national health differences issued a paper that indicated 57% of the life expectancy gap for

males under age 50 and 38% for females under 50 is explained by higher violence and accidents in the United States.8

The United States has a much higher incidence of obesity than other developed countries. Atlas notes that in 2010 34% of people in the United States were obese compared to 15% in Canada, 17% in Western Europe and about 24% in the United Kingdom.9 The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) estimates that obesity reduces life spans by up to eight to ten years.10 Sadly, the worst is yet to come for the United States, as obesity rates have increased and there appears to be a 25-year time lag between becoming obese and suffering premature death.11

Cigarette use in the United States is down substantially; smoking rates are now lower than most other OECD countries.12 However, studies have found a time lag of roughly 25 to 30 years between smoking and lung cancer mortality.13 The United States had the highest rate of smoking in the developed world from the 1930s to the mid-1980s and, according to a 2007 study, 53% of Americans were current or former smokers, compared to 43% of Western Europeans.14 Clearly the United States' legacy of smoking continues to impact health. The Surgeon General estimates that cigarette smoking causes 443,000 deaths in the United States yearly, nearly one-fifth of all deaths.15

With respect to neonatal mortality, Atlas writes that the United States has stringent reporting requirements and definitions. Birth registrations in the United States are done by hospitals and health care professionals, while many other countries rely on reporting by families or surveys.16 In the United States, a live birth is tabulated should a newborn breathe, have a beating heart, move voluntary muscles or show any other evidence of life.17 According to WHO, countries representing only 13% of births worldwide had reliable data meeting this definition.18

Elsewhere, definitions for live births vary greatly. Some countries consider births as live only if 28 weeks gestation was achieved, if a baby is 30 centimeters long, or if a baby survives 24 hours.19 Otherwise, the baby is classified as stillborn and is not considered an infant mortality. Atlas states, "... considering that roughly half of all U.S. infant mortality occurs in the first twenty-four hours, the single criterion of omitting deaths within the first twenty-four hours by many European nations generates their falsely superior infant mortality rates."20

Data from 2004 indicated that the United States had 12% of births classified as preterm (under 32 weeks gestation), a rate 50% to 100% higher than most European countries.21 These figures are impacted by the fact the United States has more multiple gestation pregnancies. Since the early 1980s, the incidence of triplets in the United States has more than tripled to over 140 births per 100,000.22 Atlas notes that in 2007, 17% of twins and 40% of triplets in the United States were associated with fertility treatments.

The United States health care system should be applauded for its efforts to save premature babies rather than write them off as stillborn, as many other countries do. Except for a very limited number of abusive cases, fertility treatment should be considered a virtue of the U.S. health care system. Yet, coupled with superior record keeping, these efforts depress the country's life expectancy ranking.

Diagnosis, Treatment and Outcomes

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lists heart disease as the top killer in the United States, accounting for 25% of deaths, followed by cancer at 23%, and stroke a distant third at 6%.23 Rather than judge a health care system on reported life expectancy, Atlas assesses health care quality in the United States based on actual medical care, especially diagnosis and treatment of important diseases, using objective data.


3



Wanger International Select 2013 Semiannual Report

Atlas notes the challenges facing the health care system due to the poor lifestyle choices of many Americans. The CDC estimates that 80% of diabetes, heart disease and stroke, and 40% of cancer, could be eliminated through reduction in obesity and smoking.24 The rate of diabetes in the United States is typically 33% to 100% higher than other developed countries.25 A 2007 study indicated that 12% of Americans over age 50 were diagnosed with cancer, compared to only 5% in a composite of 10 European countries.26

Atlas cites data showing more timely diagnosis and treatment in the United States as compared to other countries. He writes that, "... prolonged wait times are commonly found in health systems with government-controlled nationalized health insurance."27 Numerous countries with single payer systems had to create policies to address prolonged wait times, including Canada, England, Italy, Sweden and Spain.

The United States is among the world's leaders in per capita computerized tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners,28 which are crucial to accurately diagnosing leading fatal diseases and guiding lower risk and more effective treatments. In the United States, referring doctors book CT and MRI appointments within days. In other countries, people wait. In 2010, the average wait time in Canada for a CT scan was 4 weeks and for an MRI, 10 weeks.29 A 2011 study in the United Kingdom indicated thousands of people waited over six weeks for an MRI scan. With respect to breast cancer biopsies, another survey indicated that only 1% of U.S. patients waited three weeks or more while 44% of Canadian and 20% of U.K. patients waited that long.30

Treatment of diseases also tends to be very timely in the United States. One study indicated that no elective (non-emergency) cardiac bypass patients in the United States were known to have waited more than three months, while 47% in Canada and 89% in the United Kingdom waited at least that long.31

Furthermore, treatments in the United States tend to be aggressive. A 2009 paper written by

University of Pennsylvania professor Samuel Preston and doctoral candidate Jessica Ho states that 88% of Americans with high cholesterol are being medicated versus 62% of Europeans. Likewise a higher percentage of Americans over age 50 with heart disease receive medication. Among those with hypertension in the United States, 66% were being successfully treated, versus 25% to 49% in other countries.32

With respect to cancer, Preston and Ho cite studies showing that the United States tends to have the highest percentage of screenings for breast, cervical, prostate and colon cancer.33 If cancer is detected, Americans tend to receive more surgery, chemotherapy and advanced cancer drugs. A 2008 study calculated five-year survival rates for breast, colorectal and prostate cancers. Patients in the United States lead the world with a 74% survival rate. Second-best Canada came in at 71% and the United Kingdom was a laggard at 52%.

Atlas adds that new oncology drugs are most often approved and first used in the United States.34 Some 80% of worldwide medical innovation originates in the United States and, since the mid-1970s, U.S. scientists have won more than half of Nobel Prize awards in medicine and physiology.

The statistics are clear. Sick Americans are more likely to receive timely and aggressive health care than citizens of other countries. Atlas writes, "Availability of state-of-the-art medical technology, timely access to specialists, the most effective screening, the shortest wait times for life-changing surgeries, the newest, most effective drugs for more accurate, safer diagnosis and for the most advanced treatment are all superior in the United States."35

Many people appear to agree. In 2008, a McKinsey & Company study estimated that up to 85,000 patients sought in-patient treatment outside their home country. Of that number, 87% traveled to the United States for advanced medical technology, better quality care or quicker access to care. In contrast, critics of the U.S.

health care system don't appear to be traveling to Cuba for treatment. Based on the facts, I agree with Atlas.

Health Care Economics and Investment Implications

Atlas states that the, "... only real crisis in America's health care today is the unsustainable and increasing burden of health care costs..."36 and recommends free market reforms. Health care costs are not the topic of this essay, but world-class health care clearly is expensive, and costs in the United States are exacerbated by detrimental lifestyle choices. I also believe that poor government policies result in few incentives for cost restraint.

Columbia Wanger Asset Management, the investment manager of the Columbia Wanger Funds, strives to provide Columbia Wanger Fund investors with investments in health care companies that are pursuing breakthrough drugs and devices, with the potential to transform treatment of serious and poorly managed diseases. For example, in pivotal studies Seattle Genetics' drug Adcetris delivered 80% response rates in advanced Hodgkin's lymphoma patients who had exhausted all other treatment options.37 In addition, we seek to invest in companies with products and services that we believe increase the cost effectiveness of health care delivery. We attempt to avoid investing in health care companies that may be more likely to be subject to cost cuts or price controls.

Charles P. McQuaid
President and Chief Investment Officer
Columbia Wanger Asset Management, LLC


4



Wanger International Select 2013 Semiannual Report

The information and data provided in this analysis are derived from sources that we deem to be reliable and accurate. These views are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict so actual outcomes and results may differ significantly from the views expressed. The views/opinions expressed here are those of the author and not of the Wanger Advisors Trust Board, are subject to change at any time based upon economic, market or other conditions, may differ from views expressed by other Columbia Management associates and the respective parties disclaim any responsibility to update such views. These views may not be relied on as investment advice and, because investment decisions for a Columbia Wanger Fund are based on numerous factors, may not be relied on as an indication of trading intent on behalf of any particular Columbia Wanger Fund.

1  Atlas, Scott W., In Excellent Health, Setting the Record Straight on American's Heath Care, (Stanford, California, Hoover Institution Press), p. 2.

2  Ibid.

3  Ohsfeldt, Robert L., and Schneider, John E., The Business of Health, The Role of Competition, Markets, and Regulation, (Washington, D.C., The AEI Press), p. 19.

4  Atlas, Scott W., op. cit., p. 28.

5  Ibid., p. 28.

6  Ohsfeldt, Robert L., and Schneider, John E., op. cit.

7  Ibid., p. 22.

8  Steven H. Woolf and Laudan Aron, Editors; Panel on Understanding Cross-National Health Differences Among High-Income Countries; Committee on Population; Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education; National Research Council; Board on Population Health and Public Health Practice; Institute of Medicine, www.nap.edu.

9  Atlas, Scott W., op. cit., p. 105.

10  Ibid., p. 31.

11  Ibid., p. 107.

12  Ibid., p. 40.

13  Ibid., p. 41.

14  Ibid., p. 111.

15  Ibid., p. 108.

16  Ibid., p. 60.

17  Ibid., p. 67.

18  Ibid., p. 71.

19  Ibid., p. 68.

20  Ibid., p. 70.

21  Ibid., p. 73.

22  Ibid., p. 89.

23  Ibid., p. 119.

24  Ibid., p. 103.

25  Ibid., p. 113.

26  Preston, Samuel H., and Ho, Jessica Y., "Low Life Expectancy in the United States: Is the Health Care System at Fault?" University of Pennsylvania Scholarly Commons Working Paper Series, July 1, 2009, p. 4, http://repository.upenn.edu/psc_working_papers/13/. Accessed July 24, 2013.

27  Atlas, Scott W., op. cit., p. 159.

28  Ibid., p. 192-193.

29  Ibid., p. 194.

30  Ibid., p. 175.

31  Ibid., p. 187.

32  Preston, Samuel H., and Ho, Jessica Y., op. cit., p. 6.

33  Ibid., p. 3.

34  Atlas, Scott W., op. cit., p. 222.

35  Ibid., p. 233.

36  Ibid., p. 245.

37  Seattle Genetics is held in the following Columbia Wanger Funds: Wanger USA, 1.2%; Wanger Select, 1.3%.


5




Wanger International Select 2013 Semiannual Report

Performance Review Wanger International Select

Christopher J. Olson
Portfolio Manager

Performance data shown represents past performance and is not a guarantee of future results. The investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data shown. Please visit columbiamanagement.com for most recent month-end performance updates.

Wanger International Select finished the semiannual period ended June 30, 2013, up 1.78%. This compares to a 4.30% gain by its primary benchmark, the S&P Developed Ex-U.S. Between $2B and $10B Index. Overall, the Fund's very strong stock performance in Japan was more than offset by an overweight in the underperforming materials sector.

Start Today, a Japanese online apparel retailer, was the top contributor to Fund gains for the first half of 2013. Up 114%, the company continued to benefit from improved marketing and cost cutting, combined with strong revenue growth. NGK Spark Plug, a Japanese auto parts manufacturer, ended the half year up 53%, as exporters continued to benefit from a weaker yen. Rounding out the Japanese winners, Seven Bank, a provider of ATM processing services, enjoyed a 39% year-to-date gain as the company continued expansion of ATMs in the 7-11 store network in Japan. Far EasTone Telecom, Taiwan's third largest mobile operator, and Taiwan Mobile, its second largest, rebounded from early declines in the period to end the six months up 5% and 7%, respectively. Both companies continue to report very steady earnings growth driven by increasing smartphone usage and subsequent data growth.

As mentioned, the Fund's performance during the period was dampened by its overweight in the materials sector. Eight of the ten greatest detractors from performance during the six-month period were mining stocks. The list included Brazilian gold miner Beadell Resources, Fresnillo, a silver and metal byproduct miner in Mexico, and Australian gold miner Regis Resources. Each fell more than 50% during the half year period. Falling gold and silver prices drove the sector's underperformance despite individual companies' reports of good operating results. The Fund cut back on its exposure in the materials sector early in the period, but we believe that historically low valuations at this point argue for leaving its current weighting in place.

Real estate stocks pulled back late in the period on fears of higher interest rates. Singaporean industrial property landlords Ascendas REIT and Mapletree Logistics Trust fell 8% and 5%, respectively. Operationally, these REITs continue to perform well.

Monetary policy has been one of the main drivers of stock market performance and those countries with significant easing programs (Japan and the United States, for example) have reported strong returns while those countries that do not have similar programs (Hong Kong, Korea, many emerging markets) have been decidedly weak. Fund holdings reflected this trend with strength coming from Japanese names, while those listed in emerging markets struggled during the period. The Fund will continue to focus on companies with strong fundamentals but will seek to be mindful of the impact that government policies are having on the investment environment.

International investing involves special risks, including foreign taxation, currency risks, risks associated with possible differences in financial standards, operational and settlement risks and other risks associated with future political and economic developments. Stocks of small- and mid-cap companies pose special risks, including possible illiquidity and greater price volatility than stocks of larger, more established companies. The Fund has potentially greater price volatility due to its concentration in a limited number of stocks of small- and mid-size companies. Investing in emerging markets may involve greater risks than investing in more developed countries.

Portfolio holdings are subject to change periodically and may not be representative of current holdings.

Fund's Positions in Mentioned Holdings

As a percentage of net assets, as of 6/30/13

Far EasTone Telecom

   

7.3

%

 

Taiwan Mobile

   

5.3

   

NGK Spark Plug

   

4.6

   

Start Today

   

4.6

   

Ascendas REIT

   

4.6

   

Seven Bank

   

2.9

   

Mapletree Logistics Trust

   

2.6

   

Beadell Resources

   

1.6

   

Regis Resources

   

1.3

   

Fresnillo

   

0.9

   


6



Wanger International Select 2013 Semiannual Report

Growth of a $10,000 Investment in Wanger International Select
February 1, 1999 (inception date) through June 30, 2013

Performance data shown represents past performance and is not a guarantee of future results. The investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data shown. Performance results reflect any fee waivers or reimbursements of Fund expenses by the investment manager and/or any of its affiliates. Absent these fee waivers and/or expense reimbursement arrangements, performance results would have been lower. For daily and most recent month-end performance updates, please call 1-888-4-WANGER.

This graph compares the results of $10,000 invested in Wanger International Select on February 1, 1999 (the date the Fund began operations) through June 30, 2013, to the S&P Developed Ex-U.S. Between $2B and $10B Index, with dividends and capital gains reinvested. Although the index is provided for use in assessing the Fund's performance, the Fund's holdings may differ significantly from those in the index.

Top 10 Holdings

As a percentage of net assets, as of 6/30/13

1. Far EasTone Telecom (Taiwan)
Taiwan's Third Largest Mobile Operator
  7.3
 

%

 
2. Taiwan Mobile (Taiwan)
Taiwan's Second Largest Mobile Operator
  5.3
 
 
3. NGK Spark Plug (Japan)
Automobile Parts
  4.6
 
 
4. Start Today (Japan)
Online Japanese Apparel Retailer
  4.6
 
 
5. Ascendas REIT (Singapore)
Industrial Property Landlord
  4.6
 
 
6. CCL Industries (Canada)
Largest Global Label Converter
  3.9
 
 
7. Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group (United Kingdom)
International Business Insurance Broker
  3.7
 
 
8. Seven Bank (Japan)
ATM Processing Services
  2.9
 
 
9. Mapletree Logistics Trust (Singapore)
Industrial Property Landlord
  2.6
 
 
10. Archipelago Resources (Indonesia)
Gold Mining Projects in Indonesia, Vietnam & the Philippines
  2.4
 
 

Top 5 Countries

As a percentage of net assets, as of 6/30/13

Japan

   

20.8

%

 

Taiwan

   

14.5

   

Singapore

   

9.6

   

United Kingdom

   

9.1

   

Australia

   

4.3

   

Results as of June 30, 2013

 

2nd quarter*

 

Year to date*

 

1 year

 

5 years

 

10 years

 
Wanger International
Select
   

-1.30

%

   

1.78

%

   

12.97

%

   

0.89

%

   

11.98

%

 
S&P Developed Ex-U.S.
Between $2B and
$10B Index**
   

-1.05

     

4.30

     

17.71

     

1.17

     

10.30

   

MSCI EAFE Index (Net)

   

-0.98

     

4.10

     

18.62

     

-0.63

     

7.67

   
Lipper Variable Underlying
International Growth Funds
Index
   

-1.78

     

2.16

     

15.59

     

0.02

     

7.88

   

*Not annualized.

**The Fund's primary benchmark.

NAV as of 6/30/13: $18.39

Performance numbers reflect all Fund expenses but do not include any fees and expenses imposed under your variable annuity or life insurance policy or qualified pension or retirement plan. If performance included the effect of these additional charges, it would be lower.

The Fund's annual operating expense ratio of 1.42% is stated as of the Fund's prospectus dated May 1, 2013, and differences in expense ratios disclosed elsewhere in this report may result from including fee waivers and expense reimbursements as well as different time periods used in calculating the ratios.

All results shown assume reinvestment of distributions.

The S&P Developed Ex-U.S. Between $2B and $10B Index is a subset of the broad market selected by the index sponsor representing the mid-cap developed market, excluding the United States. The MSCI Europe, Australasia, Far East (EAFE) Index (Net) is a capitalization-weighted index that tracks the total return of common stocks in 22 developed-market countries within Europe, Australasia and the Far East. The returns of the MSCI EAFE Index (Net) are presented net of the withholding tax rate applicable to foreign non-resident institutional investors in the foreign companies included in the index who do not benefit from double taxation treaties. The performance of the MSCI EAFE Index (Net) is provided to show how the Fund's performance compares to a widely recognized broad-based index of foreign market performance. The Lipper Variable Underlying International Growth Funds Index is an equally weighted representation of the 30 largest variable insurance underlying funds in the Lipper Variable Underlying International Growth Funds Classification, and shows how the Fund's performance compares with returns of an index of funds with similar investment objectives. Indexes are not managed and do not incur fees or expenses. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.

Lipper Inc., a widely respected data provider in the industry, calculates an average total return (assuming reinvestment of distributions) for mutual funds with investment objectives similar to those of the Fund.

Portfolio characteristics and holdings are subject to change periodically and may not be representative of current characteristics and holdings.


7




Wanger International Select 2013 Semiannual Report

Wanger International Select

Statement of Investments (Unaudited), June 30, 2013

Number of
Shares
     

Value

 
   

Equities – 90.6%

 
   

Asia – 51.7%

 
   

Japan – 20.8%

 
55,000
  NGK Spark Plug
Automobile Parts
 

$

1,100,819
 
55,500
  Start Today
Online Japanese Apparel Retailer
  1,086,778
 
192,000
  Seven Bank
ATM Processing Services
  696,016
 
7,200
  Rinnai
Gas Appliances for Household & Commercial Use
  511,960
 
56
  Nippon Prologis REIT (a)
Logistics Real Estate Investment Trust in Japan
  485,926
 
9,000
  Toyo Suisan Kaisha
Instant Noodle Manufacturer
  299,455
 
6,400
  Familymart
Convenience Store Operator
  273,078
 
223
  Orix JREIT
Diversified Real Estate Investment Trust
  254,530
 
13,000
  Park24
Parking Lot Operator
  235,847
 
     

4,944,409

   
   

Taiwan – 14.5%

 
647,000
  Far EasTone Telecom
Taiwan's Third Largest Mobile Operator
  1,734,029
 
318,000
  Taiwan Mobile
Taiwan's Second Largest Mobile Operator
  1,252,810
 
261,000
  CTCI Corp
International Engineering Firm
  473,368
 
     

3,460,207

   
   

Singapore – 9.6%

 
618,000
  Ascendas REIT
Industrial Property Landlord
  1,083,035
 
704,000
  Mapletree Logistics Trust
Industrial Property Landlord
  610,159
 
384,000
  Mapletree Industrial Trust
Industrial Property Landlord
  399,065
 
197,000
  Mapletree Commercial Trust
Retail & Office Property Landlord
  183,595
 
     

2,275,854

   
Number of
Shares
     

Value

 
   

Indonesia – 2.4%

 

783,000

  Archipelago Resources (b)
Gold Mining Projects in Indonesia,
Vietnam & the Philippines
 

$

562,702

 
   

Korea – 2.3%

 
6,350
  Coway
Household Appliance Rental Service Provider
  308,573
 
5,330
  Kepco Plant Service & Engineering
Power Plant & Grid Maintenance
  242,686
 
     

551,259

   
   

Hong Kong – 2.1%

 
157,000
  Melco International
Macau Casino Operator
  294,585
 
278,000
  Mapletree Greater China Commercial
Trust (b)
Retail & Office Property Landlord
  206,623
 
     

501,208

   
       

Total Asia

   

12,295,639

   
   

Europe – 20.2%

 
   

United Kingdom – 9.1%

 
64,000
  Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group
International Business Insurance Broker
  886,479
 
46,000
  Smith & Nephew
Medical Equipment & Supplies
  515,194
 
6,000
  Whitbread
The UK's Leading Hotelier & Coffee Shop
  279,118
 
17,500
  Telecity
European Data Center Provider
  269,676
 
13,086
  Babcock International
Public Sector Outsourcer
  219,726
 
     

2,170,193

   
   

Denmark – 3.4%

 
10,000
  SimCorp
Software for Investment Managers
  297,223
 
7,500
  Jyske Bank (b)
Danish Bank
  282,105
 
7,000
  Novozymes
Industrial Enzymes
  224,211
 
     

803,539

   

See accompanying notes to financial statements.
8



Wanger International Select 2013 Semiannual Report

Wanger International Select

Statement of Investments (Unaudited), June 30, 2013

Number of
Shares
     

Value

 
   

France – 2.2%

 
8,000
  Neopost
Postage Meter Machines
 

$

529,694
 
   

Switzerland – 1.8%

 
1,570
  Partners Group
Private Markets Asset Management
  424,966
 
   

Germany – 1.1%

 
9,800
  Wirecard
Online Payment Processing & Risk Management
  266,658
 
   

Iceland – 1.1%

 

252,000

  Marel
Largest Manufacturer of Poultry & Fish
Processing Equipment
 

266,602

 
   

Sweden – 1.1%

 

9,700

  Hexagon
Design, Measurement & Visualization
Software & Equipment
 

259,294

 
   

Netherlands – 0.4%

 
11,496
  Imtech (a) (b)
Technical Installation & Maintenance
  84,622
 
       

Total Europe

   

4,805,568

   
   

Other Countries – 13.3%

 
   

Australia – 4.3%

 
130,500
  Challenger Financial
Largest Annuity Provider
  475,872
 
117,000
  Regis Resources (b)
Gold Mining in Australia
  309,715
 
47,000
  IAG
General Insurance Provider
  233,294
 
     

1,018,881

   
   

Canada – 4.0%

 
15,000
  CCL Industries
Largest Global Label Converter
  925,359
 
1,400
  Goldcorp
Gold Mining
  34,622
 
     

959,981

   
   

South Africa – 2.5%

 
55,451
  Coronation Fund Managers
South African Fund Manager
  352,027
 
Number of
Shares
     

Value

 

3,400

  Naspers
Media in Africa, China, Russia & Other
Emerging Markets
 

$

250,960

 
     

602,987

   
   

United States – 2.5%

 
6,000
  Atwood Oceanics (b)
Offshore Drilling Contractor
  312,300
 
4,600
  SM Energy
Oil & Gas Producer
  275,908
 
     

588,208

   
       

Total Other Countries

   

3,170,057

   
   

Latin America – 5.4%

 
   

Guatemala – 2.3%

 
39,000
  Tahoe Resources (b)
Silver Project in Guatemala
  552,905
 
   

Brazil – 1.6%

 
797,500
  Beadell Resources (b)
Gold Mining in Brazil
  372,067
 
   

Mexico – 0.9%

 
16,000
  Fresnillo
Silver & Metal Byproduct Mining in Mexico
  216,013
 
   

Uruguay – 0.6%

 
13,068
  Union Agriculture Group (b) (c) (d)
Farmland Operator in Uruguay
  135,254
 
   

Colombia – %

 
120,000
  Santa Maria Petroleum (b) (c)
Explores for Oil & Gas in Latin America
  2,995
 
       

Total Latin America

   

1,279,234

   
Total Equities
(Cost: $18,589,083) – 90.6%
   

21,550,498

(e)

 

Short-Term Investments – 9.4%

     
2,251,865

  JPMorgan U.S. Government Money
Market Fund, Capital Shares
(7 day yield of 0.01%)
   

2,251,865

   
Total Short-Term Investments
(Cost: $2,251,865) – 9.4%
   

2,251,865

   

See accompanying notes to financial statements.
9



Wanger International Select 2013 Semiannual Report

Wanger International Select

Statement of Investments (Unaudited), June 30, 2013

Number of
Shares
     

Value

 

Securities Lending Collateral – 2.1%

 
491,226
 
 
  Dreyfus Government Cash Management
Fund, Institutional Shares
(7 day yield of 0.01%) (f)
 

$

491,226

   
Total Securities Lending Collateral
(Cost: $491,226)
   

491,226

   
Total Investments
(Cost: $21,332,174) (g) – 102.1%
   

24,293,589

   
Obligation to Return Collateral for
Securities Loaned – (2.1)%
   

(491,226

)

 

Cash and Other Assets Less Liabilities – —%

   

(9,464

)

 

Net Assets – 100.0%

 

$

23,792,899

   

  REIT = Real Estate Investment Trust

Notes to Statement of Investments

(a)  All or a portion of this security was on loan at June 30, 2013. The total market value of securities on loan at June 30, 2013 was $466,218.

(b)  Non-income producing security.

(c)  Denotes a restricted security, which is subject to restrictions on resale under federal securities laws. These securities are valued at fair value determined in good faith under consistently applied procedures established by the Board of Trustees. At June 30, 2013, the market value of these securities amounted to $138,249, which represented 0.58% of total net assets. Additional information on these securities is as follows:


Security
  Acquisition
Dates
 

Shares

 

Cost

 

Value

 

Union Agriculture Group

  12/8/10-
6/27/12
   

13,068

   

$

150,000

   

$

135,254

   

Santa Maria Petroleum

 

1/14/11

   

120,000

     

151,653

     

2,995

   
           

$

301,653

   

$

138,249

   

(d)  Illiquid security.

(e)  On June 30, 2013, the Fund's total investments were denominated in currencies as follows:

Currency

 

Value

  Percentage of
Net Assets
 

Japanese Yen

 

$

4,944,409

     

20.8

   

Taiwan Dollar

   

3,460,207

     

14.5

   

British Pound

   

2,948,908

     

12.4

   

Hong Kong Dollar

   

2,482,477

     

10.4

   

Canadian Dollar

   

1,481,259

     

6.2

   

Australian Dollar

   

1,390,948

     

5.9

   
Other currencies less than
5% of total net assets
   

4,842,290

     

20.4

   

Total Equities

 

$

21,550,498

     

90.6

   

(f)  Investment made with cash collateral received from securities lending activity.

(g)  At June 30, 2013, for federal income tax purposes, the cost of investments was $21,332,174 and net unrealized appreciation was $2,961,415 consisting of gross unrealized appreciation of $4,380,067 and gross unrealized depreciation of $1,418,652.

  At June 30, 2013, the Fund had entered into the following forward foreign currency exchange contracts:

Forward
Foreign
Currency
Exchange
Contracts
to Buy
  Forward
Foreign
Currency
Exchange
Contracts
to Sell
 

Principal
Amount in
Foreign
Currency
 


Principal
Amount in
U.S. Dollar
 



Settlement
Date
 


Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
 

USD

     

ZAR

       

5,977,020

   

$

600,000

   

7/15/13

 

$

(3,474

)

 

The counterparty for all forward foreign currency exchange contracts is State Street Bank and Trust Company.

  USD = United States Dollar

  ZAR = South African Rand

Fair Value Measurements

  Various inputs are used in determining the value of the Fund's investments, following the input prioritization hierarchy established by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). These inputs are summarized in the three broad levels listed below:

  Level 1 – quoted prices in active markets for identical securities

  Level 2 – prices determined using other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk and others)

  Level 3 – prices determined using significant unobservable inputs where quoted prices or observable inputs are unavailable or less reliable (including management's own assumptions about the factors market participants would use in pricing an investment)

  The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.

  Examples of the types of securities in which the Fund would typically invest and how they are classified within this hierarchy are as follows. Typical Level 1 securities include exchange traded domestic equities, mutual funds whose NAVs are published each day and exchange traded foreign equities that are not statistically fair valued. Typical Level 2 securities include exchange traded foreign equities that are statistically fair valued, forward foreign currency exchange contracts and short-term investments valued at amortized cost. Additionally, securities fair valued by the Valuation Committee (the Committee) of the Fund's Board of Trustees (the Board) that rely on significant observable inputs are also included in Level 2. Typical Level 3 securities include any security fair valued by the Committee that relies on significant unobservable inputs.

  Under the direction of the Board, the Committee is responsible for carrying out the valuation procedures approved by the Board.

  The Committee meets as necessary, and no less frequently than quarterly, to determine fair values for securities for which market quotations are not readily available or for which the investment manager believes that available market quotations are unreliable, to review the appropriateness of the Trust's Portfolio Pricing Policy and the pricing procedures of the investment manager (the Policies), and to review the continuing

See accompanying notes to financial statements.
10



Wanger International Select 2013 Semiannual Report

Wanger International Select

Statement of Investments (Unaudited), June 30, 2013

appropriateness of the current value of any security subject to the Policies. The Policies address, among other things: circumstances under which market quotations will be deemed readily available; selection of third party pricing vendors; appropriate pricing methodologies; events that require fair valuation and fair value techniques; and circumstances under which securities will be deemed to pose a potential for stale pricing, including when securities are illiquid, restricted, or in default. The Committee may also meet to discuss additional valuation matters, which may include review of back-testing results, review of time-sensitive information or approval of other valuation related actions, and to review the appropriateness of the Policies.

  For investments categorized as Level 3, the significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement of the Funds' securities may include: (i) data specific to the issuer or comparable issuers, (ii) general market or specific sector news and (iii) quoted prices and specific or similar security transactions. The Committee considers this data and any changes from prior periods in order to assess the reasonableness of observable and unobservable inputs, any assumptions or internal models used to value those securities and changes in fair value. Significant changes in any of these factors could result in lower or higher fair value measurements. Various factors impact the frequency of monitoring (which may occur as often as daily), however the Committee may determine that changes to inputs, assumptions and models are not required with the same frequency.

The following table summarizes the inputs used, as of June 30, 2013, in valuing the Fund's assets:





Investment Type
 


Quoted Prices
(Level 1)
  Other
Significant
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
 
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
 
Total
 

Equities

 

Asia

 

$

   

$

12,295,639

   

$

   

$

12,295,639

   

Europe

   

     

4,805,568

     

     

4,805,568

   

Other Countries

   

1,548,189

     

1,621,868

     

     

3,170,057

   

Latin America

   

552,905

     

591,075

     

135,254

     

1,279,234

   

Total Equities

   

2,101,094

     

19,314,150

     

135,254

     

21,550,498

   
Total Short-Term
Investments
   

2,251,865

     

     

     

2,251,865

   
Total Securities Lending
Collateral
   

491,226

     

     

     

491,226

   

Total Investments

 

$

4,844,185

   

$

19,314,150

   

$

135,254

   

$

24,293,589

   
Unrealized Depreciation
on Forward Foreign
Currency Exchange
Contracts
         

(3,474

)

   

     

(3,474

)

 

Total

 

$

4,844,185

   

$

19,310,676

   

$

135,254

   

$

24,290,115

   

The Fund's assets assigned to the Level 2 input category are generally valued using a market approach, in which a security's value is determined through its correlation to prices and information from observable market transactions for similar or identical assets. Foreign equities are generally valued at the last sale price on the foreign exchange or market on which they trade. The Fund may use a statistical fair valuation model, in accordance with the policy adopted by the Board, provided by an independent third party to value securities principally traded in foreign markets in order to adjust for possible stale pricing that may occur between the close of the foreign exchanges and the time for valuation. These models take into account available market data including intraday index, ADR, and ETF movements. Forward foreign currency exchange contracts are valued at the prevailing forward exchange rate of the

underlying currencies. Securities acquired via private placement that have a holding period or an extended settlement period are valued at a discount to the same shares that are trading freely on the market. These discounts are determined by the investment manager's experience with similar securities or situations. Factors may include, but are not limited to, trade volume, shares outstanding and stock price.

  There were no transfers of financial assets between levels 1 and 2 during the period.

  The Fund does not hold any significant investments categorized as Level 3.

  Certain common stock classified as Level 3 are valued at fair value, using a market approach, as determined in good faith under consistently applied procedures established by and under the general supervision of the Board. To determine fair value for these securities, for which no market exists, the Committee utilizes the valuation technique it deems most appropriate in the circumstances, using some unobservable inputs, which may include, but are not limited to, trades of similar securities, estimated earnings of the company, market multiples derived from a set of comparable companies, and the position of the security within the company's capital structure. Significant increases or decreases to any of these inputs could result in a significantly lower or higher fair value measurement.

See accompanying notes to financial statements.
11



Wanger International Select 2013 Semiannual Report

Wanger International Select

Portfolio Diversification (Unaudited) June 30, 2013

At June 30, 2013, the Fund's portfolio investments as a percentage of net assets were diversified as follows:

   

Value

  Percentage
of Net Assets
 

Consumer Goods & Services

 

Other Durable Goods

 

$

1,612,779

     

6.8

   

Retail

   

1,359,856

     

5.7

   

Nondurables

   

925,359

     

3.9

   

Other Consumer Services

   

308,573

     

1.3

   

Food & Beverage

   

299,455

     

1.2

   

Casinos & Gaming

   

294,585

     

1.2

   

Restaurants

   

279,118

     

1.2

   
     

5,079,725

     

21.3

   

Information

 

Mobile Communications

   

2,986,839

     

12.6

   

Business Software

   

556,517

     

2.3

   

Computer Services

   

269,676

     

1.1

   

Financial Processors

   

266,658

     

1.1

   

Internet Related

   

250,960

     

1.1

   
     

4,330,650

     

18.2

   

Finance

 

Insurance

   

1,595,645

     

6.7

   

Banks

   

978,121

     

4.1

   

Brokerage & Money Management

   

776,993

     

3.3

   
     

3,350,759

     

14.1

   

Other Industries

 

Real Estate

   

3,222,933

     

13.5

   
     

3,222,933

     

13.5

   

Energy & Minerals

 

Mining

   

2,048,024

     

8.6

   

Oil Services

   

312,300

     

1.3

   

Oil & Gas Producers

   

278,903

     

1.2

   

Agricultural Commodities

   

135,254

     

0.6

   
     

2,774,481

     

11.7

   
   

Value

  Percentage
of Net Assets
 

Industrial Goods & Services

 

Machinery

 

$

796,296

     

3.4

   

Construction

   

473,368

     

2.0

   

Outsourcing Services

   

462,412

     

1.9

   

Other Industrial Services

   

320,469

     

1.4

   

Industrial Materials & Specialty Chemicals

   

224,211

     

0.9

   
     

2,276,756

     

9.6

   

Health Care

 

Medical Equipment & Devices

   

515,194

     

2.2

   
     

515,194

     

2.2

   

Total Equities:

   

21,550,498

     

90.6

   

Short-Term Investments:

   

2,251,865

     

9.4

   

Securities Lending Collateral:

   

491,226

     

2.1

   

Total Investments:

   

24,293,589

     

102.1

   
Obligation to Return Collateral
for Securities Loaned:
   

(491,226

)

   

(2.1

)

 
Cash and Other Assets
Less Liabilities:
   

(9,464

)

   

(0.0

)*

 

Net Assets:

 

$

23,792,899

     

100.0

%

 

*  Rounds to zero.

See accompanying notes to financial statements.
12




Wanger International Select 2013 Semiannual Report

Statement of Assets and Liabilities
June 30, 2013 (Unaudited)

Assets:

 

Investments, at cost

 

$

21,332,174

   
Investments, at value
(including securities on loan of $466,218)
 

$

24,293,589

   

Foreign currency (cost of $5,814)

   

5,814

   

Receivable for:

 

Investments sold

   

115,939

   

Fund shares sold

   

11,569

   

Securities lending income

   

1,755

   

Dividends

   

4,941

   

Foreign tax reclaims

   

13,099

   

Expense reimbursement due from investment advisor

   

97

   

Prepaid expenses

   

143

   

Total Assets

   

24,446,946

   

Liabilities:

 

Collateral on securities loaned

   

491,226

   
Unrealized depreciation on forward foreign
currency exchange contracts
   

3,474

   

Payable for:

 

Investments purchased

   

121,364

   

Fund shares redeemed

   

2,550

   

Investment advisory fee

   

606

   

Administration fee

   

32

   

Trustees' fees

   

7,017

   

Custody fee

   

4,389

   

Reports to shareholders

   

2,284

   

Other liabilities

   

21,105

   

Total Liabilities

   

654,047

   

Net Assets

 

$

23,792,899

   

Composition of Net Assets:

 

Paid-in capital

 

$

20,914,502

   

Overdistributed net investment income

   

(1,257,765

)

 

Accumulated net realized gain

   

1,178,964

   

Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:

 

Investments

   

2,961,415

   

Foreign currency translations

   

(743

)

 

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts

   

(3,474

)

 

Net Assets

 

$

23,792,899

   

Fund Shares Outstanding

   

1,293,683

   
Net asset value, offering price and redemption
price per share
 

$

18.39

   

Statement of Operations
For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2013 (Unaudited)

Investment Income:

 

Dividend income (net foreign taxes withheld of $27,240)

 

$

239,920

   

Interest income

   

7

   

Securities lending income, net

   

7,465

   

Total Investment Income

   

247,392

   

Expenses:

 

Investment advisory fee

   

113,774

   

Administration fee

   

6,052

   

Transfer agent fees

   

82

   

Trustees' fees

   

1,366

   

Custody fees

   

28,651

   

Reports to shareholders

   

12,191

   

Audit fees

   

16,550

   

Legal fees

   

815

   

Chief compliance officer expenses (See Note 4)

   

358

   

Commitment fee for line of credit (See Note 5)

   

73

   

Other expenses

   

967

   

Total Expenses

   

180,879

   

Advisory fee waiver (See Note 4)

   

(5,377

)

 

Net Expenses

   

175,502

   

Net Investment Income

   

71,890

   

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments:

 

Net realized gain (loss) on:

 

Investments

   

1,124,130

   

Foreign currency translations

   

2,164

   

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts

   

88,919

   

Net realized gain

   

1,215,213

   

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:

 

Investments

   

(856,485

)

 

Foreign currency translations

   

(461

)

 

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts

   

25,349

   

Net change in unrealized depreciation

   

(831,597

)

 

Net realized and unrealized gain

   

383,616

   

Net Increase in Net Assets from Operations

 

$

455,506

   

See accompanying notes to financial statements.
13



Wanger International Select 2013 Semiannual Report

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets

  (Unaudited)
Six Months
Ended
June 30,
2013
  Year Ended
December 31,
2012
 

Operations:

 

Net investment income

 

$

71,890

   

$

394,578

   

Net realized gain (loss) on:

 

Investments

   

1,124,130

     

2,993,706

   

Foreign currency translations

   

2,164

     

(10,501

)

 

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts

   

88,919

     

(13,334

)

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:

 

Investments

   

(856,485

)

   

1,544,427

   

Foreign currency translations

   

(461

)

   

549

   

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts

   

25,349

     

37,539

   

Net Increase in Net Assets from Operations

   

455,506

     

4,946,964

   

Distributions to Shareholders From:

 

Net investment income

   

(1,269,064

)

   

(278,945

)

 

Net realized gains

   

(876,210

)

   

   

Total Distributions to Shareholders

   

(2,145,274

)

   

(278,945

)

 

Share Transactions:

 

Subscriptions

   

982,122

     

1,426,353

   

Distributions reinvested

   

2,145,274

     

278,945

   

Redemptions

   

(2,460,926

)

   

(5,575,629

)

 

Net Increase (Decrease) from Share Transactions

   

666,470

     

(3,870,331

)

 

Total Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets

   

(1,023,298

)

   

797,688

   

Net Assets:

 

Beginning of period

   

24,816,197

     

24,018,509

   

End of period

 

$

23,792,899

   

$

24,816,197

   

Overdistributed net investment income

 

$

(1,257,765

)

 

$

(60,591

)

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.
14




Wanger International Select 2013 Semiannual Report

Financial Highlights

The following table is intended to help you understand the Fund's financial performance. Certain information reflects financial results for a single share held for the periods shown. Per share net investment income (loss) amounts are calculated based on average shares outstanding during the period. Total return assumes reinvestment of all dividends and distributions. Total return does not reflect payment of the expenses that apply to the variable accounts or contract charges, if any, and are not annualized for periods of less than one year.

    (Unaudited)
Six Months Ended
June 30,
 

Year Ended December 31,

 

Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

2010

 

2009

 

2008

 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

 

$

19.83

   

$

16.44

   

$

18.57

   

$

15.42

   

$

12.01

   

$

28.07

   

Income from Investment Operations:

 

Net investment income

   

0.06

     

0.29

     

0.14

     

0.09

     

0.10

     

0.21

   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

   

0.31

     

3.32

     

(1.99

)

   

3.28

     

3.71

     

(10.31

)

 

Total from Investment Operations

   

0.37

     

3.61

     

(1.85

)

   

3.37

     

3.81

     

(10.10

)

 

Less Distributions to Shareholders:

 

Net investment income

   

(1.07

)

   

(0.22

)

   

(0.28

)

   

(0.22

)

   

(0.40

)

   

(0.09

)

 

Net realized gains

   

(0.74

)

   

     

     

     

     

(5.87

)

 

Total Distributions to Shareholders

   

(1.81

)

   

(0.22

)

   

(0.28

)

   

(0.22

)

   

(0.40

)

   

(5.96

)

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

 

$

18.39

   

$

19.83

   

$

16.44

   

$

18.57

   

$

15.42

   

$

12.01

   

Total Return

   

1.78

%(a)

   

22.00

%

   

(10.11

)%(a)

   

22.09

%

   

32.92

%(a)

   

(44.35

)%

 

Ratios to Average Net Assets/Supplemental Data:

 

Total gross expenses

   

1.49

%(b)(c)

   

1.43

%(c)

   

1.45

%(c)

   

1.38

%(c)

   

1.49

%

   

1.24

%

 

Total net expenses

   

1.45

%(b)(c)

   

1.42

%(c)(d)

   

1.40

%(c)(d)

   

1.38

%(c)(d)

   

1.45

%(d)

   

1.24

%(d)

 

Net investment income

   

0.59

%(b)

   

1.57

%

   

0.77

%

   

0.57

%

   

0.75

%

   

1.10

%

 

Portfolio turnover rate

   

49

%

   

58

%

   

44

%

   

37

%

   

62

%

   

68

%

 

Net assets, end of period (000s)

 

$

23,793

   

$

24,816

   

$

24,019

   

$

31,669

   

$

31,454

   

$

29,604

   

Notes to Financial Highlights

(a)  Had the investment manager and/or its affiliates not waived a portion of expenses, total return would have been reduced.

(b)  Annualized.

(c)  In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.

(d)  The benefits derived from custody fees paid indirectly had an impact of less than 0.01%.

See accompanying notes to financial statements.
15




Wanger International Select 2013 Semiannual Report

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited)

1.  Nature of Operations

Wanger International Select (the Fund), a series of Wanger Advisors Trust (the Trust), is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act), as an open-end management investment company organized as a Massachusetts business trust. The investment objective of the Fund is to seek long-term capital appreciation. The Fund is available only for allocation to certain life insurance company separate accounts established for the purpose of funding participating variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies and may also be offered directly to certain qualified pension and retirement plans.

2.  Significant Accounting Policies

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Security valuation

Securities of the Fund are valued at market value or, if a market quotation for a security is not readily available or is deemed not to be reliable because of events or circumstances that have occurred between the market quotation and the time as of which the security is to be valued, the security is valued at its fair value determined in good faith under consistently applied procedures established by the Board of Trustees (the Board). A security traded on a securities exchange or in an over-the-counter market in which transaction prices are reported is valued at the last sales price at the time of valuation. A security traded principally on NASDAQ is valued at the NASDAQ official closing price. Mutual funds and exchange traded funds are valued at their closing net asset value as reported to the applicable exchange. A security for which there is no reported sale on the valuation date is valued at the mean of the latest bid and ask quotations.

Short-term investments maturing in 60 days or less are valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value.

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts are marked-to-market based upon foreign currency exchange rates provided by a pricing service.

A security for which a market quotation is not readily available and any other assets are valued at their fair value determined in good faith under consistently applied procedures established by the Board. The Trust has retained an independent statistical fair value pricing service that employs a systematic methodology to assist in the fair valuation process for securities principally traded in a foreign market in order to adjust for possible changes in value that may occur between the close of the foreign market and the time as of which the securities are to be valued. If a security is valued at a fair value, that value may be different from the last quoted market price for the security.

Foreign currency translations

Values of investments denominated in foreign currencies are converted into U.S. dollars using the New York spot market rate of exchange at the time of valuation. Purchases and sales of investments and dividend and interest income are translated into U.S. dollars using the spot market rate of exchange prevailing on the respective dates of such transactions. The gain or loss resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates is included with net realized and unrealized gain or loss from investments, as appropriate.

Restricted securities

Restricted securities are securities that may only be resold upon registration under federal securities laws or in transactions exempt from registration. In some cases, the issuer of restricted securities has agreed to register such securities for resale at the issuer's expense either upon demand by the Fund or in connection with another registered offering of the securities. Many restricted securities may be resold in the secondary market in transactions exempt from registration. Such restricted securities may be determined to be liquid under criteria established by the Board.

Derivative Instruments

The Fund invests in forward foreign currency exchange contracts, on a very limited basis, as detailed below, to hedge the currency exposure associated with some of the Fund's securities. Forward foreign currency exchange contracts are derivative instruments whose values depend on, or are derived from, in whole or in part, the value of one or more other assets, in this case, currencies. Derivatives may involve various risks, including the potential inability of the counterparty to fulfill its obligation under the terms of the contract and the potential for market movements, which may expose the Fund to gains or losses in excess of the amount shown in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

For financial reporting purposes, the Fund does not offset derivative assets and derivative liabilities that are subject to netting arrangements in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts are agreements between two parties to buy and sell a currency at a set price on a future date. The Fund utilized forward foreign currency exchange contracts to hedge the currency exposure associated with some of the Fund's securities. The Fund's use of forward foreign currency exchange contracts was not material to the net assets of the Fund.

The values of forward foreign currency exchange contracts fluctuate with changes in foreign currency exchange rates. The Fund will record a realized gain or loss when the forward foreign currency exchange contract expires or is closed.

The use of forward foreign currency exchange contracts does not eliminate fluctuations in the prices of the Fund's portfolio securities. The risks of forward foreign currency exchange contracts include movement in the values of the foreign currencies relative to the U.S. dollar (or other foreign currencies) and the possibility that counterparties will not complete their contractual obligations, which may be in excess of the amount reflected, if any, in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

Offsetting of Derivative Assets and Derivative Liabilities

The following tables present the gross and net amount of assets and liabilities of the Fund available for offset under netting arrangements as well as any related collateral received or pledged by the Fund as of June 30, 2013:

  Gross
Amounts of
  Gross Amounts
Offset in the
  Net Amounts of Liabilities
Presented in the
  Gross Amounts Not Offset in
the Statement of Assets and Liabilities
 

 

  Recognized
Liabilities
  Statement of
Assets and Liabilities
  Statement of
Assets and Liabilities
  Financial
Instruments (a)
  Cash Collateral
Pledged
  Securities
Collateral Pledged
 
Net Amount (b)
 
Forward foreign currency
exchange contracts
 

$

3,474

   

$

   

$

3,474

   

$

   

$

   

$

   

$

3,474

   

(a)  Represents the amount of liabilities that could be offset by assets with the same counterparty under master netting
or similar agreements that management elects not to offset on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

(b)  Represents the net amount due to counterparties in the event of default.


16



Wanger International Select 2013 Semiannual Report

Notes to Financial Statements, continued (Unaudited)

Effects of derivative transactions in the financial statements

The following tables are intended to provide additional information about the effect of derivatives on the financial statements of the Fund including: the fair value of derivatives by risk category and the location of those fair values in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities; the impact of derivative transactions on the Fund's operations over the period including realized gains or losses and unrealized gains or losses. The derivative schedules following the Statement of Investments present additional information regarding derivative instruments outstanding at the end of the period, if any.

The following table is a summary of the fair value of derivative instruments at June 30, 2013:

   

Liability Derivatives

 

Risk Exposure Category

  Statement of Assets
and Liabilities Location
  Fair
Value
 
Foreign exchange risk
 
  Unrealized depreciation on forward
foreign currency exchange contracts
 

$

(3,474

)

 

The following table indicates the effect of derivative instruments in the Statement of Operations for the six months ended June 30, 2013:

Amount of Realized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Recognized in Income

Risk Exposure Category

  Forward Foreign Currency
Exchange Contracts
 

Foreign exchange risk

 

$

88,919

   

Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on Derivatives
Recognized in Income

Risk Exposure Category

  Forward Foreign Currency
Exchange Contracts
 

Foreign exchange risk

 

$

25,349

   

The following table is a summary of the volume of derivative instruments for the six months ended June 30, 2013:

Derivative Instrument

 

Contracts Opened

 
Forward foreign currency
exchange contracts
   

8

   

Security transactions and investment income

Security transactions are accounted for on the trade date (date the order to buy or sell is executed) and dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date, except that certain dividends from foreign securities are recorded as soon as the information is available to the Fund. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis and includes amortization of discounts on debt obligations when required for federal income tax

purposes. Realized gains and losses from security transactions are recorded on an identified cost basis.

Awards, if any, from class action litigation related to securities owned may be recorded as a reduction of cost of those securities. If the applicable securities are no longer owned, the proceeds are recorded as realized gains.

The Fund estimates the tax character of distributions from real estate investment trusts (REITs). Distributions received in excess of income are recorded as a reduction of the cost of the related investments. If the applicable securities are no longer owned, any distributions received in excess of income are recorded as realized gains.

Expenses

General expenses of the Trust are allocated to the Fund and the other series of the Trust based upon relative net assets or other expense allocation methodologies determined by the nature of the expense. Expenses directly attributable to the Fund are charged to the Fund.

Fund share valuation

Fund shares are sold and redeemed on a continuing basis at net asset value. Net asset value per share is determined daily as of the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the Exchange) on each day the Exchange is open for trading by dividing the total value of the Fund's investments and other assets, less liabilities, by the number of Fund shares outstanding.

Securities lending

The Fund may lend securities up to one-third of the value of its total assets to certain approved brokers, dealers and other financial institutions to earn additional income. The Fund retains the benefits of owning the securities, including receipt of dividends or interest generated by the security. The Fund also receives a fee for the loan. The Fund has the ability to recall the loans at any time and could do so in order to vote proxies or to sell the loaned securities. Each loan is collateralized by cash that exceeded the value of the securities on loan. The market value of the loaned securities is determined daily at the close of business of the Fund and any additional required collateral is delivered to each Fund on the next business day. The Fund has elected to invest the cash collateral in the Dreyfus Government Cash Management Fund and the income earned is paid to the Fund, net of any fees remitted to Goldman Sachs Agency Lending, the Fund's lending agent and borrower rebates. The Fund's investment manager, Columbia Wanger Asset Management, LLC (CWAM), does not retain any fees earned by the lending program. Generally, in the event of borrower default, the Fund has the right to use the collateral to offset any losses incurred. In the event the Fund is delayed or prevented from exercising its right to dispose of the collateral, there may be a potential loss to the Fund. Some of these losses may be indemnified by the lending agent. The Fund bears the risk of loss with respect to the investment of collateral. The net lending income earned by the Fund as of June 30, 2013, is included in the Statement of Operations.

The following table presents the Fund's gross and net amount of assets available for offset under a securities lending agreement as well as the related collateral received by the Fund as of June 30, 2013:

  Gross
Amounts of
  Gross Amounts
Offset in the
  Net Amounts of Assets
Presented in the
  Gross Amounts Not Offset in
the Statement of Assets and Liabilities
 

 

  Recognized
Assets
  Statement of
Assets and Liabilities
  Statement of
Assets and Liabilities
  Financial
Instruments (a)
  Cash Collateral
Received
  Securities
Collateral Received
 
Net Amount (b)
 

Securities loaned

 

$

466,218

   

$

   

$

466,218

   

$

   

$

466,218

   

$

   

$

   

(a)  Represents the amount of assets that could be offset by liabilities with the same counterparty under master netting or similar agreements that management elects not to offset on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

(b)  Represents the net amount due from counterparties in the event of default.


17



Wanger International Select 2013 Semiannual Report

Notes to Financial Statements, continued (Unaudited)

Federal income taxes

The Fund has complied with the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code available to regulated investment companies and, in the manner provided therein, distributes substantially all its taxable income, as well as any net realized gain on sales of investments and foreign currency transactions reportable for federal income tax purposes. Accordingly, the Fund paid no federal income taxes and no federal income tax provision was required.

Foreign capital gains taxes

Gains in certain countries may be subject to foreign taxes at the fund level. The Fund accrues for such foreign taxes on realized and unrealized gains at the appropriate rate for each jurisdiction. The amount, if any, is disclosed as a liability on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

Distributions to shareholders

Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date.

Indemnification

In the normal course of business, the Trust on behalf of the Fund enters into contracts that contain a variety of representations and warranties and that provide general indemnities. The Fund's maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims against the Fund. Also under the Trust's organizational documents, the trustees and officers of the Trust are indemnified against certain liabilities that may arise out of their duties to the Trust. However based on experience, the Fund expects the risk of loss due to these warranties and indemnities to be remote.

3.  Federal Tax Information

The timing and character of income and capital gain distributions are determined in accordance with income tax regulations, which may differ from GAAP. Reclassifications are made to the Fund's capital accounts for permanent tax differences to reflect income and gains available for distribution (or available capital loss carryforwards) under income tax regulations.

The value of capital loss carryforwards that were utilized for the Fund during the year ended December 31, 2012, was $1,870,724.

Management is required to determine whether a tax position of the Fund is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by the applicable taxing authority, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefit to be recognized by the Fund is measured as the largest amount of benefit that is greater than fifty percent likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. Management is not aware of any tax positions for which it is reasonably possible that the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits will significantly change in the next twelve months. However, management's conclusions may be subject to review and adjustment at a later date based on factors including, but not limited to, new tax laws, regulations, and administrative interpretations (including relevant court decisions). The Fund's federal tax returns for the prior three fiscal years remain subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service.

4.  Transactions with Affiliates

CWAM is a wholly owned subsidiary of Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (Columbia Management), which in turn is a wholly owned subsidiary of Ameriprise Financial, Inc. (Ameriprise Financial). CWAM furnishes continuing investment supervision to the Fund and is responsible for the overall management of the Fund's business affairs.

CWAM receives a monthly advisory fee based on the Fund's average daily net assets at the following annual rates:

Average Daily Net Assets

 

Annual Fee Rate

 

Up to $500 million

   

0.94

%

 
$500 million and over    

0.89

%

 

For the six months ended June 30, 2013, the annualized effective investment advisory fee rate was 0.94% of the Fund's average daily net assets.

Through April 30, 2014, CWAM has contractually agreed to reimburse the Fund to the extent that ordinary operating expenses (exclusive of brokerage commissions, interest, taxes and extraordinary expenses, but inclusive of custodian charges relating to overdrafts, if any), after giving effect to any balance credits from the Fund's custodian, exceed an annual percentage of 1.45% of average daily net assets on an annualized basis.

The reimbursement to the Fund for the six months ended June 30, 2013, was $5,377.

CWAM provides administrative services and receives an administration fee from the Fund at the following annual rates:

Wanger Advisors Trust Aggregate
Average Daily Net Assets of the Trust
 

Annual Fee Rate

 

Up to $4 billion

   

0.05

%

 

$4 billion to $6 billion

   

0.04

%

 

$6 billion to $8 billion

   

0.03

%

 
$8 billion and over    

0.02

%

 

For the six months ended June 30, 2013, the annualized effective administration fee rate was 0.05% of the Fund's average daily net assets. Columbia Management provides certain sub-administrative services to the Fund.

Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. (CMID), a wholly owned subsidiary of Ameriprise Financial, serves as the Fund's distributor and principal underwriter.

Columbia Management Investment Services Corp. (CMIS), a wholly owned subsidiary of Ameriprise Financial, is the transfer agent to the Fund. For its services, the Fund pays CMIS a monthly fee at the annual rate of $21.00 per open account. CMIS also receives reimbursement from the Fund for certain out-of-pocket expenses.

Certain officers and trustees of the Trust are also officers of CWAM. The Trust makes no direct payments to its officers and trustees who are affiliated with CWAM.

The Board has appointed a Chief Compliance Officer of the Trust in accordance with federal securities regulations. The Fund, along with other affiliated funds, pays its pro-rata share of the expenses associated with the Office of the Chief Compliance Officer. These expenses are disclosed separately as "Chief compliance officer expenses" in the Statement of Operations.

The Trust offers a deferred compensation plan for its independent trustees. Under that plan, a trustee may elect to defer all or a portion of his or her compensation. Amounts deferred are retained by the Trust and may represent an unfunded obligation of the Trust. The value of amounts deferred is determined by reference to the change in value of Class Z shares of one or more series of Columbia Acorn Trust or a money market fund as specified by the trustee. Benefits under the deferred compensation plan are payable in accordance with the plan.

5.  Borrowing Arrangements

During the six months ended June 30, 2013, the Trust participated in a credit facility with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., along with Columbia Acorn Trust, another trust managed by CWAM, in the amount of $150 million prior to January 11, 2013, and in the amount of $200 million therafter. The credit facility was entered into to facilitate portfolio liquidity. Under the facility, interest is charged to each participating fund based on its borrowings at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate plus 1.00%. In addition, a commitment fee of 0.08% per annum of the unutilized line of credit is accrued and apportioned among the participating funds based on their relative net assets. The commitment fee is disclosed separately as "Commitment fee for line of credit" in the Statement of Operations. The Trust renewed the line of credit in July in the amount of $150 million, and will continue to do so each year for one year durations annually in July at then current market rates and terms.

No amounts were borrowed for the benefit of the Fund during the six months ended June 30, 2013.


18



Wanger International Select 2013 Semiannual Report

Notes to Financial Statements, continued (Unaudited)

6.  Fund Share Transactions

Proceeds and payments on Fund shares as shown in the Statement of Changes in Net Assets are in respect of the following numbers of shares:

    (Unaudited)
Six months ended
June 30, 2013
  Year ended
December 31, 2012
 

Shares sold

   

49,454

     

77,088

   
Shares issued in reinvestment
of dividend distributions
   

115,648

     

14,145

   

Less shares redeemed

   

(122,631

)

   

(301,238

)

 

Net increase (decrease)in shares outstanding

   

42,471

     

(210,005

)

 

7.  Investment Transactions

The aggregate cost of purchases and proceeds from sales other than short-term obligations for the six months ended June 30, 2013, were $10,899,590 and $12,457,637, respectively.

8.  Shareholder Concentration

At June 30, 2013, two unaffiliated shareholder accounts owned an aggregate of 93.7% of the outstanding shares of the Fund. The Fund has no knowledge about whether any portion of those shares was owned beneficially by such accounts. Subscription and redemption activity by concentrated accounts may have a significant effect on the operations of the Fund.

9.  Subsequent Events

Management has evaluated the events and transactions that have occurred through the date the financial statements were issued and noted no items requiring adjustment of the financial statements or additional disclosure.

10.  Information Regarding Pending and Settled Legal Proceedings

Ameriprise Financial and certain of its affiliates have historically been involved in a number of legal, arbitration and regulatory proceedings, including routine litigation, class actions, and governmental actions, concerning matters arising in connection with the conduct of their business activities. Ameriprise Financial believes that the Funds are not currently the subject of, and that neither Ameriprise Financial nor any of its affiliates are the subject of, any pending legal, arbitration or regulatory proceedings that are likely to have a material adverse effect on the Funds or the ability of Ameriprise Financial or its affiliates to perform under their contracts with the Funds. Ameriprise Financial is required to make 10-Q, 10-K and, as necessary, 8-K filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission on legal and regulatory matters that relate to Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates. Copies of these filings may be obtained by accessing the SEC website at www.sec.gov.

There can be no assurance that these matters, or the adverse publicity associated with them, will not result in increased fund redemptions, reduced sale of fund shares or other adverse consequences to the Funds. Further, although we believe proceedings are not likely to have a material adverse effect on the Funds or the ability of Ameriprise Financial or its affiliates to perform under their contracts with the Funds, these proceedings are subject to uncertainties and, as such, we are unable to estimate the possible loss or range of loss that may result. An adverse outcome in one or more of these proceedings could result in adverse judgments, settlements, fines, penalties or other relief that could have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial condition or results of operations of Ameriprise Financial.


19




Wanger International Select 2013 Semiannual Report

Board Approval of the Advisory Agreement

Wanger Advisors Trust (the "Trust") has an investment advisory agreement (the "Advisory Agreement") with Columbia Wanger Asset Management, LLC ("Columbia WAM") under which Columbia WAM manages Wanger International Select (the "Fund"). More than 75% of the trustees of the Trust (the "Trustees") are persons who have no direct or indirect interest in the Advisory Agreement and are not "interested persons" (as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act")) of the Trust (the "Independent Trustees"). The Trustees oversee the management of the Fund and, as required by law, determine at least annually whether to continue the Advisory Agreement for the Fund.

The Contract Committee (the "Committee") of the Board of Trustees (the "Board"), which is comprised solely of Independent Trustees, makes recommendations to the Board regarding any proposed continuation of the Advisory Agreement. After the Committee has made its recommendations, the full Board determines whether to approve continuation of the Advisory Agreement. The Board also considers matters bearing on the Advisory Agreement at its various meetings throughout the year, meets at least quarterly with Columbia WAM's portfolio managers (the Board's Investment Performance Analysis Committee meets frequently with them as well), and receives monthly reports from Columbia WAM on the performance of the Fund.

In connection with their most recent consideration of the Advisory Agreement for the Fund, the Committee and all Trustees received and reviewed a substantial amount of information provided by Columbia WAM, Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC ("Columbia Management") and Ameriprise Financial, Inc. ("Ameriprise") in response to written requests from the Independent Trustees and their independent legal counsel. In addition, the Trustees reviewed the Management Fee Evaluation dated June 2013 (the "Fee Evaluation") prepared by the Trust's chief compliance officer, senior vice president and general counsel, at the request of the Board. Throughout the process, the Trustees had numerous opportunities to ask questions of and request additional materials from Columbia WAM, Columbia Management and Ameriprise.

During each meeting at which the Committee or the Independent Trustees considered the Advisory Agreement, they met in executive session with their independent legal counsel. The Committee also met with representatives of Columbia WAM, Columbia Management and Ameriprise on several occasions. In all, the Committee convened formally on four separate occasions to consider the continuation of the Advisory Agreement. The Board and/or some or all of the Independent Trustees met on other occasions to receive the Committee's status reports, receive presentations from Columbia WAM, Columbia Management and Ameriprise representatives, and to discuss outstanding issues. In addition, the Investment Performance Analysis Committee of the Board, also comprised exclusively of Independent Trustees, reviewed the performance of the Fund, met in a joint meeting with the Committee, and presented its findings to the Board and the Committee throughout the year. The Compliance Committee of the Board also provided information to the Committee with respect to relevant matters.

The materials reviewed by the Committee and the Trustees included, among other items, (i) information on the investment performance of the Fund and of independently selected peer groups of funds and of the Fund's performance benchmark over various time periods, (ii) information on the Fund's advisory fees and other expenses, including information comparing the Fund's fees and expenses to those of peer groups of funds and information about any applicable expense limitations and fee breakpoints, (iii) data on sales and redemptions of Fund shares, and (iv) information on the profitability to Columbia WAM and Ameriprise, as well as potential "fall-out" or ancillary benefits that Columbia WAM and its affiliates may receive as a result of their relationships with the Fund. The Trustees also considered other information such as (i) Columbia WAM's financial condition, (ii) the Fund's investment objective and strategy, (iii) the size, education and experience of Columbia WAM's investment staff and its use of technology, external research and trading cost measurement tools, (iv) the portfolio manager compensation framework, (v) the allocation of the Fund's brokerage, and the use of "soft" commission dollars to pay for research products and services, (vi) Columbia WAM's risk management program, and (vii) the resources devoted to, and the record of compliance with, the Fund's

investment policies and restrictions, policies on personal securities transactions and other compliance policies.

At a meeting held on June 5, 2013, upon the recommendation of the Committee, the Board unanimously approved the continuation of the Advisory Agreement.

In considering the continuation of the Advisory Agreement, the Trustees reviewed and analyzed various factors that they determined were relevant, none of which by itself was considered dispositive. The material factors and conclusions that formed the basis for the Trustees' determination to approve the continuation of the Advisory Agreement are discussed below.

Nature, quality and extent of services. The Trustees reviewed the nature, quality and extent of the services provided by Columbia WAM and its affiliates to the Fund under the Advisory Agreement, taking into account the investment objective and strategy of the Fund, its shareholder base, and knowledge gained from meetings with management, which were held on at least a quarterly basis. In addition, the Trustees reviewed the available resources and key personnel of Columbia WAM and its affiliates, especially those providing investment management services to the Fund. The Trustees also considered other services provided to the Fund by Columbia WAM and its affiliates, including: managing the execution of portfolio transactions and selecting broker-dealers for those transactions; monitoring adherence to the Fund's investment restrictions; producing shareholder reports; providing support services for the Board and committees of the Board; managing the Fund's securities lending program; communicating with shareholders; serving as the Fund's administrator; and overseeing the activities of the Fund's other service providers, including monitoring for compliance with various policies and procedures as well as applicable securities laws and regulations.

The Trustees concluded that the nature, quality and extent of the services provided by Columbia WAM and its affiliates to the Fund under the Advisory Agreement were appropriate for the Fund and that the Fund was likely to benefit from the continued provision of those services by Columbia WAM. They also concluded that Columbia WAM currently had sufficient personnel, with appropriate education and experience, to serve the Fund effectively, and that the firm had demonstrated its continuing ability to attract and retain well-qualified personnel. In addition, they considered the quality of Columbia WAM's compliance record.

Performance of the Fund. The Trustees received and considered detailed performance information at various meetings of the Board, the Committee and the Investment Performance Analysis Committee of the Board throughout the year. They reviewed information comparing the Fund's performance with that of its benchmark(s) and with the performance of comparable funds and peer groups as identified by Lipper Inc. ("Lipper") and Morningstar, Inc. ("Morningstar"). The Trustees evaluated the performance of the Fund over various time periods, including over the one-, three- and five-year periods ending December 31, 2012. The Trustees also considered peer performance rankings for similar time periods, although they generally focused more on the five-year period.

The Trustees considered that the Fund's returns were mixed versus its peer group over the five- and one-year periods ending December 31, 2012 with Morningstar rating the Fund below the median and Lipper rating the Fund above the median for the five-year period, and Lipper rating the Fund below median in the one-year period, while Morningstar rated it above the median. And in the three-year period, both services rated the Fund's performance well above the median. The Trustees also took into account that the Fund outperformed its benchmark for all periods. They also considered that the Fund exposed shareholders to less risk than its peers during these periods.

Costs of Services and Profits Realized by Columbia WAM. At various Committee and Board meetings, the Trustees examined detailed information on the fees and expenses of the Fund in comparison to information for comparable funds provided by Lipper and Morningstar. The Trustees noted that the Fund's net expenses were higher than both the Lipper and Morningstar peer groups. The Trustees also took into account that the actual advisory fees paid by the Fund were higher than the median versus Lipper peers and lower than the median of Morningstar peers.

The Trustees also reviewed the advisory fee rates charged by Columbia WAM for managing other investment companies, sub-advised funds and other institutional


20



Wanger International Select 2013 Semiannual Report

Board Approval of the Advisory Agreement, continued

separate accounts, with similar investment strategies, as detailed in materials provided to the Committee by Columbia WAM and in the Fee Evaluation. The Trustees noted that the the Fund's advisory fees were generally comparable to Columbia Acorn International Select's advisory fees at the same asset levels.

The Trustees concluded that the rate of advisory fees payable to Columbia WAM were reasonable in relation to the nature and quality of the services to be provided and the investment performance of the Fund, taking into account Columbia WAM's recent steps to improve performance of the Fund.

The Trustees reviewed the analysis of the historic profitability of Columbia WAM in serving as the Fund's investment manager and of Columbia WAM and its affiliates in their relationships with the Fund. The Committee and Trustees met with representatives from Ameriprise to discuss its methodologies for calculating profitability and allocating costs. They considered that Ameriprise calculated profitability and allocated costs on a contract-by-contract and Fund-by-Fund basis. The Trustees also considered the methodology used by Columbia WAM and Ameriprise in determining compensation payable to portfolio managers and the competitive market for investment management talent. The Trustees were also provided with profitability information from Lipper, which compared Columbia WAM's profitability to other similar investment managers in the mutual fund industry. The Trustees concluded that Columbia WAM's and its affiliates' profits were within a reasonable range of those of competitors with similar business models. The Trustees discussed, however, that profitability comparisons among fund managers may not always be meaningful due to the lack of consistency in data, small number of publicly-owned managers, and the fact that profitability of any investment manager is affected by numerous factors, including its particular organizational structure, the types of funds and other accounts managed, other lines of business, expense allocation methodology, capital structure and other factors.

Economies of Scale. At various Committee and Board meetings and other informal meetings, the Trustees considered information about the extent to which Columbia WAM realizes economies of scale in connection with an increase in Fund assets. The Trustees noted that the advisory fee schedule for the Fund includes breakpoints in the rate of fees at various asset levels. The Trustees concluded that the fee structure of the Fund was reflective of a sharing of economies of scale between Columbia WAM and the Fund.

Other Benefits to Columbia WAM. The Trustees also reviewed benefits that accrue to Columbia WAM and its affiliates from their relationships with the Fund, based upon information provided to them by Ameriprise and as outlined in the Fee Evaluation. They noted that the Fund's transfer agency services are performed by Columbia Management Investment Services Corp., an affiliate of Ameriprise, which receives compensation from the Fund for its services provided. They considered that an affiliate of Ameriprise, Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. ("CMID"), serves as the Fund's distributor under an underwriting agreement but receives no fees for its services to the Fund. In addition, Columbia Management provides sub-administration services to the Fund. The Committee received information regarding the profitability of the Fund agreement with Columbia WAM affiliates. The Committee and the Board also reviewed information about and discussed the capabilities of each affiliated entity in performing its duties.

The Trustees considered other ways that the Fund and Columbia WAM may potentially benefit from their relationship with each other. For example, the Trustees considered Columbia WAM's use of commissions paid by the Fund on its portfolio brokerage transactions to obtain research products and services benefiting the Fund and/or other clients of Columbia WAM. The Committee reviewed Columbia WAM's annual "soft dollar" report and met with representatives from Columbia WAM to review Columbia WAM's soft dollar spending. The Committee also considered that the Compliance Committee of the Board regularly reviewed third-party prepared reports that evaluated the quality of Columbia WAM's execution of the Fund's portfolio transactions. The Trustees noted that these reports showed that Columbia WAM's execution capabilities were generally better than industry peers. The Trustees determined that Columbia WAM's use of the Fund's "soft" commission dollars to obtain research products and services was consistent with current regulatory requirements and guidance. They also concluded that Columbia WAM benefits from

the receipt of proprietary research products and services acquired through commissions paid on portfolio transactions of the Fund, and that the Fund benefitted from Columbia WAM's receipt of those products and services as well as research products and services acquired through commissions paid by other clients of Columbia WAM.

After full consideration of the above factors, as well as other factors that were instructive in evaluating the Advisory Agreement, the Trustees, including the Independent Trustees by separate vote, concluded that the continuation of the Advisory Agreement was in the best interest of the Fund. On June 5, 2013, the Trustees approved continuation of the Advisory Agreement through July 31, 2014.


21




Wanger International Select 2013 Semiannual Report

Columbia Wanger Funds

Trustees

Laura M. Born
Chair of the Board

Steven N. Kaplan
Vice Chair of the Board

Michelle L. Collins
Maureen M. Culhane
Margaret M. Eisen
John C. Heaton
Charles P. McQuaid
David J. Rudis
David B. Small
Ralph Wanger (Trustee Emeritus)

Officers

Charles P. McQuaid
President

Robert A. Chalupnik
Vice President

Michael G. Clarke
Assistant Treasurer

Joseph F. DiMaria
Assistant Treasurer

P. Zachary Egan
Vice President

Fritz Kaegi
Vice President

John M. Kunka
Assistant Treasurer

Stephen Kusmierczak
Vice President

Joseph C. LaPalm
Vice President

Bruce H. Lauer
Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer

Louis J. Mendes III
Vice President

Robert A. Mohn
Vice President

Christopher J. Olson
Vice President

Christopher O. Petersen
Assistant Secretary

Scott R. Plummer
Assistant Secretary

Linda K. Roth-Wiszowaty
Assistant Secretary

Robert P. Scales
Chief Compliance Officer, Chief Legal Officer, Senior Vice President and
General Counsel

Andreas Waldburg-Wolfegg
Vice President

Investment Manager

Columbia Wanger Asset Management, LLC
227 West Monroe Street, Suite 3000
Chicago, Illinois 60606
1-888-4-WANGER
(1-888-492-6437)

Transfer Agent,
Dividend Disbursing Agent

Columbia Management Investment Services Corp.
P.O.Box 8081
Boston, Massachusetts
02266-8081

Distributor

Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc.
225 Franklin Street
Boston, Massachusetts
02110

Legal Counsel to the Funds

Perkins Coie LLP
Washington, DC

Legal Counsel to the Independent Trustees

Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Chicago, Illinois

This document contains Global Industry Classification Standard data. The Global Industry Classification Standard ("GICS") was developed by and is the exclusive property and a service mark of MSCI Inc. ("MSCI") and Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC ("S&P") and is licensed for use by Columbia Wanger Asset Management, LLC ("CWAM"). Neither MSCI, S&P, nor any other party involved in making or compiling the GICS or any GICS classifications makes any express or implied warranties or representations with respect to such standard or classification (or the results to be obtained by the use thereof), and all such parties hereby expressly disclaim all warranties of originality, accuracy, completeness, merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose with respect to any of such standard or classification. Without limiting any of the foregoing, in no event shall MSCI, S&P, any of their affiliates or any third party involved in making or compiling the GICS or any GICS classifications have any liability for any direct, indirect, special, punitive, consequential or any other damages (including lost profits) even if notified of the possibility of such damages.

This report, including the schedules of investments and financial statements, is submitted for the general information of the shareholders of the Wanger Advisors Trust.

A description of the Fund's proxy voting policies and procedures and a copy of the Fund's voting record for the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 are available (i) on our website, columbiamanagement.com, (ii) on the Securities and Exchange Commission's website at www.sec.gov, and (iii) without charge, upon request, by calling 888-492-6437.

The Fund files a complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q. The Fund's Form N-Q is available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov and may be reviewed and copied at the SEC's Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. Information on the operation of the Pubic Reference Room may be obtained by calling 800-SEC-0330. The Fund's complete portfolio holdings are disclosed at www.columbiamanagement.com approximately 30 to 40 days after each month-end.

© 2013 Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC. All rights reserved.

(8/13) 710327




Wanger Select

2013 Semiannual Report

Not FDIC insuredNo bank guaranteeMay lose value



Columbia Wanger Asset Management, LLC (CWAM) is one of the leading global small- and mid-cap equity managers in the United States with over 40 years of small- and mid-cap investment experience. As of June 30, 2013, CWAM managed $34.9 billion in assets. CWAM is the investment manager to Wanger USA, Wanger International, Wanger Select and Wanger International Select (together, the Columbia Wanger Funds) and the Columbia Acorn Family of Funds.

Investors should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of a mutual fund carefully before investing. For a free prospectus, which contains this and other important information about the Fund, contact your financial adviser, insurance company, qualified pension retirement plan sponsor or call 1-888-4-WANGER. Read the prospectus carefully before investing.

An important note: Columbia Wanger Funds are available for purchase through variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies offered by the separate accounts of participating insurance companies and qualified pension or retirement plans.

Shares of the Fund may not be purchased or sold directly by individual owners of variable annuity contracts and/or variable life insurance policies (collectively, Contracts) or participants in qualified retirement or other plans (collectively, Qualified Plans). If you are the owner of a Contract or a participant in a Qualified Plan, please refer to the prospectus that describes your Contract or Qualified Plan for information about minimum investment requirements and how to purchase and redeem shares of the Fund.

The views expressed in "Health Care in the United States" and in the Performance Review reflect the current views of the respective authors. These views are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict so actual outcomes and results may differ significantly from those stated. These views are subject to change at any time based upon economic, market or other conditions and the respective parties disclaim any responsibility to update such views. These views may not be relied on as investment advice and, because investment decisions for a Columbia Wanger Fund are based on numerous factors, may not be relied on as an indication of trading intent on behalf of any particular Columbia Wanger Fund. References to specific company securities should not be construed as a recommendation or investment advice.




  Wanger Select

  2013 Semiannual Report

    Table of Contents

  2    

Understanding Your Expenses

 
  3    

Health Care in the United States

 
  6    

Performance Review

 
  8    

Statement of Investments

 
  13    

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

 
  13    

Statement of Operations

 
  14    

Statement of Changes in Net Assets

 
  15    

Financial Highlights

 
  16    

Notes to Financial Statements

 
  19    

Board Approval of the Advisory Agreement

 



Wanger Select 2013 Semiannual Report

Understanding Your Expenses

As an investor, you incur two types of costs. There are transaction costs, which may include redemption fees or exchange fees charged under your contract or qualified plan. There are also ongoing costs, which generally include management fees and other Fund expenses. Lastly, there may be additional fees or charges imposed by the insurance company that sponsors your variable annuity and/or variable life insurance product. The following information is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to help you compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.

Analyzing your Fund's expenses

To illustrate the ongoing costs, we have provided an example and calculated the expenses paid by investors in the Fund during the period. The actual and hypothetical information in the table below is based on an initial investment of $1,000 at the beginning of the period indicated and held for the entire period. Expense information is calculated two ways and each method provides you with different information. The amount listed in the "Actual" column is calculated using the Fund's actual operating expenses and total return for the period. You may use the Actual information, together with the amount invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the results by the expenses paid during the period under the Actual column. The amount listed in the "Hypothetical" column assumes a 5% annual rate of return before expenses (which is not the Fund's actual return) and then applies the Fund's actual expense ratio for the period to the hypothetical return. You should not use the hypothetical account values and expenses to estimate either your actual account balance at the end of the period or the expenses you paid during the period. See "Compare with other funds" below for details on how to use the hypothetical data.

Compare with other funds

Since all mutual funds are required to include the same hypothetical calculations about expenses in shareholder reports, you can use this information to compare the ongoing cost of investing in the Fund with other funds. To do so, compare the hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of other funds. As you compare hypothetical examples of other funds, it is important to note that hypothetical examples are meant to highlight the ongoing cost of investing in a fund only and do not reflect any transaction costs, such as redemption or exchange fees. Therefore, the hypothetical calculations are useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of investing in different funds. If transaction costs were included in these calculations, your costs would be higher.

January 1, 2013 - June 30, 2013

  Account value at the
beginning of the period ($)
  Account value at the
end of the period ($)
  Expenses paid during
period ($)
  Fund's annualized
expense ratio (%)*
 

 

Actual

 

Hypothetical

 

Actual

 

Hypothetical

 

Actual

 

Hypothetical

     

Wanger Select

   

1,000.00

     

1,000.00

     

1,124.70

     

1,020.01

     

4.79

     

4.56

     

0.92

   

* Expenses paid during the period are equal to the Fund's annualized expense ratio, multiplied by the average account value over the period, then multiplied by the number of days in the Fund's most recent fiscal half-year and divided by 365.

It is important to note that the expense amounts shown in the table are meant to highlight only ongoing costs of investing in the Fund. Expenses paid during the period do not include any insurance charges imposed by your insurance company's separate account.


2



Wanger Select 2013 Semiannual Report

Health Care in the United States

Critics of the U.S. health care system note that the World Health Organization (WHO) ranked the United States thirtieth in the world in life expectancy1 despite the fact that the United States spends more money per capita on health care than any other country. They argue that health care in the United States is inferior to health care in many other developed countries.

Scott W. Atlas's book, In Excellent Health, Setting the Record Straight on America's Health Care,2 analyzes the consequences of poor lifestyle choices made by many Americans and how the U.S. health care system operates compared to health care systems elsewhere. His book cites numerous studies indicating the U.S. health care system does a great job addressing the health concerns of Americans and is likely the best system in the world.

Life Expectancy

The United States is much more violent and accident-prone than other developed countries. Homicide rates in the United States are ten times that of the United Kingdom and five times that of Canada.3 Death rates from transportation accidents in the United States are 250% that of the United Kingdom and 160% that of Canada.4 Murder and accidents account for the majority of deaths among young adults in the United States,5 and deaths at young ages substantially impact life expectancies.

Robert Ohsfeldt's and John Schneider's book, The Business of Health,6 attempts to quantify the impact of fatal injuries on life expectancy. Using linear regression, they calculate that after standardizing for fatal injuries alone, the United States would edge out Switzerland by 0.3 years and have the highest life expectancy of any country in the world.7

Other studies indicate that violence and accidents account for much, but not all, of the life expectancy shortfall in the United States. A National Academy of Sciences panel addressing cross-national health differences issued a paper that indicated 57% of the life expectancy gap for

males under age 50 and 38% for females under 50 is explained by higher violence and accidents in the United States.8

The United States has a much higher incidence of obesity than other developed countries. Atlas notes that in 2010 34% of people in the United States were obese compared to 15% in Canada, 17% in Western Europe and about 24% in the United Kingdom.9 The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) estimates that obesity reduces life spans by up to eight to ten years.10 Sadly, the worst is yet to come for the United States, as obesity rates have increased and there appears to be a 25-year time lag between becoming obese and suffering premature death.11

Cigarette use in the United States is down substantially; smoking rates are now lower than most other OECD countries.12 However, studies have found a time lag of roughly 25 to 30 years between smoking and lung cancer mortality.13 The United States had the highest rate of smoking in the developed world from the 1930s to the mid-1980s and, according to a 2007 study, 53% of Americans were current or former smokers, compared to 43% of Western Europeans.14 Clearly the United States' legacy of smoking continues to impact health. The Surgeon General estimates that cigarette smoking causes 443,000 deaths in the United States yearly, nearly one-fifth of all deaths.15

With respect to neonatal mortality, Atlas writes that the United States has stringent reporting requirements and definitions. Birth registrations in the United States are done by hospitals and health care professionals, while many other countries rely on reporting by families or surveys.16 In the United States, a live birth is tabulated should a newborn breathe, have a beating heart, move voluntary muscles or show any other evidence of life.17 According to WHO, countries representing only 13% of births worldwide had reliable data meeting this definition.18

Elsewhere, definitions for live births vary greatly. Some countries consider births as live only if 28 weeks gestation was achieved, if a baby is 30 centimeters long, or if a baby survives 24 hours.19 Otherwise, the baby is classified as stillborn and is not considered an infant mortality. Atlas states, "... considering that roughly half of all U.S. infant mortality occurs in the first twenty-four hours, the single criterion of omitting deaths within the first twenty-four hours by many European nations generates their falsely superior infant mortality rates."20

Data from 2004 indicated that the United States had 12% of births classified as preterm (under 32 weeks gestation), a rate 50% to 100% higher than most European countries.21 These figures are impacted by the fact the United States has more multiple gestation pregnancies. Since the early 1980s, the incidence of triplets in the United States has more than tripled to over 140 births per 100,000.22 Atlas notes that in 2007, 17% of twins and 40% of triplets in the United States were associated with fertility treatments.

The United States health care system should be applauded for its efforts to save premature babies rather than write them off as stillborn, as many other countries do. Except for a very limited number of abusive cases, fertility treatment should be considered a virtue of the U.S. health care system. Yet, coupled with superior record keeping, these efforts depress the country's life expectancy ranking.

Diagnosis, Treatment and Outcomes

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lists heart disease as the top killer in the United States, accounting for 25% of deaths, followed by cancer at 23%, and stroke a distant third at 6%.23 Rather than judge a health care system on reported life expectancy, Atlas assesses health care quality in the United States based on actual medical care, especially diagnosis and treatment of important diseases, using objective data.


3



Wanger Select 2013 Semiannual Report

Atlas notes the challenges facing the health care system due to the poor lifestyle choices of many Americans. The CDC estimates that 80% of diabetes, heart disease and stroke, and 40% of cancer, could be eliminated through reduction in obesity and smoking.24 The rate of diabetes in the United States is typically 33% to 100% higher than other developed countries.25 A 2007 study indicated that 12% of Americans over age 50 were diagnosed with cancer, compared to only 5% in a composite of 10 European countries.26

Atlas cites data showing more timely diagnosis and treatment in the United States as compared to other countries. He writes that, "... prolonged wait times are commonly found in health systems with government-controlled nationalized health insurance."27 Numerous countries with single payer systems had to create policies to address prolonged wait times, including Canada, England, Italy, Sweden and Spain.

The United States is among the world's leaders in per capita computerized tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners,28 which are crucial to accurately diagnosing leading fatal diseases and guiding lower risk and more effective treatments. In the United States, referring doctors book CT and MRI appointments within days. In other countries, people wait. In 2010, the average wait time in Canada for a CT scan was 4 weeks and for an MRI, 10 weeks.29 A 2011 study in the United Kingdom indicated thousands of people waited over six weeks for an MRI scan. With respect to breast cancer biopsies, another survey indicated that only 1% of U.S. patients waited three weeks or more while 44% of Canadian and 20% of U.K. patients waited that long.30

Treatment of diseases also tends to be very timely in the United States. One study indicated that no elective (non-emergency) cardiac bypass patients in the United States were known to have waited more than three months, while 47% in Canada and 89% in the United Kingdom waited at least that long.31

Furthermore, treatments in the United States tend to be aggressive. A 2009 paper written by

University of Pennsylvania professor Samuel Preston and doctoral candidate Jessica Ho states that 88% of Americans with high cholesterol are being medicated versus 62% of Europeans. Likewise a higher percentage of Americans over age 50 with heart disease receive medication. Among those with hypertension in the United States, 66% were being successfully treated, versus 25% to 49% in other countries.32

With respect to cancer, Preston and Ho cite studies showing that the United States tends to have the highest percentage of screenings for breast, cervical, prostate and colon cancer.33 If cancer is detected, Americans tend to receive more surgery, chemotherapy and advanced cancer drugs. A 2008 study calculated five-year survival rates for breast, colorectal and prostate cancers. Patients in the United States lead the world with a 74% survival rate. Second-best Canada came in at 71% and the United Kingdom was a laggard at 52%.

Atlas adds that new oncology drugs are most often approved and first used in the United States.34 Some 80% of worldwide medical innovation originates in the United States and, since the mid-1970s, U.S. scientists have won more than half of Nobel Prize awards in medicine and physiology.

The statistics are clear. Sick Americans are more likely to receive timely and aggressive health care than citizens of other countries. Atlas writes, "Availability of state-of-the-art medical technology, timely access to specialists, the most effective screening, the shortest wait times for life-changing surgeries, the newest, most effective drugs for more accurate, safer diagnosis and for the most advanced treatment are all superior in the United States."35

Many people appear to agree. In 2008, a McKinsey & Company study estimated that up to 85,000 patients sought in-patient treatment outside their home country. Of that number, 87% traveled to the United States for advanced medical technology, better quality care or quicker access to care. In contrast, critics of the U.S.

health care system don't appear to be traveling to Cuba for treatment. Based on the facts, I agree with Atlas.

Health Care Economics and Investment Implications

Atlas states that the, "... only real crisis in America's health care today is the unsustainable and increasing burden of health care costs..."36 and recommends free market reforms. Health care costs are not the topic of this essay, but world-class health care clearly is expensive, and costs in the United States are exacerbated by detrimental lifestyle choices. I also believe that poor government policies result in few incentives for cost restraint.

Columbia Wanger Asset Management, the investment manager of the Columbia Wanger Funds, strives to provide Columbia Wanger Fund investors with investments in health care companies that are pursuing breakthrough drugs and devices, with the potential to transform treatment of serious and poorly managed diseases. For example, in pivotal studies Seattle Genetics' drug Adcetris delivered 80% response rates in advanced Hodgkin's lymphoma patients who had exhausted all other treatment options.37 In addition, we seek to invest in companies with products and services that we believe increase the cost effectiveness of health care delivery. We attempt to avoid investing in health care companies that may be more likely to be subject to cost cuts or price controls.

Charles P. McQuaid
President and Chief Investment Officer
Columbia Wanger Asset Management, LLC


4



Wanger Select 2013 Semiannual Report

The information and data provided in this analysis are derived from sources that we deem to be reliable and accurate. These views are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict so actual outcomes and results may differ significantly from the views expressed. The views/opinions expressed here are those of the author and not of the Wanger Advisors Trust Board, are subject to change at any time based upon economic, market or other conditions, may differ from views expressed by other Columbia Management associates and the respective parties disclaim any responsibility to update such views. These views may not be relied on as investment advice and, because investment decisions for a Columbia Wanger Fund are based on numerous factors, may not be relied on as an indication of trading intent on behalf of any particular Columbia Wanger Fund.

1  Atlas, Scott W., In Excellent Health, Setting the Record Straight on American's Heath Care, (Stanford, California, Hoover Institution Press), p. 2.

2  Ibid.

3  Ohsfeldt, Robert L., and Schneider, John E., The Business of Health, The Role of Competition, Markets, and Regulation, (Washington, D.C., The AEI Press), p. 19.

4  Atlas, Scott W., op. cit., p. 28.

5  Ibid., p. 28.

6  Ohsfeldt, Robert L., and Schneider, John E., op. cit.

7  Ibid., p. 22.

8  Steven H. Woolf and Laudan Aron, Editors; Panel on Understanding Cross-National Health Differences Among High-Income Countries; Committee on Population; Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education; National Research Council; Board on Population Health and Public Health Practice; Institute of Medicine, www.nap.edu.

9  Atlas, Scott W., op. cit., p. 105.

10  Ibid., p. 31.

11  Ibid., p. 107.

12  Ibid., p. 40.

13  Ibid., p. 41.

14  Ibid., p. 111.

15  Ibid., p. 108.

16  Ibid., p. 60.

17  Ibid., p. 67.

18  Ibid., p. 71.

19  Ibid., p. 68.

20  Ibid., p. 70.

21  Ibid., p. 73.

22  Ibid., p. 89.

23  Ibid., p. 119.

24  Ibid., p. 103.

25  Ibid., p. 113.

26  Preston, Samuel H., and Ho, Jessica Y., "Low Life Expectancy in the United States: Is the Health Care System at Fault?" University of Pennsylvania Scholarly Commons Working Paper Series, July 1, 2009, p. 4, http://repository.upenn.edu/psc_working_papers/13/. Accessed July 24, 2013.

27  Atlas, Scott W., op. cit., p. 159.

28  Ibid., p. 192-193.

29  Ibid., p. 194.

30  Ibid., p. 175.

31  Ibid., p. 187.

32  Preston, Samuel H., and Ho, Jessica Y., op. cit., p. 6.

33  Ibid., p. 3.

34  Atlas, Scott W., op. cit., p. 222.

35  Ibid., p. 233.

36  Ibid., p. 245.

37  Seattle Genetics is held in the following Columbia Wanger Funds: Wanger USA, 1.2%; Wanger Select, 1.3%.


5



Wanger Select 2013 Semiannual Report

Performance Review Wanger Select

 
Robert A. Chalupnik
Portfolio Manager
 

Performance data shown represents past performance and is not a guarantee of future results. The investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data shown. Please visit columbiamanagement.com for most recent month-end performance updates.

Wanger Select finished the semiannual period ended June 30, 2013, up 12.47%, underperforming the 14.59% gain of its primary benchmark, the S&P MidCap 400 Index. Poor stock performance in the energy sector dampened relative returns. The Fund was underweight in energy versus the benchmark and its investments in smaller energy companies lagged the sector.

U.S. car rental company Hertz gained 52% for the six-month period. The rental car industry is benefiting from consolidation and its ability to quickly adjust capacity. WNS, an offshore business process outsourcing company, ended the half up 60% on solid revenue growth. Insurance provider CNO Financial gained 39% during the period, as an increase in interest rates sparked investor interest in life insurance companies.

Other strong performers included Sanmina, a provider of electronic manufacturing services, which bounced with the tech sector and gained 29%. Globalstar, a satellite mobile voice and data carrier, provided an 82% gain for the Fund during the period. Real Goods Solar, a residential solar energy installer, rose 583% in the Fund on positive press suggesting it was a good buy. We sold Globalstar and Real Goods Solar during the period, capturing the surge in their stock prices. Both stocks dropped after we sold them. Removing these two holdings from the portfolio was also in keeping with our effort to reposition the portfolio away from riskier, micro-cap names.

On the downside, Petrodorado Energy, an oil and gas exploration company, fell 53% during the period. Petrodorado hit oil in Colombia, but uncertainty as to whether the find would be commercially viable caused investors to move away from the stock. Also in the oil exploration sector, Pacific Rubiales Energy was down 24% for the half year due to delays caused by a slow environmental licensing process in Colombia. Outside the energy sector, F5 Networks, a provider of Internet traffic management equipment, fell 30% on a slight earnings miss and lowered guidance.

In addition to the two sales mentioned above, we also sold teen apparel retailer Abercrombie & Fitch due to disappointing sales data. We sold Canadian Solar, a Chinese solar cell and module manufacturer, as our thesis for investment did not pan out. We also sold designer accessories retailer Coach, biotech company NPS Pharmaceuticals, drilling rig contractor Tuscany International Drilling and utility company Wisconsin Energy.

Six new names were added to the portfolio during the period including PVH, an apparel wholesaler and retailer with global mega-brands including Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger. Another new holding, Blackhawk Network, is a third-party distributor of prepaid content like gift cards. Blackhawk was spun out of former Fund holding Safeway grocery stores. Since we have covered Safeway for years, we know this piece of their business well and we believe it has growth potential. Trimble Navigation, a manufacturer of global positioning satellites (GPS) instruments, was also

added during the period. We believe increased use of GPS technology in many areas including agriculture, engineering and construction provides a nice runway of growth for Trimble. Consumer electronics specialty retailer Best Buy was added as a turnaround opportunity driven by new company management. Specialty beauty product retailer ULTA and sport and fitness club operator Lifetime Fitness were also added during the period.

The stock market rally continued during the period while gold and bond prices retreated on concerns that the Federal Reserve will taper off its bond buying program. Although we think about macro issues including global growth rates, government deficits and interest rate changes, our primary focus is on finding companies that have strong prospects for growing sales and earnings through product innovation, market share gains and manufacturing efficiencies, while paying a reasonable price for that outlook. The trades we made during the period continue to focus the Fund on this strategy.

Effective May 1, 2013, Wanger Select co-portfolio manager Robert Chalupnik was named lead portfolio manager of the Fund. Former lead portfolio manager Ben Andrews resigned as portfolio manager but will continue to work with the Fund's investment manager, Columbia Wanger Asset Management, LLC, as an analyst. There are no current plans to add a co-manager to the Fund. These changes will not alter the Fund's investment objective or policies.

Risks include stock market fluctuations due to economic and business developments. The Fund also has potentially greater price volatility due to the Fund's concentration in a limited number of stocks of mid-size companies. International investing involves special risks, including foreign taxation, currency risks, risks associated with possible differences in financial standards, operational and settlement risks and other risks associated with future political and economic developments.

Portfolio holdings are subject to change periodically and may not be representative of current holdings.

Fund's Positions in Mentioned Holdings

As a percentage of net assets, as of 6/30/13

CNO Financial Group

   

6.2

%

 

Hertz

   

5.6

   

WNS

   

4.9

   

Sanmina

   

1.8

   

F5 Networks

   

1.6

   

ULTA

   

1.5

   

Lifetime Fitness

   

1.4

   

PVH

   

1.4

   

Pacific Rubiales Energy

   

1.3

   

Blackhawk Network

   

1.2

   

Trimble Navigation

   

1.0

   

Best Buy

   

0.7

   

Petrodorado Energy

   

0.2

   


6




Wanger Select 2013 Semiannual Report

Growth of a $10,000 Investment in Wanger Select
February 1, 1999 (inception date) through June 30, 2013

Performance data shown represents past performance and is not a guarantee of future results. The investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data shown. Performance results reflect any fee waivers or reimbursements of Fund expenses by the investment manager and/or any of its affiliates. Absent these fee waivers and/or expense reimbursement arrangements, performance results would have been lower. For daily and most recent month-end performance updates, please call 1-888-4-WANGER.

This graph compares the results of $10,000 invested in Wanger Select on February 1, 1999 (the date the Fund began operations) through June 30, 2013, to the S&P MidCap 400 Index, with dividends and capital gains reinvested. Although the index is provided for use in assessing the Fund's performance, the Fund's holdings may differ significantly from those in the index.

Top 10 Holdings

As a percentage of net assets, as of 6/30/13

1. CNO Financial Group
Life, Long-term Care & Medical Supplement Insurance
  6.2

%

 
2. Ametek
Aerospace/Industrial Instruments
  6.2
 
3. Hertz
Largest U.S. Rental Car Operator
  5.6
 
4. WNS — ADR* (India)
Offshore Business Process Outsourcing Services
  4.9
 
5. Discover Financial Services
Credit Card Company
  4.5
 
6. Amphenol
Electronic Connectors
  4.0
 
7. Donaldson
Industrial Air Filtration
  3.9
 
8. Crown Castle International
Communications Towers
  3.7
 
9. City National
Bank & Asset Manager
  3.3
 
10. SBA Communications
Communications Towers
  3.1
 

*ADR=American Depository Receipts

Top 5 Industries

As a percentage of net assets, as of 6/30/13

Industrial Goods & Services

   

23.8

%

 

Information

   

23.8

   

Consumer Goods & Services

   

18.2

   

Finance

   

17.9

   

Energy & Minerals

   

5.9

   

Results as of June 30, 2013

 

2nd quarter*

 

Year to date*

 

1 year

 

5 years

 

10 years

 

Wanger Select

   

1.56

%

   

12.47

%

   

22.67

%

   

4.51

%

   

8.56

%

 

S&P MidCap 400 Index**

   

1.00

     

14.59

     

25.18

     

8.91

     

10.74

   

S&P 500 Index

   

2.91

     

13.82

     

20.60

     

7.01

     

7.30

   
Lipper Variable
Underlying Mid-Cap
Core Funds Index
   

1.65

     

14.79

     

24.63

     

7.11

     

9.60

   

*Not annualized.

**The Fund's primary benchmark.

NAV as of 6/30/13: $30.43

Performance numbers reflect all Fund expenses but do not include any fees and expenses imposed under your variable annuity or life insurance policy or qualified pension or retirement plan. If performance included the effect of these additional charges, it would be lower.

The Fund's annual operating expense ratio of 0.91% is stated as of the Fund's prospectus dated May 1, 2013, and differences in expense ratios disclosed elsewhere in this report may result from including fee waivers and expense reimbursements as well as different time periods used in calculating the ratios.

All results shown assume reinvestment of distributions.

The S&P MidCap 400 Index is a market value-weighted index that tracks the performance of 400 mid-cap U.S. companies. The S&P 500 Index tracks the performance of 500 widely-held large capitalization U.S. stocks. Although the Fund typically invests in companies with market caps under $20 billion at the time of investment, the comparison to the S&P 500 Index is presented to show performance against a widely recognized market index. The Lipper Variable Underlying Mid-Cap Core Funds Index is an equally weighted representation of the 30 largest variable insurance underlying funds in the Lipper Variable Underlying Mid-Cap Core Funds Classification, and shows how the Fund's performance compares with returns of an index of funds with similar investment objectives. Indexes are not managed and do not incur fees or expenses. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.

Lipper Inc., a widely respected data provider in the industry, calculates an average total return (assuming reinvestment of distributions) for mutual funds with investment objectives similar to those of the Fund.

Portfolio characteristics and holdings are subject to change periodically and may not be representative of current characteristics and holdings.


7




Wanger Select 2013 Semiannual Report

Wanger Select

Statement of Investments (Unaudited), June 30, 2013

Number of
Shares
     

Value

 
   

Equities – 97.6%

 
   

Industrial Goods & Services – 23.8%

 
   

Machinery – 18.2%

 

352,000

  Ametek
Aerospace/Industrial Instruments
 

$

14,889,600

 

260,000

  Donaldson
Industrial Air Filtration
 

9,271,600

 

108,000

  Pall
Life Science, Water & Industrial Filtration
 

7,174,440

 

173,000

  Kennametal
Consumable Cutting Tools
 

6,717,590

 

84,000

  Nordson
Dispensing Systems for Adhesives & Coatings
 

5,822,040

 
     

43,875,270

   
   

Outsourcing Services – 2.4%

 

221,000

  Quanta Services (a)
Electrical & Telecom Construction Services
 

5,847,660

 
   

Industrial Materials & Specialty Chemicals – 1.8%

 

70,000

  FMC Corporation
Niche Specialty Chemicals
 

4,274,200

 
   

Other Industrial Services – 0.7%

 

42,000

  Forward Air
Freight Transportation Between Airports
 

1,607,760

 
   

Industrial Distribution – 0.7%

 

16,496

  Airgas
Industrial Gas Distributor
 

1,574,708

 
       

Total Industrial Goods & Services

   

57,179,598

   
   

Information – 23.8%

 
   

Mobile Communications – 6.7%

 

122,000

  Crown Castle International (a)
Communications Towers
 

8,831,580

 

99,000

  SBA Communications (a)
Communications Towers
 

7,337,880

 
     

16,169,460

   
   

Computer Services – 4.9%

 

703,000

  WNS - ADR (India) (a)
Offshore Business Process Outsourcing Services
 

11,733,070

 
Number of
Shares
     

Value

 
   

Computer Hardware & Related Equipment – 4.0%

 

125,000

  Amphenol
Electronic Connectors
 

$

9,742,500

 
   

Instrumentation – 3.4%

 

28,000

  Mettler-Toledo International (a)
Laboratory Equipment
 

5,633,600

 

96,000

  Trimble Navigation (a)
GPS-based Instruments
 

2,496,960

 
     

8,130,560

   
   

Contract Manufacturing – 1.8%

 

300,674

  Sanmina-SCI (a)
Electronic Manufacturing Services
 

4,314,672

 
   

Telecommunications Equipment – 1.6%

 

57,000

  F5 Networks (a)
Internet Traffic Management Equipment
 

3,921,600

 
   

Business Software – 0.9%

 

28,000

  Ansys (a)
Simulation Software for Engineers & Designers
 

2,046,800

 
   

Semiconductors & Related Equipment – 0.5%

 

150,000

  Atmel (a)
Microcontrollers, Radio Frequency &
Memory Semiconductors
 

1,102,500

 
       

Total Information

   

57,161,162

   
   

Consumer Goods & Services – 18.2%

 
   

Travel – 10.5%

 

545,000

  Hertz (a)
Largest U.S. Rental Car Operator
 

13,516,000

 

129,000

  Ryman Hospitality Properties (b)
Convention Hotels
 

5,032,290

 

68,000

  Vail Resorts
Ski Resort Operator & Developer
 

4,183,360

 

63,000

  Choice Hotels
Franchisor of Budget Hotel Brands
 

2,500,470

 
     

25,232,120

   

See accompanying notes to financial statements.
8



Wanger Select 2013 Semiannual Report

Wanger Select

Statement of Investments (Unaudited), June 30, 2013

Number of
Shares
     

Value

 
   

Other Consumer Services – 2.8%

 

65,000

  Lifetime Fitness (a)
Sport & Fitness Club Operator
 

$

3,257,150

 

125,000

  Blackhawk Network (a)
Third Party Distributer of Prepaid Content,
Mostly Gift Cards
 

2,900,000

 
253,277
  IFM Investments (Century 21 China RE) –
ADR (China) (a)
Provide Real Estate Services in China
  590,135
 
     

6,747,285

   
   

Retail – 2.6%

 

36,000

  ULTA (a)
Specialty Beauty Product Retailer
 

3,605,760

 

66,000

  Best Buy
Consumer Electronic Specialty Retailer
 

1,803,780

 

12,000

  lululemon athletica (a) (b)
Premium Active Apparel Retailer
 

786,240

 
     

6,195,780

   
   

Apparel – 1.3%

 

26,000

  PVH
Apparel Wholesaler & Retailer
 

3,251,300

 
   

Educational Services – 0.5%

 

52,625

  ITT Educational Services (a) (b)
Postsecondary Degree Services
 

1,284,050

 
   

Casinos & Gaming – 0.4%

 

15,475,000

  RexLot Holdings (China)
Lottery Equipment Supplier in China
 

1,014,839

 
   

Food & Beverage – 0.1%

 

307,000

  GLG Life Tech (Canada) (a)
Produce an All-natural Sweetener Extracted
from the Stevia Plant
 

122,800

 
       

Total Consumer Goods & Services

   

43,848,174

   
   

Finance – 17.9%

 
   

Insurance – 6.2%

 

1,150,000

  CNO Financial Group
Life, Long-term Care & Medical Supplement Insurance
 

14,904,000

 
Number of
Shares
     

Value

 
   

Banks – 5.1%

 

126,000

  City National
Bank & Asset Manager
 

$

7,984,620

 

275,000

  Associated Banc-Corp
Midwest Bank
 

4,276,250

 
     

12,260,870

   
   

Credit Cards – 4.5%

 

225,000

  Discover Financial Services
Credit Card Company
 

10,719,000

 
   

Brokerage & Money Management – 2.1%

 

181,000

  SEI Investments
Mutual Fund Administration & Investment Management
 

5,145,830

 
       

Total Finance

   

43,029,700

   
   

Energy & Minerals – 5.9%

 
   

Oil & Gas Producers – 3.9%

 

182,000

  Pacific Rubiales Energy (Colombia)
Oil Production & Exploration in Colombia
 

3,196,292

 

967,259

  Canacol (Colombia) (a)
Oil Producer in South America
 

2,694,750

 

6,150,000

  Shamaran Petroleum (Iraq) (a)
Oil Exploration & Production in Kurdistan
 

2,105,163

 
3,600,000
  Canadian Overseas Petroleum
(United Kingdom) (a) (c)
   

585,338

   
184,000
  Canadian Overseas Petroleum
(United Kingdom) (a)
   

31,492

   
1,800,000
  Canadian Overseas Petroleum – Warrants
(United Kingdom) (a) (c) (d)
Oil & Gas Exploration/Production in the North Sea
  8,674
 

8,714,000

  Petrodorado Energy (Colombia) (a)
Oil & Gas Exploration & Production in Colombia,
Peru & Paraguay
 

497,138

 

2,575,000

  Petromanas (Canada) (a)
Exploring for Oil in Albania
 

257,084

 

   

9,375,931

   
   

Agricultural Commodities – 1.1%

 
261,363
  Union Agriculture Group
(Uruguay) (a) (c) (d)
Farmland Operator in Uruguay
  2,705,107
 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.
9



Wanger Select 2013 Semiannual Report

Wanger Select

Statement of Investments (Unaudited), June 30, 2013

Number of
Shares
     

Value

 
   

Mining – 0.7%

 

425,000

  Kirkland Lake Gold (Canada) (a) (b)
Gold Mining
 

$

1,786,156

 
   

Alternative Energy – 0.2%

 

535,000

  Synthesis Energy Systems (China) (a)
Owner/Operator of Gasification Plants
 

415,695

 
       

Total Energy & Minerals

   

14,282,889

   
   

Health Care – 5.0%

 
   

Medical Supplies – 3.7%

 

136,000

  Cepheid (a)
Molecular Diagnostics
 

4,681,120

 

43,000

  Henry Schein (a)
Largest Distributor of Health Care Products
 

4,117,250

 
     

8,798,370

   
   

Biotechnology & Drug Delivery – 1.3%

 

103,000

  Seattle Genetics (a)
Antibody-based Therapies for Cancer
 

3,240,380

 
       

Total Health Care

   

12,038,750

   
   

Other Industries – 3.0%

 
   

Real Estate – 3.0%

 

244,000

  Biomed Realty Trust
Life Science-focused Office Buildings
 

4,936,120

 

95,000

  Dupont Fabros Technology (b)
Data Centers
 

2,294,250

 
     

7,230,370

   
       

Total Other Industries

   

7,230,370

   
Total Equities
(Cost: $161,343,257) – 97.6%
   

234,770,643

(e)

 

Short-Term Investments – 1.9%

     
2,847,342

  JPMorgan U.S. Government
Money Market Fund,
Capital Shares (7 day yield of 0.01%)
   

2,847,342

   
1,921,806
  JPMorgan U.S. Government
Money Market Fund,
Agency Shares (7 day yield of 0.01%)
   

1,921,806

   
Total Short-Term Investments
(Cost: $4,769,148) – 1.9%
   

4,769,148

   
Number of
Shares
     

Value

 

Securities Lending Collateral – 3.3%

 
7,866,991
 
 
  Dreyfus Government Cash
Management Fund, Institutional
Shares (7 day yield of 0.01%) (f)
 

$

7,866,991

   
Total Securities Lending Collateral
(Cost: $7,866,991)
   

7,866,991

   
Total Investments
(Cost: $173,979,396) (g) – 102.8%
   

247,406,782

   
Obligation to Return Collateral for
Securities Loaned – (3.3)%
   

(7,866,991

)

 

Cash and Other Assets Less Liabilities – 0.5%

   

1,045,058

   

Net Assets – 100.0%

 

$

240,584,849

   

ADR = American Depositary Receipts

Notes to Statement of Investments

(a)  Non-income producing security.

(b)  All or a portion of this security was on loan at June 30, 2013. The total market value of securities on loan at June 30, 2013 was $7,826,597.

(c)  Denotes a restricted security, which is subject to restrictions on resale under federal securities laws. These securities are valued at fair value determined in good faith under consistently applied procedures established by the Board of Trustees. At June 30, 2013, the market value of these securities amounted to $3,299,119, which represented 1.37% of total net assets. Additional information on these securities is as follows:


Security
  Acquisition
Dates
 

Shares

 

Cost

 

Value

 

Union Agriculture Group

  12/8/10-
6/27/12
   

261,363

   

$

2,999,999

   

$

2,705,107

   
Canadian Overseas
Petroleum
 

11/24/10

   

3,600,000

     

1,539,065

     

585,338

   
Canadian Overseas
Petroleum – Warrants
 

11/24/10

   

1,800,000

     

225,295

     

8,674

   
        $4,764,359   $3,299,119  

(d)  Illiquid security.

(e)  On June 30, 2013, the market value of foreign securities represented 11.53% of total net assets. The Fund's foreign portfolio was diversified as follows:

Country

 

Value

  Percentage of
Net Assets
 

India

 

$

11,733,070

     

4.88

   

Colombia

   

6,388,180

     

2.65

   

Uruguay

   

2,705,107

     

1.12

   

Canada

   

2,166,040

     

0.90

   

Iraq

   

2,105,163

     

0.88

   

China

   

2,020,669

     

0.84

   

See accompanying notes to financial statements.
10



Wanger Select 2013 Semiannual Report

Wanger Select

Statement of Investments (Unaudited), June 30, 2013

Country

 

Value

  Percentage of
Net Assets
 

United Kingdom

   

625,504

     

0.26

   

Total Foreign Portfolio

 

$

27,743,733

     

11.53

   

(f)  Investment made with cash collateral received from securities lending activity.

(g)  At June 30, 2013, for federal income tax purposes, the cost of investments was $173,979,396 and net unrealized appreciation was $73,427,386 consisting of gross unrealized appreciation of $86,975,892 and gross unrealized depreciation of $13,548,506.

Fair Value Measurements

  Various inputs are used in determining the value of the Fund's investments, following the input prioritization hierarchy established by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). These inputs are summarized in the three broad levels listed below:

  Level 1 – quoted prices in active markets for identical securities

  Level 2 – prices determined using other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk and others)

  Level 3 – prices determined using significant unobservable inputs where quoted prices or observable inputs are unavailable or less reliable (including management's own assumptions about the factors market participants would use in pricing an investment)

  The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.

  Examples of the types of securities in which the Fund would typically invest and how they are classified within this hierarchy are as follows. Typical Level 1 securities include exchange traded domestic equities, mutual funds whose NAVs are published each day and exchange traded foreign equities that are not statistically fair valued. Typical Level 2 securities include exchange traded foreign equities that are statistically fair valued, forward foreign currency exchange contracts and short-term investments valued at amortized cost. Additionally, securities fair valued by the Valuation Committee (the Committee) of the Fund's Board of Trustees (the Board) that rely on significant observable inputs are also included in Level 2. Typical Level 3 securities include any security fair valued by the Committee that relies on significant unobservable inputs.

  Under the direction of the Board, the Committee is responsible for carrying out the valuation procedures approved by the Board.

  The Committee meets as necessary, and no less frequently than quarterly, to determine fair values for securities for which market quotations are not readily available or for which the investment manager believes that available market quotations are unreliable, to review the appropriateness of the Trust's Portfolio Pricing Policy and the pricing procedures of the investment manager (the Policies), and to review the continuing appropriateness of the current value of any security subject to the Policies. The Policies address, among other things: circumstances under which market quotations will be deemed readily available; selection of third party pricing vendors; appropriate pricing methodologies; events that require fair valuation and fair value techniques; and circumstances under which securities will be deemed to pose a potential for stale pricing, including when securities are illiquid, restricted, or in default. The Committee may also meet to discuss additional valuation matters, which may include review of back-testing results, review of time-sensitive information or approval of other valuation related actions, and to review the appropriateness of the Policies.

  For investments categorized as Level 3, the significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement of the Funds' securities may include: (i) data specific to the issuer or comparable issuers, (ii) general market or specific sector news and (iii) quoted prices and specific or similar security transactions. The Committee considers this data and any changes from prior periods in order to assess the reasonableness of observable and unobservable inputs, any assumptions or internal models used to value those securities and changes in fair value. Significant changes in any of these factors could result in lower or higher fair value measurements. Various factors impact the frequency of monitoring (which may occur as often as daily), however the Committee may determine that changes to inputs, assumptions and models are not required with the same frequency.

The following table summarizes the inputs used, as of June 30, 2013, in valuing the Fund's assets:





Investment Type
  Quoted Prices
(Level 1)
  Other
Significant
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
  Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
 

Total

 

Equities

 
Industrial Goods &
Services
 

$

57,179,598

   

$

   

$

   

$

57,179,598

   

Information

   

57,161,162

     

     

     

57,161,162

   
Consumer Goods &
Services
   

42,833,335

     

1,014,839

     

     

43,848,174

   

Finance

   

43,029,700

     

     

     

43,029,700

   

Energy & Minerals

   

10,983,770

     

594,012

     

2,705,107

     

14,282,889

   

Health Care

   

12,038,750

     

     

     

12,038,750

   

Other Industries

   

7,230,370

     

     

     

7,230,370

   

Total Equities

   

230,456,685

     

1,608,851

     

2,705,107

     

234,770,643

   
Total Short-Term
Investments
   

4,769,148

     

     

     

4,769,148

   
Total Securities Lending
Collateral
   

7,866,991

     

     

     

7,866,991

   

Total Investments

 

$

243,092,824

   

$

1,608,851

   

$

2,705,107

   

$

247,406,782

   

  The Fund's assets assigned to the Level 2 input category are generally valued using a market approach, in which a security's value is determined through its correlation to prices and information from observable market transactions for similar or identical assets. Foreign equities are generally valued at the last sale price on the foreign exchange or market on which they trade. The Fund may use a statistical fair valuation model, in accordance with the policy adopted by the Board, provided by an independent third party to value securities principally traded in foreign markets in order to adjust for possible stale pricing that may occur between the close of the foreign exchanges and the time for valuation. These models take into account available market data including intraday index, ADR, and ETF movements. Securities acquired via private placement that have a holding period or an extended settlement period are valued at a discount to the same shares that are trading freely on the market. These discounts are determined by the investment manager's experience with similar securities or situations. Factors may include, but are not limited to, trade volume, shares outstanding and stock price. Warrants which do not trade are valued as a percentage of the actively trading common stock using a model, based on Black Scholes.

The following table shows transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy:

Transfers In  

Transfers Out

 
Level 1  

Level 2

 

Level 1

 

Level 2

 
$

80,127

   

$

   

$

   

$

80,127

   

  Financial assets were transferred from Level 2 to Level 1 as trading resumed during the period.

See accompanying notes to financial statements.
11



Wanger Select 2013 Semiannual Report

Wanger Select

Statement of Investments (Unaudited), June 30, 2013

The following table reconciles asset balances for the period ending June 30, 2013, in which significant observable and/or unobservable inputs (Level 3) were used in determining value:

Investments
in Securities
  Balance as of
December 31,
2012
  Realized
Gain/(Loss)
  Change in
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
 

Purchases

 

Sales

  Transfers
into
Level 3
  Transfers
out of
Level 3
  Balance as of
June 30,
2013
 
Equities  
Energy & Materials  

$

2,676,357

   

$

   

$

28,750

   

$

   

$

   

$

   

$

   

$

2,705,107

   

 

$

2,676,357

   

$

   

$

28,750

   

$

   

$

   

$

   

$

   

$

2,705,107

   

  The information in the above reconciliation table represents fiscal year to date activity for any securities identified as using Level 3 inputs at either the beginning or the end of the current fiscal period.

  The change in unrealized appreciation attributed to securities owned at June 30, 2013, which were valued using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3), amounted to $28,750.

Quantitative information pertaining to Level 3 unobservable fair value measurements

    Fair Value
at 6/30/13
 

Valuation Technique(s)

 

Unobservable Input(s)

  Range (Weighted
Average)
 

Equities

 

$

2,705,107

   

Market comparable companies

 

Discount for lack of marketability

   

-14

% to +19% (-10%)

 

  Certain common stock classified as Level 3 are valued at fair value, using a market approach, as determined in good faith under consistently applied procedures established by and under the general supervision of the Board. To determine fair value for these securities, for which no market exists, the Committee utilizes the valuation technique it deems most appropriate in the circumstances, using some unobservable inputs, which

may include but, are not limited to, trades of similar securities, estimated earnings of the company, market multiples derived from a set of comparable companies, and the position of the security within the company's capital structure. Significant increases or decreases to any of these inputs could result in a significantly lower or higher fair value measurement.

See accompanying notes to financial statements.
12




Wanger Select 2013 Semiannual Report

Statement of Assets and Liabilities
June 30, 2013 (Unaudited)

Assets:

 

Investments, at cost

 

$

173,979,396

   
Investments, at value (including securities on
loan of $7,826,597)
 

$

247,406,782

   

Cash

   

14,409

   

Receivable for:

 

Investments sold

   

1,217,688

   

Fund shares sold

   

566

   

Securities lending income

   

4,706

   

Dividends

   

192,373

   

Foreign tax reclaims

   

3,003

   

Prepaid expenses

   

1,430

   

Total Assets

   

248,840,957

   

Liabilities:

 

Collateral on securities loaned

   

7,866,991

   

Payable for:

 

Fund shares redeemed

   

310,120

   

Investment advisory fee

   

5,288

   

Administration fee

   

330

   

Transfer agent fee

   

1

   

Trustees' fees

   

29,934

   

Custody fee

   

377

   

Reports to shareholders

   

19,417

   

Other liabilities

   

23,650

   

Total Liabilities

   

8,256,108

   

Net Assets

 

$

240,584,849

   

Composition of Net Assets:

 

Paid-in capital

 

$

160,791,689

   

Overdistributed net investment income

   

(314,430

)

 

Accumulated net realized gain

   

6,680,193

   

Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:

 

Investments

   

73,427,386

   

Foreign currency translations

   

11

   

Net Assets

 

$

240,584,849

   

Fund Shares Outstanding

   

7,905,096

   
Net asset value, offering price and redemption
price per share
 

$

30.43

   

Statement of Operations
For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2013 (Unaudited)

Investment Income:

 

Dividend income (net foreign taxes withheld of $7,508)

 

$

978,979

   

Securities lending income, net

   

50,976

   

Total Investment Income

   

1,029,955

   

Expenses:

 

Investment advisory fee

   

961,975

   

Administration fee

   

60,123

   

Transfer agent fees

   

113

   

Trustees' fees

   

7,793

   

Custody fees

   

2,988

   

Reports to shareholders

   

31,744

   

Audit fees

   

15,584

   

Legal fees

   

7,827

   

Chief compliance officer expenses (See Note 4)

   

3,449

   

Commitment fee for line of credit (See Note 5)

   

721

   

Other expenses

   

10,262

   

Net Expenses

   

1,102,579

   

Net Investment Loss

   

(72,624

)

 
Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)
on Investments:
 

Net realized gain (loss) on:

 

Investments

   

10,230,140

   

Foreign currency translations

   

(974

)

 

Net realized gain

   

10,229,166

   

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:

 

Investments

   

18,513,812

   

Foreign currency translations

   

11

   

Net change in unrealized appreciation

   

18,513,823

   

Net realized and unrealized gain

   

28,742,989

   

Net Increase in Net Assets from Operations

 

$

28,670,365

   

See accompanying notes to financial statements.
13



Wanger Select 2013 Semiannual Report

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets

  (Unaudited)
Six Months
Ended
June 30,
2013
  Year Ended
December 31,
2012
 

Operations:

 

Net investment income (loss)

 

$

(72,624

)

 

$

1,520,674

   

Net realized gain (loss) on:

 

Investments

   

10,230,140

     

10,731,550

   

Foreign currency translations

   

(974

)

   

(1,405

)

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:

 

Investments

   

18,513,812

     

29,770,532

   

Foreign currency translations

   

11

     

   

Net Increase in Net Assets from Operations

   

28,670,365

     

42,021,351

   

Distributions to Shareholders From:

 

Net investment income

   

(705,314

)

   

(1,022,230

)

 

Net realized gains

   

(3,568,085

)

   

   

Total Distributions to Shareholders

   

(4,273,399

)

   

(1,022,230

)

 

Share Transactions:

 

Subscriptions

   

3,048,288

     

7,127,843

   

Distributions reinvested

   

4,273,399

     

1,022,230

   

Redemptions

   

(26,288,514

)

   

(56,537,891

)

 

Net Decrease from Share Transactions

   

(18,966,827

)

   

(48,387,818

)

 

Total Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets

   

5,430,139

     

(7,388,697

)

 

Net Assets:

 

Beginning of period

   

235,154,710

     

242,543,407

   

End of period

 

$

240,584,849

   

$

235,154,710

   

Undistributed (overdistributed) net investment income

 

$

(314,430

)

 

$

463,508

   

See accompanying notes to financial statements.
14




Wanger Select 2013 Semiannual Report

Financial Highlights

The following table is intended to help you understand the Fund's financial performance. Certain information reflects financial results for a single share held for the periods shown. Per share net investment income (loss) amounts are calculated based on average shares outstanding during the period. Total return assumes reinvestment of all dividends and distributions. Total return does not reflect payment of the expenses that apply to the variable accounts or contract charges, if any, and are not annualized for periods of less than one year.

    (Unaudited)
Six Months Ended
June 30,
 

Year Ended December 31,

 

Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

2010

 

2009

 

2008

 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

 

$

27.54

   

$

23.35

   

$

28.99

   

$

23.05

   

$

13.87

   

$

28.08

   

Income from Investment Operations:

 

Net investment income (loss)

   

(0.01

)

   

0.16

     

(0.06

)

   

(0.09

)

   

(0.08

)

   

(0.10

)

 

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

   

3.44

     

4.15

     

(4.99

)

   

6.17

     

9.26

     

(13.38

)

 

Total from Investment Operations

   

3.43

     

4.31

     

(5.05

)

   

6.08

     

9.18

     

(13.48

)

 

Less Distributions to Shareholders:

 

Net investment income

   

(0.09

)

   

(0.12

)

   

(0.59

)

   

(0.14

)

   

     

   

Net realized gains

   

(0.45

)

   

     

     

     

     

(0.73

)

 

Total Distributions to Shareholders

   

(0.54

)

   

(0.12

)

   

(0.59

)

   

(0.14

)

   

     

(0.73

)

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

 

$

30.43

   

$

27.54

   

$

23.35

   

$

28.99

   

$

23.05

   

$

13.87

   

Total Return

   

12.47

%

   

18.46

%

   

(17.68

)%

   

26.57

%

   

66.19

%

   

(49.06

)%

 

Ratios to Average Net Assets/Supplemental Data:

 

Total gross expenses

   

0.92

%(a)(b)

   

0.92

%(b)

   

0.93

%(b)

   

0.93

%(b)

   

0.95

%(b)

   

0.91

%

 

Total net expenses

   

0.92

%(a)(b)

   

0.91

%(b)(c)

   

0.93

%(b)(c)

   

0.93

%(b)(c)

   

0.95

%(b)(c)

   

0.91

%(c)

 

Net investment income (loss)

   

(0.06

)%(a)

   

0.60

%

   

(0.24

)%

   

(0.38

)%

   

(0.44

)%

   

(0.45

)%

 

Portfolio turnover rate

   

13

%

   

20

%

   

23

%

   

30

%

   

35

%

   

36

%

 

Net assets, end of period (000s)

 

$

240,585

   

$

235,155

   

$

242,543

   

$

345,960

   

$

270,368

   

$

156,588

   

Notes to Financial Highlights

(a)  Annualized.

(b)  In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.

(c)  The benefits derived from custody fees paid indirectly had an impact of less than 0.01%.

See accompanying notes to financial statements.
15




Wanger Select 2013 Semiannual Report

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited)

1.  Nature of Operations

Wanger Select (the Fund), a series of Wanger Advisors Trust (the Trust), is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act), as an open-end management investment company organized as a Massachusetts business trust. The investment objective of the Fund is to seek long-term capital appreciation. The Fund is available only for allocation to certain life insurance company separate accounts established for the purpose of funding participating variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies and may also be offered directly to certain qualified pension and retirement plans.

2.  Significant Accounting Policies

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Security valuation

Securities of the Fund are valued at market value or, if a market quotation for a security is not readily available or is deemed not to be reliable because of events or circumstances that have occurred between the market quotation and the time as of which the security is to be valued, the security is valued at its fair value determined in good faith under consistently applied procedures established by the Board of Trustees (the Board). A security traded on a securities exchange or in an over-the-counter market in which transaction prices are reported is valued at the last sales price at the time of valuation. A security traded principally on NASDAQ is valued at the NASDAQ official closing price. Mutual funds and exchange traded funds are valued at their closing net asset value as reported to the applicable exchange. A security for which there is no reported sale on the valuation date is valued at the mean of the latest bid and ask quotations.

Short-term investments maturing in 60 days or less are valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value.

A security for which a market quotation is not readily available and any other assets are valued at their fair value determined in good faith under consistently applied procedures established by the Board. The Trust has retained an independent statistical fair value pricing service that employs a systematic methodology to assist in the fair valuation process for securities principally traded in a foreign market in order to adjust for possible changes in value that may occur between the close of the foreign market and the time as of which the securities are to be valued. If a security is valued at a fair value, that value may be different from the last quoted market price for the security.

Foreign currency translations

Values of investments denominated in foreign currencies are converted into U.S. dollars using the New York spot market rate of exchange at the time of valuation. Purchases and sales of investments and dividend and interest income are translated into U.S. dollars using the spot market rate of exchange prevailing on the respective dates of such transactions. The gain or loss resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates is included with net realized and unrealized gain or loss from investments, as appropriate.

Restricted securities

Restricted securities are securities that may only be resold upon registration under federal securities laws or in transactions exempt from registration. In some cases, the issuer of restricted securities has agreed to register such securities for resale at the

issuer's expense either upon demand by the Fund or in connection with another registered offering of the securities. Many restricted securities may be resold in the secondary market in transactions exempt from registration. Such restricted securities may be determined to be liquid under criteria established by the Board.

Security transactions and investment income

Security transactions are accounted for on the trade date (date the order to buy or sell is executed) and dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date, except that certain dividends from foreign securities are recorded as soon as the information is available to the Fund. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis and includes amortization of discounts on debt obligations when required for federal income tax purposes. Realized gains and losses from security transactions are recorded on an identified cost basis.

Awards, if any, from class action litigation related to securities owned may be recorded as a reduction of cost of those securities. If the applicable securities are no longer owned, the proceeds are recorded as realized gains.

The Fund estimates the tax character of distributions from real estate investment trusts (REITs). Distributions received in excess of income are recorded as a reduction of the cost of the related investments. If the applicable securities are no longer owned, any distributions received in excess of income are recorded as realized gains.

Expenses

General expenses of the Trust are allocated to the Fund and the other series of the Trust based upon relative net assets or other expense allocation methodologies determined by the nature of the expense. Expenses directly attributable to the Fund are charged to the Fund.

Fund share valuation

Fund shares are sold and redeemed on a continuing basis at net asset value. Net asset value per share is determined daily as of the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the Exchange) on each day the Exchange is open for trading by dividing the total value of the Fund's investments and other assets, less liabilities, by the number of Fund shares outstanding.

Securities lending

The Fund may lend securities up to one-third of the value of its total assets to certain approved brokers, dealers and other financial institutions to earn additional income. The Fund retains the benefits of owning the securities, including receipt of dividends or interest generated by the security. The Fund also receives a fee for the loan. The Fund has the ability to recall the loans at any time and could do so in order to vote proxies or to sell the loaned securities. Each loan is collateralized by cash that exceeded the value of the securities on loan. The market value of the loaned securities is determined daily at the close of business of the Fund and any additional required collateral is delivered to each Fund on the next business day. The Fund has elected to invest the cash collateral in the Dreyfus Government Cash Management Fund and the income earned is paid to the Fund, net of any fees remitted to Goldman Sachs Agency Lending, the Fund's lending agent and borrower rebates. The Fund's investment manager, Columbia Wanger Asset Management, LLC (CWAM), does not retain any fees earned by the lending program. Generally, in the event of borrower default, the Fund has the right to use the collateral to offset any losses incurred. In the event the Fund is delayed or prevented from exercising its right to dispose of the collateral, there may be a potential loss to the Fund. Some of these losses may be indemnified by the lending agent. The Fund bears the risk of loss with respect to the investment of collateral. The net lending income earned by the Fund as of June 30, 2013, is included in the Statement of Operations.


16



Wanger Select 2013 Semiannual Report

Notes to Financial Statements, continued (Unaudited)

The following table presents the Fund's gross and net amount of assets available for offset under a securities lending agreement as well as the related collateral received by the Fund as of June 30, 2013:

  Gross
Amounts of
  Gross Amounts
Offset in the
  Net Amounts of Assets
Presented in the
  Gross Amounts Not Offset in
the Statement of Assets and Liabilities
 

  Recognized
Assets
  Statement of
Assets and Liabilities
  Statement of
Assets and Liabilities
  Financial
Instruments (a)
  Cash Collateral
Received
  Securities
Collateral Received
 

Net Amount (b)

 

Securities loaned

 

$

7,826,597.00

   

$

   

$

7,826,597.00

   

$

   

$

7,826,597.00

   

$

   

$

   

(a)  Represents the amount of assets that could be offset by liabilities with the same counterparty under master netting or similar agreements that management elects not to offset on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

(b)  Represents the net amount due from counterparties in the event of default.

Federal income taxes

The Fund has complied with the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code available to regulated investment companies and, in the manner provided therein, distributes substantially all its taxable income, as well as any net realized gain on sales of investments and foreign currency transactions reportable for federal income tax purposes. Accordingly, the Fund paid no federal income taxes and no federal income tax provision was required.

Foreign capital gains taxes

Gains in certain countries may be subject to foreign taxes at the fund level. The Fund accrues for such foreign taxes on realized and unrealized gains at the appropriate rate for each jurisdiction. The amount, if any, is disclosed as a liability on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

Distributions to shareholders

Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date.

Indemnification

In the normal course of business, the Trust on behalf of the Fund enters into contracts that contain a variety of representations and warranties and that provide general indemnities. The Fund's maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims against the Fund. Also under the Trust's organizational documents, the trustees and officers of the Trust are indemnified against certain liabilities that may arise out of their duties to the Trust. However based on experience, the Fund expects the risk of loss due to these warranties and indemnities to be remote.

3.  Federal Tax Information

The timing and character of income and capital gain distributions are determined in accordance with income tax regulations, which may differ from GAAP. Reclassifications are made to the Fund's capital accounts for permanent tax differences to reflect income and gains available for distribution (or available capital loss carryforwards) under income tax regulations.

The value of capital loss carryforwards that were utilized for the Fund during the year ended December 31, 2012, was $3,446,870.

Management is required to determine whether a tax position of the Fund is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by the applicable taxing authority, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefit to be recognized by the Fund is measured as the largest amount of benefit that is greater than fifty percent likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. Management is not aware of any tax positions for which it is reasonably possible that the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits will significantly change in the next twelve months. However, management's conclusions may be subject to review and adjustment at a later date

based on factors including, but not limited to, new tax laws, regulations, and administrative interpretations (including relevant court decisions). The Fund's federal tax returns for the prior three fiscal years remain subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service.

4.  Transactions With Affiliates

CWAM is a wholly owned subsidiary of Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (Columbia Management), which in turn is a wholly owned subsidiary of Ameriprise Financial, Inc. (Ameriprise Financial). CWAM furnishes continuing investment supervision to the Fund and is responsible for the overall management of the Fund's business affairs.

CWAM receives a monthly advisory fee based on the Fund's average daily net assets at the following annual rates:

Average Daily Net Assets

 

Annual Fee Rate

 

Up to $500 million

   

0.80

%

 
$500 million and over    

0.78

%

 

For the six months ended June 30, 2013, the annualized effective investment advisory fee rate was 0.80% of the Fund's average daily net assets.

Through April 30, 2014, CWAM has contractually agreed to reimburse the Fund to the extent that ordinary operating expenses (exclusive of brokerage commissions, interest, taxes and extraordinary expenses, but inclusive of custodian charges relating to overdrafts, if any), after giving effect to any balance credits from the Fund's custodian, exceed an annual percentage of 1.35% of average daily net assets on an annualized basis. For the six months ended June 30, 2013, the Fund was not reimbursed any expenses by CWAM.

CWAM provides administrative services and receives an administration fee from the Fund at the following annual rates:

Wanger Advisors Trust Aggregate
Average Daily Net Assets of the Trust
 

Annual Fee Rate

 

Up to $4 billion

   

0.05

%

 

$4 billion to $6 billion

   

0.04

%

 

$6 billion to $8 billion

   

0.03

%

 
$8 billion and over    

0.02

%

 

For the six months ended June 30, 2013, the annualized effective administration fee rate was 0.05% of the Fund's average daily net assets. Columbia Management provides certain sub-administrative services to the Fund.

Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. (CMID), a wholly owned subsidiary of Ameriprise Financial, serves as the Fund's distributor and principal underwriter.

Columbia Management Investment Services Corp. (CMIS), a wholly owned subsidiary of Ameriprise Financial, is the transfer agent to the Fund. For its services,


17



Wanger Select 2013 Semiannual Report

Notes to Financial Statements, continued (Unaudited)

the Fund pays CMIS a monthly fee at the annual rate of $21.00 per open account. CMIS also receives reimbursement from the Fund for certain out-of-pocket expenses.

Certain officers and trustees of the Trust are also officers of CWAM. The Trust makes no direct payments to its officers and trustees who are affiliated with CWAM.

The Board has appointed a Chief Compliance Officer of the Trust in accordance with federal securities regulations. The Fund, along with other affiliated funds, pays its pro-rata share of the expenses associated with the Office of the Chief Compliance Officer. These expenses are disclosed separately as "Chief compliance officer expenses" in the Statement of Operations.

The Trust offers a deferred compensation plan for its independent trustees. Under that plan, a trustee may elect to defer all or a portion of his or her compensation. Amounts deferred are retained by the Trust and may represent an unfunded obligation of the Trust. The value of amounts deferred is determined by reference to the change in value of Class Z shares of one or more series of Columbia Acorn Trust or a money market fund as specified by the trustee. Benefits under the deferred compensation plan are payable in accordance with the plan.

For the six months ended June 30, 2013, the Fund engaged in purchase and sales transactions with funds that have a common investment manager (or affiliated investment managers), common directors/trustees, and/or common officers. Those purchase and sale transactions complied with provisions of Rule 17a-7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and were $360,128 and $1,965,370, respectively.

5.  Borrowing Arrangements

During the six months ended June 30, 2013, the Trust participated in a credit facility with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., along with Columbia Acorn Trust, another trust managed by CWAM, in the amount of $150 million prior to January 11, 2013, and in the amount of $200 million thereafter. The credit facility was entered into to facilitate portfolio liquidity. Under the facility, interest is charged to each participating fund based on its borrowings at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate plus 1.00%. In addition, a commitment fee of 0.08% per annum of the unutilized line of credit is accrued and apportioned among the participating funds based on their relative net assets. The commitment fee is disclosed separately as "Commitment fee for line of credit" in the Statement of Operations. The Trust renewed the line of credit in July in the amount of $150 million, and will continue to do so each year at then current market rates and terms.

No amounts were borrowed for the benefit of the Fund during the six months ended June 30, 2013.

6.  Fund Share Transactions

Proceeds and payments on Fund shares as shown in the Statement of Changes in Net Assets are in respect of the following numbers of shares:

    (Unaudited)
Six months ended
June 30, 2013
  Year ended
December 31, 2012
 

Shares sold

   

101,412

     

266,744

   
Shares issued in reinvestment
of dividend distributions
   

140,711

     

37,568

   

Less shares redeemed

   

(876,139

)

   

(2,150,485

)

 

Net (decrease) in shares outstanding

   

(634,016

)

   

(1,846,173

)

 

7.  Investment Transactions

The aggregate cost of purchases and proceeds from sales other than short-term obligations for the six months ended June 30, 2013, were $31,340,014 and $52,012,625, respectively.

8.  Shareholder Concentration

At June 30, 2013, one unaffiliated shareholder account owned 83.3% of the outstanding shares of the Fund. The Fund has no knowledge about whether any portion of those shares was owned beneficially by such account. Subscription and

redemption activity by concentrated accounts may have a significant effect on the operations of the Fund.

9.  Subsequent Events

Management has evaluated the events and transactions that have occurred through the date the financial statements were issued and noted no items requiring adjustment of the financial statements or additional disclosure.

10.  Information Regarding Pending and Settled Legal Proceedings

Ameriprise Financial and certain of its affiliates have historically been involved in a number of legal, arbitration and regulatory proceedings, including routine litigation, class actions, and governmental actions, concerning matters arising in connection with the conduct of their business activities. Ameriprise Financial believes that the Funds are not currently the subject of, and that neither Ameriprise Financial nor any of its affiliates are the subject of, any pending legal, arbitration or regulatory proceedings that are likely to have a material adverse effect on the Funds or the ability of Ameriprise Financial or its affiliates to perform under their contracts with the Funds. Ameriprise Financial is required to make 10-Q, 10-K and, as necessary, 8-K filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission on legal and regulatory matters that relate to Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates. Copies of these filings may be obtained by accessing the SEC website at www.sec.gov.

There can be no assurance that these matters, or the adverse publicity associated with them, will not result in increased fund redemptions, reduced sale of fund shares or other adverse consequences to the Funds. Further, although we believe proceedings are not likely to have a material adverse effect on the Funds or the ability of Ameriprise Financial or its affiliates to perform under their contracts with the Funds, these proceedings are subject to uncertainties and, as such, we are unable to estimate the possible loss or range of loss that may result. An adverse outcome in one or more of these proceedings could result in adverse judgments, settlements, fines, penalties or other relief that could have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial condition or results of operations of Ameriprise Financial.


18




Wanger Select 2013 Semiannual Report

Board Approval of the Advisory Agreement

Wanger Advisors Trust (the "Trust") has an investment advisory agreement (the "Advisory Agreement") with Columbia Wanger Asset Management, LLC ("Columbia WAM") under which Columbia WAM manages Wanger Select (the "Fund"). More than 75% of the trustees of the Trust (the "Trustees") are persons who have no direct or indirect interest in the Advisory Agreement and are not "interested persons" (as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act")) of the Trust (the "Independent Trustees"). The Trustees oversee the management of the Fund and, as required by law, determine at least annually whether to continue the Advisory Agreement for the Fund.

The Contract Committee (the "Committee") of the Board of Trustees (the "Board"), which is comprised solely of Independent Trustees, makes recommendations to the Board regarding any proposed continuation of the Advisory Agreement. After the Committee has made its recommendations, the full Board determines whether to approve continuation of the Advisory Agreement. The Board also considers matters bearing on the Advisory Agreement at its various meetings throughout the year, meets at least quarterly with Columbia WAM's portfolio managers (the Board's Investment Performance Analysis Committee meets frequently with them as well), and receives monthly reports from Columbia WAM on the performance of the Fund.

In connection with their most recent consideration of the Advisory Agreement for the Fund, the Committee and all Trustees received and reviewed a substantial amount of information provided by Columbia WAM, Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC ("Columbia Management") and Ameriprise Financial, Inc. ("Ameriprise") in response to written requests from the Independent Trustees and their independent legal counsel. In addition, the Trustees reviewed the Management Fee Evaluation dated June 2013 (the "Fee Evaluation") prepared by the Trust's chief compliance officer, senior vice president and general counsel, at the request of the Board. Throughout the process, the Trustees had numerous opportunities to ask questions of and request additional materials from Columbia WAM, Columbia Management and Ameriprise.

During each meeting at which the Committee or the Independent Trustees considered the Advisory Agreement, they met in executive session with their independent legal counsel. The Committee also met with representatives of Columbia WAM, Columbia Management and Ameriprise on several occasions. In all, the Committee convened formally on four separate occasions to consider the continuation of the Advisory Agreement. The Board and/or some or all of the Independent Trustees met on other occasions to receive the Committee's status reports, receive presentations from Columbia WAM, Columbia Management and Ameriprise representatives, and to discuss outstanding issues. In addition, the Investment Performance Analysis Committee of the Board, also comprised exclusively of Independent Trustees, reviewed the performance of the Fund, met in a joint meeting with the Committee, and presented its findings to the Board and the Committee throughout the year. The Compliance Committee of the Board also provided information to the Committee with respect to relevant matters.

The materials reviewed by the Committee and the Trustees included, among other items, (i) information on the investment performance of the Fund and of independently selected peer groups of funds and of the Fund's performance benchmark over various time periods, (ii) information on the Fund's advisory fees and other expenses, including information comparing the Fund's fees and expenses to those of peer groups of funds and information about any applicable expense limitations and fee breakpoints, (iii) data on sales and redemptions of Fund shares, and (iv) information on the profitability to Columbia WAM and Ameriprise, as well as potential "fall-out" or ancillary benefits that Columbia WAM and its affiliates may receive as a result of their relationships with the Fund. The Trustees also considered other information such as (i) Columbia WAM's financial condition, (ii) the Fund's investment objective and strategy, (iii) the size, education and experience of Columbia WAM's investment staff and its use of technology, external research and trading cost measurement tools, (iv) the portfolio manager compensation framework, (v) the allocation of the Fund's brokerage, and the use of "soft" commission dollars to pay for research products and services, (vi) Columbia WAM's risk management program, and (vii) the resources devoted to, and the record of compliance with, the Fund's

investment policies and restrictions, policies on personal securities transactions and other compliance policies.

At a meeting held on June 5, 2013, upon the recommendation of the Committee, the Board unanimously approved the continuation of the Advisory Agreement.

In considering the continuation of the Advisory Agreement, the Trustees reviewed and analyzed various factors that they determined were relevant, none of which by itself was considered dispositive. The material factors and conclusions that formed the basis for the Trustees' determination to approve the continuation of the Advisory Agreement are discussed below.

Nature, quality and extent of services. The Trustees reviewed the nature, quality and extent of the services provided by Columbia WAM and its affiliates to the Fund under the Advisory Agreement, taking into account the investment objective and strategy of the Fund, its shareholder base, and knowledge gained from meetings with management, which were held on at least a quarterly basis. In addition, the Trustees reviewed the available resources and key personnel of Columbia WAM and its affiliates, especially those providing investment management services to the Fund. The Trustees also considered other services provided to the Fund by Columbia WAM and its affiliates, including: managing the execution of portfolio transactions and selecting broker-dealers for those transactions; monitoring adherence to the Fund's investment restrictions; producing shareholder reports; providing support services for the Board and committees of the Board; managing the Fund's securities lending program; communicating with shareholders; serving as the Fund's administrator; and overseeing the activities of the Fund's other service providers, including monitoring for compliance with various policies and procedures as well as applicable securities laws and regulations.

The Trustees concluded that the nature, quality and extent of the services provided by Columbia WAM and its affiliates to the Fund under the Advisory Agreement were appropriate for the Fund and that the Fund was likely to benefit from the continued provision of those services by Columbia WAM. They also concluded that Columbia WAM currently had sufficient personnel, with appropriate education and experience, to serve the Fund effectively, and that the firm had demonstrated its continuing ability to attract and retain well-qualified personnel. In addition, they considered the quality of Columbia WAM's compliance record.

Performance of the Fund. The Trustees received and considered detailed performance information at various meetings of the Board, the Committee and the Investment Performance Analysis Committee of the Board throughout the year. They reviewed information comparing the Fund's performance with that of its benchmark(s) and with the performance of comparable funds and peer groups as identified by Lipper Inc. ("Lipper") and Morningstar, Inc. ("Morningstar"). The Trustees evaluated the performance of the Fund over various time periods, including over the one-, three- and five-year periods ending December 31, 2012. The Trustees also considered peer performance rankings for similar time periods, although they generally focused more on the five-year period.

The Trustees considered that the Fund had underperformed its peers and benchmark over the three- and five-year periods ending December 31, 2012 and exposed investors to more risk versus its peers. The Trustees considered, however, that the Fund had performed better over the one-year period against both its peers and benchmark, and that Columbia WAM had instituted a performance remediation plan during the year to correct underperformance. In addition, the Trustees noted that there had been a portfolio manager change during the past quarter. The Trustees believed that Columbia WAM was devoting appropriate resources to addressing the Fund's underperformance.

Costs of Services and Profits Realized by Columbia WAM. At various Committee and Board meetings, the Trustees examined detailed information on the fees and expenses of the Fund in comparison to information for comparable funds provided by Lipper and Morningstar. The Trustees noted that the Fund's net expenses were higher than the Lipper peer group expenses, but even with the Morningstar peer group. The Trustees also took into account that the actual advisory fees paid by the Fund were higher than the median versus Lipper and Morningstar peers.

The Trustees also reviewed the advisory fee rates charged by Columbia WAM for managing other investment companies, sub-advised funds and other institutional


19



Wanger Select 2013 Semiannual Report

Board Approval of the Advisory Agreement

separate accounts with similar investment strategies, as detailed in materials provided to the Committee by Columbia WAM and in the Fee Evaluation. The Trustees noted that the Fund's advisory fees were generally comparable to Columbia Acorn Select's advisory fees at the same asset levels.

The Trustees concluded that the rate of advisory fees payable to Columbia WAM were reasonable in relation to the nature and quality of the services to be provided and the investment performance of the Fund, taking into account Columbia WAM's recent steps to improve performance of the Fund.

The Trustees reviewed the analysis of the historic profitability of Columbia WAM in serving as the Fund's investment manager and of Columbia WAM and its affiliates in their relationships with the Fund. The Committee and Trustees met with representatives from Ameriprise to discuss its methodologies for calculating profitability and allocating costs. They considered that Ameriprise calculated profitability and allocated costs on a contract-by-contract and Fund-by-Fund basis. The Trustees also considered the methodology used by Columbia WAM and Ameriprise in determining compensation payable to portfolio managers and the competitive market for investment management talent. The Trustees were also provided with profitability information from Lipper, which compared Columbia WAM's profitability to other similar investment managers in the mutual fund industry. The Trustees concluded that Columbia WAM's and its affiliates' profits were within a reasonable range of those of competitors with similar business models. The Trustees discussed, however, that profitability comparisons among fund managers may not always be meaningful due to the lack of consistency in data, small number of publicly-owned managers, and the fact that profitability of any investment manager is affected by numerous factors, including its particular organizational structure, the types of funds and other accounts managed, other lines of business, expense allocation methodology, capital structure and other factors.

Economies of Scale. At various Committee and Board meetings and other informal meetings, the Trustees considered information about the extent to which Columbia WAM realizes economies of scale in connection with an increase in Fund assets. The Trustees noted that the advisory fee schedule for the Fund includes breakpoints in the rate of fees at various asset levels. The Trustees concluded that the fee structure of the Fund was reflective of a sharing of economies of scale between Columbia WAM and the Fund.

Other Benefits to Columbia WAM. The Trustees also reviewed benefits that accrue to Columbia WAM and its affiliates from their relationships with the Fund, based upon information provided to them by Ameriprise and as outlined in the Fee Evaluation. They noted that the Fund's transfer agency services are performed by Columbia Management Investment Services Corp., an affiliate of Ameriprise, which receives compensation from the Fund for its services provided. They considered that an affiliate of Ameriprise, Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. ("CMID"), serves as the Fund's distributor under an underwriting agreement but receives no fees for its services to the Fund. In addition, Columbia Management provides sub-administration services to the Fund. The Committee received information regarding the profitability of the Fund agreement with Columbia WAM affiliates. The Committee and the Board also reviewed information about and discussed the capabilities of each affiliated entity in performing its duties.

The Trustees considered other ways that the Fund and Columbia WAM may potentially benefit from their relationship with each other. For example, the Trustees considered Columbia WAM's use of commissions paid by the Fund on its portfolio brokerage transactions to obtain research products and services benefiting the Fund and/or other clients of Columbia WAM. The Committee reviewed Columbia WAM's annual "soft dollar" report and met with representatives from Columbia WAM to review Columbia WAM's soft dollar spending. The Committee also considered that the Compliance Committee of the Board regularly reviewed third-party prepared reports that evaluated the quality of Columbia WAM's execution of the Fund's portfolio transactions. The Trustees noted that these reports showed that Columbia WAM's execution capabilities were generally better than industry peers. The Trustees determined that Columbia WAM's use of the Fund's "soft" commission dollars to obtain research products and services was consistent with current regulatory requirements and guidance. They also concluded that Columbia WAM benefits from

the receipt of proprietary research products and services acquired through commissions paid on portfolio transactions of the Fund, and that the Fund benefitted from Columbia WAM's receipt of those products and services as well as research products and services acquired through commissions paid by other clients of Columbia WAM.

After full consideration of the above factors, as well as other factors that were instructive in evaluating the Advisory Agreement, the Trustees, including the Independent Trustees by separate vote, concluded that the continuation of the Advisory Agreement was in the best interest of the Fund. On June 5, 2013, the Trustees approved continuation of the Advisory Agreement through July 31, 2014.


20




Wanger Select 2013 Semiannual Report

Columbia Wanger Funds

Trustees

Laura M. Born
Chair of the Board

Steven N. Kaplan
Vice Chair of the Board

Michelle L. Collins
Maureen M. Culhane
Margaret M. Eisen
John C. Heaton
Charles P. McQuaid
David J. Rudis
David B. Small
Ralph Wanger (Trustee Emeritus)

Officers

Charles P. McQuaid
President

Robert A. Chalupnik
Vice President

Michael G. Clarke
Assistant Treasurer

Joseph F. DiMaria
Assistant Treasurer

P. Zachary Egan
Vice President

Fritz Kaegi
Vice President

John M. Kunka
Assistant Treasurer

Stephen Kusmierczak
Vice President

Joseph C. LaPalm
Vice President

Bruce H. Lauer
Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer

Louis J. Mendes III
Vice President

Robert A. Mohn
Vice President

Christopher J. Olson
Vice President

Christopher O. Petersen
Assistant Secretary

Scott R. Plummer
Assistant Secretary

Linda K. Roth-Wiszowaty
Assistant Secretary

Robert P. Scales
Chief Compliance Officer, Chief Legal Officer, Senior Vice President and
General Counsel

Andreas Waldburg-Wolfegg
Vice President

Investment Manager

Columbia Wanger Asset Management, LLC
227 West Monroe Street, Suite 3000
Chicago, Illinois 60606
1-888-4-WANGER
(1-888-492-6437)

Transfer Agent,
Dividend Disbursing Agent

Columbia Management Investment Services Corp.
P.O. Box 8081
Boston, Massachusetts
02266-8081

Distributor

Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc.
225 Franklin Street
Boston, Massachusetts
02110

Legal Counsel to the Funds

Perkins Coie LLP
Washington, DC

Legal Counsel to the Independent Trustees

Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Chicago, Illinois

This document contains Global Industry Classification Standard data. The Global Industry Classification Standard ("GICS") was developed by and is the exclusive property and a service mark of MSCI Inc. ("MSCI") and Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC ("S&P") and is licensed for use by Columbia Wanger Asset Management, LLC ("CWAM"). Neither MSCI, S&P, nor any other party involved in making or compiling the GICS or any GICS classifications makes any express or implied warranties or representations with respect to such standard or classification (or the results to be obtained by the use thereof), and all such parties hereby expressly disclaim all warranties of originality, accuracy, completeness, merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose with respect to any of such standard or classification. Without limiting any of the foregoing, in no event shall MSCI, S&P, any of their affiliates or any third party involved in making or compiling the GICS or any GICS classifications have any liability for any direct, indirect, special, punitive, consequential or any other damages (including lost profits) even if notified of the possibility of such damages.

This report, including the schedules of investments and financial statements, is submitted for the general information of the shareholders of the Wanger Advisors Trust.

A description of the Fund's proxy voting policies and procedures and a copy of the Fund's voting record for the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 are available (i) on our website, columbiamanagement.com, (ii) on the Securities and Exchange Commission's website at www.sec.gov, and (iii) without charge, upon request, by calling 888-492-6437.

The Fund files a complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q. The Fund's Form N-Q is available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov and may be reviewed and copied at the SEC's Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. Information on the operation of the Pubic Reference Room may be obtained by calling 800-SEC-0330. The Fund's complete portfolio holdings are disclosed at www.columbiamanagement.com approximately 30 to 40 days after each month-end.


21




Columbia Wanger Funds

© 2013 Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC. All rights reserved.

(8/13) 710317




Wanger USA

2013 Semiannual Report

Not FDIC insuredNo bank guaranteeMay lose value



Columbia Wanger Asset Management, LLC (CWAM) is one of the leading global small- and mid-cap equity managers in the United States with over 40 years of small- and mid-cap investment experience. As of June 30, 2013, CWAM managed $34.9 billion in assets. CWAM is the investment manager to Wanger USA, Wanger International, Wanger Select and Wanger International Select (together, the Columbia Wanger Funds) and the Columbia Acorn Family of Funds.

Investors should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of a mutual fund carefully before investing. For a free prospectus, which contains this and other important information about the Fund, contact your financial adviser, insurance company, qualified pension or retirement plan sponsor or call 1-888-4-WANGER. Read the prospectus carefully before investing.

An important note: Columbia Wanger Funds are available for purchase through variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies offered by the separate accounts of participating insurance companies and qualified pension or retirement plans.

Shares of the Fund may not be purchased or sold directly by individual owners of variable annuity contracts and/or variable life insurance policies (collectively, Contracts) or participants in qualified retirement or other plans (collectively, Qualified Plans). If you are the owner of a Contract or a participant in a Qualified Plan, please refer to the prospectus that describes your Contract or Qualified Plan for information about minimum investment requirements and how to purchase and redeem shares of the Fund.

  The views expressed in "Health Care in the United States" and in the Performance Review reflect the current views of the respective authors. These views are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict so actual outcomes and results may differ significantly from those stated. These views are subject to change at any time based upon economic, market or other conditions and the respective parties disclaim any responsibility to update such views. These views may not be relied on as investment advice and, because investment decisions for a Columbia Wanger Fund are based on numerous factors, may not be relied on as an indication of trading intent on behalf of any particular Columbia Wanger Fund. References to specific company securities should not be construed as a recommendation or investment advice.




  Wanger USA

  2013 Semiannual Report

    Table of Contents

  2    

Understanding Your Expenses

 
  3    

Health Care in the United States

 
  6    

Performance Review

 
  8    

Statement of Investments

 
  15    

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

 
  15    

Statement of Operations

 
  16    

Statement of Changes in Net Assets

 
  17    

Financial Highlights

 
  18    

Notes to Financial Statements

 
  21    

Board Approval of the Advisory Agreement

 



Wanger USA 2013 Semiannual Report

Understanding Your Expenses

As an investor, you incur two types of costs. There are transaction costs, which may include redemption fees or exchange fees charged under your contract or qualified plan. There are also ongoing costs, which generally include management fees and other Fund expenses. Lastly, there may be additional fees or charges imposed by the insurance company that sponsors your variable annuity and/or variable life insurance product. The following information is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to help you compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.

Analyzing your Fund's expenses

To illustrate the ongoing costs, we have provided an example and calculated the expenses paid by investors in the Fund during the period. The actual and hypothetical information in the table below is based on an initial investment of $1,000 at the beginning of the period indicated and held for the entire period. Expense information is calculated two ways and each method provides you with different information. The amount listed in the "Actual" column is calculated using the Fund's actual operating expenses and total return for the period. You may use the Actual information, together with the amount invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the results by the expenses paid during the period under the Actual column. The amount listed in the "Hypothetical" column assumes a 5% annual rate of return before expenses (which is not the Fund's actual return) and then applies the Fund's actual expense ratio for the period to the hypothetical return. You should not use the hypothetical account values and expenses to estimate either your actual account balance at the end of the period or the expenses you paid during the period. See "Compare with other funds" below for details on how to use the hypothetical data.

Compare with other funds

Since all mutual funds are required to include the same hypothetical calculations about expenses in shareholder reports, you can use this information to compare the ongoing cost of investing in the Fund with other funds. To do so, compare the hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of other funds. As you compare hypothetical examples of other funds, it is important to note that hypothetical examples are meant to highlight the ongoing cost of investing in a fund only and do not reflect any transaction costs, such as redemption or exchange fees. Therefore, the hypothetical calculations are useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of investing in different funds. If transaction costs were included in these calculations, your costs would be higher.

January 1, 2013 – June 30, 2013

  Account value at the
beginning of the period ($)
  Account value at the
end of the period ($)
  Expenses paid during
period ($)
  Fund's annualized
expense ratio (%)*
 

 

Actual

 

Hypothetical

 

Actual

 

Hypothetical

 

Actual

 

Hypothetical

 

 

Wanger USA

   

1,000.00

     

1,000.00

     

1,122.20

     

1,019.81

     

5.00

     

4.75

     

0.96

   

          

*Expenses paid during the period are equal to the Fund's annualized expense ratio, multiplied by the average account value over the period, then multiplied by the number of days in the Fund's most recent fiscal half-year and divided by 365.

It is important to note that the expense amounts shown in the table are meant to highlight only ongoing costs of investing in the Fund. Expenses paid during the period do not include any insurance charges imposed by your insurance company's separate account.


2



Wanger USA 2013 Semiannual Report

Health Care in the United States

Critics of the U.S. health care system note that the World Health Organization (WHO) ranked the United States thirtieth in the world in life expectancy1 despite the fact that the United States spends more money per capita on health care than any other country. They argue that health care in the United States is inferior to health care in many other developed countries.

Scott W. Atlas's book, In Excellent Health, Setting the Record Straight on America's Health Care,2 analyzes the consequences of poor lifestyle choices made by many Americans and how the U.S. health care system operates compared to health care systems elsewhere. His book cites numerous studies indicating the U.S. health care system does a great job addressing the health concerns of Americans and is likely the best system in the world.

Life Expectancy

The United States is much more violent and accident-prone than other developed countries. Homicide rates in the United States are ten times that of the United Kingdom and five times that of Canada.3 Death rates from transportation accidents in the United States are 250% that of the United Kingdom and 160% that of Canada.4 Murder and accidents account for the majority of deaths among young adults in the United States,5 and deaths at young ages substantially impact life expectancies.

Robert Ohsfeldt's and John Schneider's book, The Business of Health,6 attempts to quantify the impact of fatal injuries on life expectancy. Using linear regression, they calculate that after standardizing for fatal injuries alone, the United States would edge out Switzerland by 0.3 years and have the highest life expectancy of any country in the world.7

Other studies indicate that violence and accidents account for much, but not all, of the life expectancy shortfall in the United States. A National Academy of Sciences panel addressing cross-national health differences issued a paper that indicated 57% of the life expectancy gap for

males under age 50 and 38% for females under 50 is explained by higher violence and accidents in the United States.8

The United States has a much higher incidence of obesity than other developed countries. Atlas notes that in 2010 34% of people in the United States were obese compared to 15% in Canada, 17% in Western Europe and about 24% in the United Kingdom.9 The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) estimates that obesity reduces life spans by up to eight to ten years.10 Sadly, the worst is yet to come for the United States, as obesity rates have increased and there appears to be a 25-year time lag between becoming obese and suffering premature death.11

Cigarette use in the United States is down substantially; smoking rates are now lower than most other OECD countries.12 However, studies have found a time lag of roughly 25 to 30 years between smoking and lung cancer mortality.13 The United States had the highest rate of smoking in the developed world from the 1930s to the mid-1980s and, according to a 2007 study, 53% of Americans were current or former smokers, compared to 43% of Western Europeans.14 Clearly the United States' legacy of smoking continues to impact health. The Surgeon General estimates that cigarette smoking causes 443,000 deaths in the United States yearly, nearly one-fifth of all deaths.15

With respect to neonatal mortality, Atlas writes that the United States has stringent reporting requirements and definitions. Birth registrations in the United States are done by hospitals and health care professionals, while many other countries rely on reporting by families or surveys.16 In the United States, a live birth is tabulated should a newborn breathe, have a beating heart, move voluntary muscles or show any other evidence of life.17 According to WHO, countries representing only 13% of births worldwide had reliable data meeting this definition.18

Elsewhere, definitions for live births vary greatly. Some countries consider births as live only if 28 weeks gestation was achieved, if a baby is 30 centimeters long, or if a baby survives 24 hours.19 Otherwise, the baby is classified as stillborn and is not considered an infant mortality. Atlas states, "... considering that roughly half of all U.S. infant mortality occurs in the first twenty-four hours, the single criterion of omitting deaths within the first twenty-four hours by many European nations generates their falsely superior infant mortality rates."20

Data from 2004 indicated that the United States had 12% of births classified as preterm (under 32 weeks gestation), a rate 50% to 100% higher than most European countries.21 These figures are impacted by the fact the United States has more multiple gestation pregnancies. Since the early 1980s, the incidence of triplets in the United States has more than tripled to over 140 births per 100,000.22 Atlas notes that in 2007, 17% of twins and 40% of triplets in the United States were associated with fertility treatments.

The United States health care system should be applauded for its efforts to save premature babies rather than write them off as stillborn, as many other countries do. Except for a very limited number of abusive cases, fertility treatment should be considered a virtue of the U.S. health care system. Yet, coupled with superior record keeping, these efforts depress the country's life expectancy ranking.

Diagnosis, Treatment and Outcomes

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lists heart disease as the top killer in the United States, accounting for 25% of deaths, followed by cancer at 23%, and stroke a distant third at 6%.23 Rather than judge a health care system on reported life expectancy, Atlas assesses health care quality in the United States based on actual medical care, especially diagnosis and treatment of important diseases, using objective data.


3



Wanger USA 2013 Semiannual Report

Atlas notes the challenges facing the health care system due to the poor lifestyle choices of many Americans. The CDC estimates that 80% of diabetes, heart disease and stroke, and 40% of cancer, could be eliminated through reduction in obesity and smoking.24 The rate of diabetes in the United States is typically 33% to 100% higher than other developed countries.25 A 2007 study indicated that 12% of Americans over age 50 were diagnosed with cancer, compared to only 5% in a composite of 10 European countries.26

Atlas cites data showing more timely diagnosis and treatment in the United States as compared to other countries. He writes that, "... prolonged wait times are commonly found in health systems with government-controlled nationalized health insurance."27 Numerous countries with single payer systems had to create policies to address prolonged wait times, including Canada, England, Italy, Sweden and Spain.

The United States is among the world's leaders in per capita computerized tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners,28 which are crucial to accurately diagnosing leading fatal diseases and guiding lower risk and more effective treatments. In the United States, referring doctors book CT and MRI appointments within days. In other countries, people wait. In 2010, the average wait time in Canada for a CT scan was 4 weeks and for an MRI, 10 weeks.29 A 2011 study in the United Kingdom indicated thousands of people waited over six weeks for an MRI scan. With respect to breast cancer biopsies, another survey indicated that only 1% of U.S. patients waited three weeks or more while 44% of Canadian and 20% of U.K. patients waited that long.30

Treatment of diseases also tends to be very timely in the United States. One study indicated that no elective (non-emergency) cardiac bypass patients in the United States were known to have waited more than three months, while 47% in Canada and 89% in the United Kingdom waited at least that long.31

Furthermore, treatments in the United States tend to be aggressive. A 2009 paper written by

University of Pennsylvania professor Samuel Preston and doctoral candidate Jessica Ho states that 88% of Americans with high cholesterol are being medicated versus 62% of Europeans. Likewise a higher percentage of Americans over age 50 with heart disease receive medication. Among those with hypertension in the United States, 66% were being successfully treated, versus 25% to 49% in other countries.32

With respect to cancer, Preston and Ho cite studies showing that the United States tends to have the highest percentage of screenings for breast, cervical, prostate and colon cancer.33 If cancer is detected, Americans tend to receive more surgery, chemotherapy and advanced cancer drugs. A 2008 study calculated five-year survival rates for breast, colorectal and prostate cancers. Patients in the United States lead the world with a 74% survival rate. Second-best Canada came in at 71% and the United Kingdom was a laggard at 52%.

Atlas adds that new oncology drugs are most often approved and first used in the United States.34 Some 80% of worldwide medical innovation originates in the United States and, since the mid-1970s, U.S. scientists have won more than half of Nobel Prize awards in medicine and physiology.

The statistics are clear. Sick Americans are more likely to receive timely and aggressive health care than citizens of other countries. Atlas writes, "Availability of state-of-the-art medical technology, timely access to specialists, the most effective screening, the shortest wait times for life-changing surgeries, the newest, most effective drugs for more accurate, safer diagnosis and for the most advanced treatment are all superior in the United States."35

Many people appear to agree. In 2008, a McKinsey & Company study estimated that up to 85,000 patients sought in-patient treatment outside their home country. Of that number, 87% traveled to the United States for advanced medical technology, better quality care or quicker access to care. In contrast, critics of the U.S.

health care system don't appear to be traveling to Cuba for treatment. Based on the facts, I agree with Atlas.

Health Care Economics and Investment Implications

Atlas states that the, "... only real crisis in America's health care today is the unsustainable and increasing burden of health care costs..."36 and recommends free market reforms. Health care costs are not the topic of this essay, but world-class health care clearly is expensive, and costs in the United States are exacerbated by detrimental lifestyle choices. I also believe that poor government policies result in few incentives for cost restraint.

Columbia Wanger Asset Management, the investment manager of the Columbia Wanger Funds, strives to provide Columbia Wanger Fund investors with investments in health care companies that are pursuing breakthrough drugs and devices, with the potential to transform treatment of serious and poorly managed diseases. For example, in pivotal studies Seattle Genetics' drug Adcetris delivered 80% response rates in advanced Hodgkin's lymphoma patients who had exhausted all other treatment options.37 In addition, we seek to invest in companies with products and services that we believe increase the cost effectiveness of health care delivery. We attempt to avoid investing in health care companies that may be more likely to be subject to cost cuts or price controls.

Charles P. McQuaid
President and Chief Investment Officer
Columbia Wanger Asset Management, LLC


4



Wanger USA 2013 Semiannual Report

The information and data provided in this analysis are derived from sources that we deem to be reliable and accurate. These views are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict so actual outcomes and results may differ significantly from the views expressed. The views/opinions expressed here are those of the author and not of the Wanger Advisors Trust Board, are subject to change at any time based upon economic, market or other conditions, may differ from views expressed by other Columbia Management associates and the respective parties disclaim any responsibility to update such views. These views may not be relied on as investment advice and, because investment decisions for a Columbia Wanger Fund are based on numerous factors, may not be relied on as an indication of trading intent on behalf of any particular Columbia Wanger Fund.

1  Atlas, Scott W., In Excellent Health, Setting the Record Straight on American's Heath Care, (Stanford, California, Hoover Institution Press), p. 2.

2  Ibid.

3  Ohsfeldt, Robert L., and Schneider, John E., The Business of Health, The Role of Competition, Markets, and Regulation, (Washington, D.C., The AEI Press), p. 19.

4  Atlas, Scott W., op. cit., p. 28.

5  Ibid., p. 28.

6  Ohsfeldt, Robert L., and Schneider, John E., op. cit.

7  Ibid., p. 22.

8  Steven H. Woolf and Laudan Aron, Editors; Panel on Understanding Cross-National Health Differences Among High-Income Countries; Committee on Population; Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education; National Research Council; Board on Population Health and Public Health Practice; Institute of Medicine, www.nap.edu.

9  Atlas, Scott W., op. cit., p. 105.

10  Ibid., p. 31.

11  Ibid., p. 107.

12  Ibid., p. 40.

13  Ibid., p. 41.

14  Ibid., p. 111.

15  Ibid., p. 108.

16  Ibid., p. 60.

17  Ibid., p. 67.

18  Ibid., p. 71.

19  Ibid., p. 68.

20  Ibid., p. 70.

21  Ibid., p. 73.

22  Ibid., p. 89.

23  Ibid., p. 119.

24  Ibid., p. 103.

25  Ibid., p. 113.

26  Preston, Samuel H., and Ho, Jessica Y., "Low Life Expectancy in the United States: Is the Health Care System at Fault?" University of Pennsylvania Scholarly Commons Working Paper Series, July 1, 2009, p. 4, http://repository.upenn.edu/psc_working_papers/13/. Accessed July 24, 2013.

27  Atlas, Scott W., op. cit., p. 159.

28  Ibid., p. 192-193.

29  Ibid., p. 194.

30  Ibid., p. 175.

31  Ibid., p. 187.

32  Preston, Samuel H., and Ho, Jessica Y., op. cit., p. 6.

33  Ibid., p. 3.

34  Atlas, Scott W., op. cit., p. 222.

35  Ibid., p. 233.

36  Ibid., p. 245.

37  Seattle Genetics is held in the following Columbia Wanger Funds: Wanger USA, 1.2%; Wanger Select, 1.3%.


5



Wanger USA 2013 Semiannual Report

Performance Review Wanger USA

Robert A. Mohn
Portfolio Manager

Performance data shown represents past performance and is not a guarantee of future results. The investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data shown. Please visit columbiamanagement.com for most recent month-end performance updates.

Wanger USA finished the semiannual period ended June 30, 2013, up 12.22%. This compares to a 15.86% gain for the Fund's primary benchmark, the Russell 2000 Index. While we are pleased with the Fund's double-digit gain for the period, the Fund underperformed its benchmark due, in part, to our growth-at-a-reasonable-price (GARP) style of investing. This style tends to lag the benchmark during a strong market spurt like that experienced during the first half of 2013.

Top contributors in the six-month period included car rental companies Avis Budget Group and Hertz, up 45% and 52%, respectively. The rental car industry has benefited from consolidation and positive trends in rental car pricing. Internet photo-centric retailer Shutterfly ended the half year up 87% after reporting solid market share gains. Bally Technologies, a slot machine manufacturer and software developer, gained 26% in the half after reporting a strong first quarter fueled by increased demand for replacement slot machines.

Other winners included NPS Pharmaceuticals, a developer of orphan drugs, up 66% on the successful launch of its new drug to treat short bowel syndrome. SPS Commerce, a provider of supply chain management software delivered via the web, gained 48% for the period on strong growth in revenue.

Laggards for the period included premium active apparel retailer lululemon athletica, down 14% for the six months as investors reacted negatively to the resignation of the company's CEO. Early in the period, the company suffered from a much-publicized yoga pant recall and holiday same-store-sales growth that met management's guidance but not Wall Street expectations. Fiber laser manufacturer IPG Photonics was off 9% for the first half of the year on weaker-than-expected revenue growth and concerns about China, the source of 17% of the company's revenue. Plagued by a number of project delays, ESCO Technologies, a manufacturer of automatic electric meter readers, fell 13% for the half year. Polypore International, a manufacturer of battery separators and filtration media, fell 13% in the period. Polypore's battery separators are used in lithium

batteries found in electric automobiles and its sales declined along with sales of these cars.

As mentioned above, our GARP style was somewhat out of favor for the semiannual period, as stocks at the top and bottom of the valuation spectrum brought top gains. Investing styles ebb and flow during market cycles, but our GARP approach has historically worked very well over the long term.

Stocks of small- and mid-cap companies pose special risks, including possible illiquidity and greater price volatility than stocks of larger, more established companies.

Portfolio holdings are subject to change periodically and may not be representative of current holdings.

Fund's Positions in Mentioned Holdings

As a percentage of net assets, as of 6/30/13

Avis Budget Group

   

2.3

%

 

IPG Photonics

   

2.1

   

Bally Technologies

   

1.8

   

Hertz

   

1.2

   

ESCO Technologies

   

1.2

   

SPS Commerce

   

1.1

   

Shutterfly

   

0.8

   

lululemon athletica

   

0.8

   

NPS Pharmaceuticals

   

0.7

   

Polypore International

   

0.3

   


6



Wanger USA 2013 Semiannual Report

Growth of a $10,000 Investment in Wanger USA

May 3, 1995 (inception date) through June 30, 2013

Performance data shown represents past performance and is not a guarantee of future results. The investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data shown. Performance results reflect any fee waivers or reimbursements of Fund expenses by the investment manager and/or any of its affiliates. Absent these fee waivers and/or expense reimbursement arrangements, performance results would have been lower. For daily and most recent month-end performance updates, please call 1-888-4-WANGER.

This graph compares the results of $10,000 invested in Wanger USA on May 3, 1995 (the date the Fund began operations) through June 30, 2013, to the Russell 2000 Index, with dividends and capital gains reinvested. Although the index is provided for use in assessing the Fund's performance, the Fund's holdings may differ significantly from those in the index.

Top 10 Holdings

As a percentage of net assets, as of 6/30/13

1. Nordson
Dispensing Systems for Adhesives & Coatings
  3.8
 

%

 
2. Ametek
Aerospace/Industrial Instruments
  3.3
 
 
3. tw telecom
Fiber Optic Telephone/Data Services
  2.8
 
 
4. Mettler-Toledo International
Laboratory Equipment
  2.7
 
 
5. Extra Space Storage
Self Storage Facilities
  2.6
 
 
6. Donaldson
Industrial Air Filtration
  2.5
 
 
7. Avis Budget Group
Second Largest Car Rental Company
  2.3
 
 
8. Atwood Oceanics
Offshore Drilling Contractor
  2.3
 
 
9. IPG Photonics
Fiber Lasers
  2.1
 
 
10. Informatica
Enterprise Data Integration Software
  1.9
 
 

Top 5 Industries

As a percentage of net assets, as of 6/30/13

Information

   

28.1

%

 

Industrial Goods & Services

   

18.7

   

Consumer Goods & Services

   

16.2

   

Finance

   

15.1

   

Health Care

   

9.1

   

Results as of June 30, 2013

 

2nd quarter*

 

Year to date*

 

1 year

 

5 years

 

10 years

 

Wanger USA

   

0.92

%

   

12.22

%

   

22.03

%

   

8.41

%

   

9.71

%

 

Russell 2000 Index**

   

3.08

     

15.86

     

24.21

     

8.77

     

9.53

   
Lipper Variable
Underlying Small-Cap
Growth Funds Index
   

3.11

     

15.79

     

22.17

     

8.54

     

9.37

   

*  Not annualized.

**  The Fund's primary benchmark.

NAV as of 6/30/13: $34.51

Performance numbers reflect all Fund expenses but do not include any fees and expenses imposed under your variable annuity or life insurance policy or qualified pension or retirement plan. If performance included the effect of these additional charges, it would be lower.

The Fund's annual operating expense ratio of 0.96% is stated as of the Fund's prospectus dated May 1, 2013, and differences in expense ratios disclosed elsewhere in this report may result from including fee waivers and expense reimbursements as well as different time periods used in calculating the ratios.

All results shown assume reinvestment of distributions.

The Russell 2000 Index measures the performance of the 2,000 smallest companies in the Russell 3000 Index, which represents approximately 10% of the total market capitalization of the Russell 3000 Index. The Lipper Variable Underlying Small-Cap Growth Funds Index is an equally weighted representation of the 30 largest variable insurance underlying funds in the Lipper Variable Underlying Small-Cap Growth Funds Classification, and shows how the Fund's performance compares with returns of an index of funds with similar investment objectives. Indexes are not managed and do not incur fees or expenses. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.

Lipper Inc., a widely respected data provider in the industry, calculates an average total return (assuming reinvestment of distributions) for mutual funds with investment objectives similar to those of the Fund.

Portfolio characteristics and holdings are subject to change periodically and may not be representative of current characteristics and holdings.


7




Wanger USA 2013 Semiannual Report

Wanger USA

Statement of Investments (Unaudited), June 30, 2013

Number of
Shares
     

Value

 
   

Equities – 98.7%

 
   

Information – 28.1%

 
   

Business Software – 9.5%

 

448,000

  Informatica (a)
Enterprise Data Integration Software
 

$

15,671,040

 

198,000

  Ansys (a)
Simulation Software for Engineers & Designers
 

14,473,800

 

307,000

  Micros Systems (a)
Information Systems for Hotels, Restaurants & Retailers
 

13,247,050

 

163,000

  SPS Commerce (a)
Supply Chain Management Software Delivered Via the Web
 

8,965,000

 

95,000

  NetSuite (a)
End-to-end IT Systems Solution Delivered Over the Web
 

8,715,300

 

83,000

  Concur Technologies (a) (b)
Web Enabled Cost & Expense Management Software
 

6,754,540

 

165,000

  RealPage (a) (b)
Software for Managing Rental Properties Delivered Via
the Web
 

3,026,100

 

42,000

  DemandWare (a) (b)
eCommerce Website Solution for Retailers &
Apparel Manufacturers
 

1,781,220

 

150,000

  Exa (a)
Simulation Software
 

1,545,000

 

68,140

  E2Open (a) (b)
Supply Chain Management Software &
Supplier/Partner Network
 

1,192,450

 

44,099

  Webgroup.com (a)
Website Creation & Management for Small Businesses
 

1,128,934

 

43,000

  Envestnet (a)
Technology Platform for Investment Advisors
 

1,057,800

 

81,780

  InContact (a)
Call Center Systems Delivered Via the Web &
Telecommunication Services
 

672,232

 

195,000

  Velti (a) (b)
Mobile Marketing Software Platform
 

273,000

 

11,724

  ChannelAdvisor (a)
eCommerce Software
 

184,419

 

624

  SciQuest (a)
Procurement Management Software & Vendor Network
 

15,631

 
     

78,703,516

   
   

Instrumentation – 4.8%

 

109,750

  Mettler-Toledo International (a)
Laboratory Equipment
 

22,081,700

 

291,000

  IPG Photonics (b)
Fiber Lasers
 

17,672,430

 
     

39,754,130

   
Number of
Shares
     

Value

 
   

Telephone & Data Services – 3.0%

 

830,000

  tw telecom (a)
Fiber Optic Telephone/Data Services
 

$

23,356,200

 

197,000

  Boingo Wireless (a)
Wholesale & Retail WiFi Networks
 

1,223,370

 
     

24,579,570

   
   

Semiconductors & Related Equipment – 2.5%

 

281,000

  Monolithic Power Systems
High Performance Analog & Mixed Signal Integrated Circuits
 

6,774,910

 

790,000

  Atmel (a)
Microcontrollers, Radio Frequency &
Memory Semiconductors
 

5,806,500

 

86,000

  Ultratech (a)
Semiconductor Equipment
 

3,157,920

 

64,000

  Semtech (a)
Analog Semiconductors
 

2,241,920

 

25,000

  Hittite Microwave (a)
Radio Frequency, Microwave &
Millimeterwave Semiconductors
 

1,450,000

 

167,000

  ON Semiconductor (a)
Mixed Signal & Power Management Semiconductors
 

1,349,360

 
     

20,780,610

   
   

Computer Services – 2.0%

 

333,000

  ExlService Holdings (a)
Business Process Outsourcing
 

9,843,480

 

175,000

  WNS – ADR (India) (a)
Offshore Business Process Outsourcing Services
 

2,920,750

 

405,000

  RCM Technologies
Technology & Engineering Services
 

2,199,150

 

297,522

  Hackett Group
IT Integration & Best Practice Research
 

1,544,139

 
     

16,507,519

   
   

Gaming Equipment & Services – 1.8%

 

264,000

  Bally Technologies (a) (b)
Slot Machines & Software
 

14,894,880

 
   

Telecommunications Equipment – 1.3%

 

275,800

  Finisar (a)
Optical Subsystems & Components
 

4,674,810

 

235,000

  Ixia (a)
Telecom Network Test Equipment
 

4,324,000

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.
8



Wanger USA 2013 Semiannual Report

Wanger USA

Statement of Investments (Unaudited), June 30, 2013

Number of
Shares
     

Value

 
   

Telecommunications Equipment – 1.3% (cont)

 

135,000

  Infinera (a)
Optical Networking Equipment
 

$

1,440,450

 
     

10,439,260

   
   

Computer Hardware & Related Equipment – 1.2%

 

397,000

  II-VI (a)
Laser Optics & Specialty Materials
 

6,455,220

 

66,000

  Netgear (a)
Networking Products for Small Business & Home
 

2,015,640

 

33,000

  Rogers (a)
Printed Circuit Materials & High-performance Foams
 

1,561,560

 
     

10,032,420

   
   

Financial Processors – 0.9%

 

91,000

  Global Payments
Credit Card Processor
 

4,215,120

 

80,000

  Liquidity Services (a) (b)
E-Auctions for Surplus & Salvage Goods
 

2,773,600

 
     

6,988,720

   
   

Contract Manufacturing – 0.7%

 

122,000

  Plexus (a)
Electronic Manufacturing Services
 

3,646,580

 

165,000

  Sanmina-SCI (a)
Electronic Manufacturing Services
 

2,367,750

 
     

6,014,330

   
   

Business Information & Marketing Services – 0.4%

 

291,200

  Navigant Consulting (a)
Financial Consulting Firm
 

3,494,400

 
       

Total Information

   

232,189,355

   
   

Industrial Goods & Services – 18.7%

 
   

Machinery – 15.1%

 

457,200

  Nordson
Dispensing Systems for Adhesives & Coatings
 

31,688,532

 

640,000

  Ametek
Aerospace/Industrial Instruments
 

27,072,000

 

580,000

  Donaldson
Industrial Air Filtration
 

20,682,800

 

187,000

  Moog (a)
Motion Control Products for Aerospace,
Defense & Industrial Markets
 

9,636,110

 
Number of
Shares
     

Value

 

297,300

  ESCO Technologies
Automatic Electric Meter Readers
 

$

9,626,574

 

124,000

  Kennametal
Consumable Cutting Tools
 

4,814,920

 

124,000

  HEICO
FAA-approved Aircraft Replacement Parts
 

4,576,840

 

24,000

  Middleby (a)
Manufacturer of Cooking Equipment
 

4,082,160

 

88,736

  Toro
Turf Maintenance Equipment
 

4,029,502

 

100,000

  Oshkosh Corporation (a)
Specialty Truck Manufacturer
 

3,797,000

 

57,000

  Polypore International (a) (b)
Battery Separators & Filtration Media
 

2,297,100

 

48,000

  Dorman Products
Aftermarket Auto Parts Distributor
 

2,190,240

 

15,000

  Generac
Standby Power Generators
 

555,150

 
     

125,048,928

   
   

Industrial Materials & Specialty Chemicals – 1.6%

 

234,000

  Drew Industries
RV & Manufactured Home Components
 

9,200,880

 

157,000

  Polyone
Intermediate Stage Chemicals Producer
 

3,890,460

 
     

13,091,340

   
   

Electrical Components – 0.9%

 

64,000

  Acuity Brands
Commercial Lighting Fixtures
 

4,833,280

 

134,000

  Thermon (a)
Global Engineered Thermal Solutions
 

2,733,600

 
     

7,566,880

   
   

Other Industrial Services – 0.6%

 

80,000

  KAR Auction Services
Auto Auctions
 

1,829,600

 

47,000

  Forward Air
Freight Transportation Between Airports
 

1,799,160

 

80,000

  TrueBlue (a)
Temporary Industrial Labor
 

1,684,000

 
     

5,312,760

   

See accompanying notes to financial statements.
9



Wanger USA 2013 Semiannual Report

Wanger USA

Statement of Investments (Unaudited), June 30, 2013

Number of
Shares
     

Value

 
   

Construction – 0.3%

 

58,000

  Fortune Brands Home & Security
Home Building Supplies & Small Locks
 

$

2,246,920

 
   

Industrial Distribution – 0.2%

 

60,000

  MRC Global (a)
Industrial Distributor
 

1,657,200

 
       

Total Industrial Goods & Services

   

154,924,028

   
   

Consumer Goods & Services – 16.2%

 
   

Travel – 5.8%

 

659,500

  Avis Budget Group (a)
Second Largest Car Rental Company
 

18,960,625

 

337,038

  Ryman Hospitality Properties (b)
Convention Hotels
 

13,147,853

 

400,000

  Hertz (a)
Largest U.S. Rental Car Operator
 

9,920,000

 

85,000

  Choice Hotels
Franchisor of Budget Hotel Brands
 

3,373,650

 

72,000

  HomeAway (a)
Vacation Rental Online Marketplace
 

2,328,480

 
     

47,730,608

   
   

Retail – 4.0%

 

382,000

  Pier 1 Imports
Home Furnishing Retailer
 

8,973,180

 

120,500

  Shutterfly (a)
Internet Photo-centric Retailer
 

6,722,695

 

102,000

  lululemon athletica (a) (b)
Premium Active Apparel Retailer
 

6,683,040

 

93,000

  Abercrombie & Fitch
Teen Apparel Retailer
 

4,208,250

 

61,000

  Casey's General Stores
Owner/Operator of Convenience Stores
 

3,669,760

 

176,000

  Saks (a)
Luxury Department Store Retailer
 

2,400,640

 

116,229

  Gaiam (a)
Healthy Living Catalogs & E-Commerce,
Non-theatrical Media
 

518,381

 
     

33,175,946

   
   

Furniture & Textiles – 2.1%

 

474,000

  Knoll
Office Furniture
 

6,735,540

 
Number of
Shares
     

Value

 

178,561

  Caesarstone (Israel) (a)
Quartz Countertops
 

$

4,862,216

 

125,000

  Herman Miller
Office Furniture
 

3,383,750

 

135,000

  Interface
Modular Carpet
 

2,290,950

 
     

17,272,456

   
   

Other Consumer Services – 1.4%

 

163,000

  Lifetime Fitness (a)
Sport & Fitness Club Operator
 

8,167,930

 

132,500

  Blackhawk Network (a)
Third Party Distributer of Prepaid Content, Mostly Gift Cards
 

3,074,000

 
     

11,241,930

   
   

Consumer Goods Distribution – 1.2%

 

194,000

  Pool
Swimming Pool Supplies & Equipment Distributor
 

10,167,540

 
   

Casinos & Gaming – 0.5%

 

208,156

  Pinnacle Entertainment (a)
Regional Casino Operator
 

4,094,428

 

2,342

  Churchill Downs
Owner/Operator of Horse Racing Tracks & Regional Casinos
 

184,667

 
     

4,279,095

   
   

Nondurables – 0.3%

 

73,931

  Helen of Troy (a)
Personal Care, Housewares, Health Care &
Home Environment Products
 

2,836,733

 
   

Food & Beverage – 0.3%

 

37,504

  B&G Foods
Acquiror of Small Food Brands
 

1,277,011

 

73,000

  Boulder Brands (a)
Healthy Food Products
 

879,650

 
     

2,156,661

   
   

Other Durable Goods – 0.2%

 

70,000

  Select Comfort (a)
Specialty Mattresses
 

1,754,200

 
   

Restaurants – 0.2%

 

49,000

  Fiesta Restaurant Group (a)
Owns/Operates Two Restaurant Chains: Pollo Tropical &
Taco Cabana
 

1,685,110

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.
10



Wanger USA 2013 Semiannual Report

Wanger USA

Statement of Investments (Unaudited), June 30, 2013

Number of
Shares
     

Value

 
   

Apparel – 0.2%

 

250,000

  Quiksilver (a)
Action Sports Lifestyle Branded Apparel & Footwear
 

$

1,610,000

 
       

Total Consumer Goods & Services

   

133,910,279

   
   

Finance – 15.1%

 
   

Banks – 7.7%

 

373,000

  MB Financial
Chicago Bank
 

9,996,400

 

107,000

  SVB Financial Group (a)
Bank to Venture Capitalists
 

8,915,240

 

485,000

  Associated Banc-Corp
Midwest Bank
 

7,541,750

 

253,000

  Lakeland Financial
Indiana Bank
 

7,020,750

 

103,000

  City National
Bank & Asset Manager
 

6,527,110

 

368,000

  TCF Financial
Great Lakes Bank
 

5,218,240

 

161,194

  Hancock Holding
Gulf Coast Bank
 

4,847,104

 

504,000

  Valley National Bancorp (b)
New Jersey/New York Bank
 

4,772,880

 

666,200

  First Busey
Illinois Bank
 

2,997,900

 

400,000

  First Commonwealth
Western Pennsylvania Bank
 

2,948,000

 

97,700

  Sandy Spring Bancorp
Baltimore & Washington, D.C. Bank
 

2,112,274

 

100,890

  Guaranty Bancorp
Colorado Bank
 

1,145,101

 
     

64,042,749

   
   

Finance Companies – 3.8%

 

101,000

  World Acceptance (a)
Personal Loans
 

8,780,940

 

339,400

  CAI International (a)
International Container Leasing
 

7,999,658

 

174,900

  McGrath Rentcorp
Temporary Space & IT Rentals
 

5,974,584

 

115,000

  Textainer Group Holdings (b)
Top International Container Leasor
 

4,420,600

 
Number of
Shares
     

Value

 

195,040

  H & E Equipment Services
Heavy Equipment Leasing
 

$

4,109,493

 
     

31,285,275

   
   

Savings & Loans – 1.6%

 

408,600

  ViewPoint Financial
Texas Thrift
 

8,502,966

 

142,000

  Berkshire Hills Bancorp
Northeast Thrift
 

3,941,920

 

52,011

  Simplicity Bancorp
Los Angeles Savings & Loan
 

754,159

 
     

13,199,045

   
   

Brokerage & Money Management – 0.9%

 

206,000

  SEI Investments
Mutual Fund Administration & Investment Management
 

5,856,580

 

109,000

  Kennedy-Wilson Holdings
Global Distressed Real Estate
 

1,813,760

 
     

7,670,340

   
   

Insurance – 0.6%

 

19,000

  Enstar Group (a)
Insurance/Reinsurance & Related Services
 

2,526,620

 

27,000

  Allied World Holdings
Commerical Lines Insurance/Reinsurance
 

2,470,770

 
     

4,997,390

   
   

Diversified Financial Companies – 0.5%

 

146,500

  Leucadia National
Holding Company
 

3,841,230

 
       

Total Finance

   

125,036,029

   
   

Health Care – 9.1%

 
   

Biotechnology & Drug Delivery – 5.3%

 

311,000

  Seattle Genetics (a)
Antibody-based Therapies for Cancer
 

9,784,060

 

397,000

  NPS Pharmaceuticals (a)
Orphan Drugs & Healthy Royalties
 

5,994,700

 

136,801

  Synageva Biopharma (a)
Biotech Focused on Orphan Diseases
 

5,745,642

 

102,000

  BioMarin Pharmaceutical (a)
Biotech Focused on Orphan Diseases
 

5,690,580

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.
11



Wanger USA 2013 Semiannual Report

Wanger USA

Statement of Investments (Unaudited), June 30, 2013

Number of
Shares
     

Value

 
   

Biotechnology & Drug Delivery – 5.3% (cont)

 

50,000

  Onyx Pharmaceuticals (a)
Commercial-stage Biotech Focused on Cancer
 

$

4,341,000

 

101,000

  Sarepta Therapeutics (a) (b)
Biotech Focused on Rare Diseases
 

3,843,050

 

211,000

  ARIAD Pharmaceuticals (a)
Biotech Focused on Cancer
 

3,690,390

 

73,000

  Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (a)
Biotech Developing Drugs for Rare Diseases
 

2,263,730

 

201,000

  InterMune (a)
Drugs for Pulmonary Fibrosis & Hepatitis C
 

1,933,620

 

91,000

  Coronado Biosciences (a) (b)
Development-stage Biotech
 

782,600

 
     

44,069,372

   
   

Medical Supplies – 1.7%

 

314,600

  Cepheid (a)
Molecular Diagnostics
 

10,828,532

 

47,000

  Techne
Cytokines, Antibodies & Other Reagents for Life Science
 

3,246,760

 
     

14,075,292

   
   

Medical Equipment & Devices – 1.0%

 

121,000

  Sirona Dental Systems (a)
Manufacturer of Dental Equipment
 

7,971,480

 
   

Pharmaceuticals – 0.7%

 

385,000

  Akorn (a)
Develops, Manufactures & Sells Specialty Generic Drugs
 

5,205,200

 

116,100

  Alimera Sciences (a) (b)
Ophthalmology-focused Pharmaceutical Company
 

566,568

 
     

5,771,768

   
   

Health Care Services – 0.4%

 

226,000

  Allscripts Healthcare Solutions (a)
Health Care IT
 

2,924,440

 
       

Total Health Care

   

74,812,352

   
   

Other Industries – 6.3%

 
   

Real Estate – 5.5%

 

503,000

  Extra Space Storage
Self Storage Facilities
 

21,090,790

 

295,600

  Biomed Realty Trust
Life Science-focused Office Buildings
 

5,979,988

 
Number of
Shares
     

Value

 

935,000

  Kite Realty Group
Community Shopping Centers
 

$

5,638,050

 

411,900

  EdR
Student Housing
 

4,213,737

 

119,000

  Coresite Realty
Data Centers
 

3,785,390

 

341,000

  DCT Industrial Trust
Industrial Properties
 

2,438,150

 

119,000

  Associated Estates Realty
Multi-family Properties
 

1,913,520

 

22,500

  American Residential Properties (a) (b)
Single-family Rental Properties
 

387,000

 
     

45,446,625

   
   

Transportation – 0.8%

 

184,487

  Rush Enterprises, Class A (a)
Truck Sales & Service
 

4,566,053

 

50,000

  World Fuel Services
Global Fuel Broker
 

1,999,000

 
     

6,565,053

   
       

Total Other Industries

   

52,011,678

   
   

Energy & Minerals – 5.2%

 
   

Oil Services – 2.6%

 

360,100

  Atwood Oceanics (a)
Offshore Drilling Contractor
 

18,743,205

 

58,000

  Hornbeck Offshore (a)
Supply Vessel Operator in U.S. Gulf of Mexico
 

3,103,000

 
     

21,846,205

   
   

Oil & Gas Producers – 1.5%

 

89,000

  SM Energy
Oil & Gas Producer
 

5,338,220

 

58,000

  PDC Energy (a)
Oil & Gas Producer in U.S.
 

2,985,840

 

62,000

  Rosetta Resources (a)
Oil & Gas Producer Exploring in Texas
 

2,636,240

 

47,000

  Approach Resources (a)
Oil & Gas Producer in West Texas Permian
 

1,154,790

 
     

12,115,090

   

See accompanying notes to financial statements.
12



Wanger USA 2013 Semiannual Report

Wanger USA

Statement of Investments (Unaudited), June 30, 2013

Number of
Shares
     

Value

 
   

Mining – 1.1%

 

56,000

  Core Labs (Netherlands)
Oil & Gas Reservoir Consulting
 

$

8,492,960

 

100,000

  Augusta Resource (a)
US Copper/Molybdenum Mine
 

210,000

 
     

8,702,960

   
       

Total Energy & Minerals

   

42,664,255

   
Total Equities
(Cost: $435,407,268) – 98.7%
   

815,547,976

(c)

 

Short-Term Investments – 1.2%

     
10,231,516

  JPMorgan U.S. Government
Money Market Fund, Agency Shares
(7 day yield of 0.01%)
   

10,231,516

   
Total Short-Term Investments
(Cost: $10,231,516) – 1.2%
   

10,231,516

   

Securities Lending Collateral – 5.6%

     
46,000,356


  Dreyfus Government Cash
Management Fund,
Institutional Shares
(7 day yield of 0.01%) (d)
   

46,000,356

   
Total Securities Lending Collateral
(Cost: $46,000,356)
   

46,000,356

   
Total Investments
(Cost: $491,639,140) (e) – 105.5%
   

871,779,848

   
Obligation to Return Collateral for
Securities Loaned – (5.6)%
   

(46,000,356

)

 

Cash and Other Assets Less Liabilities – 0.1%

   

283,979

   

Net Assets – 100.0%

 

$

826,063,471

   

ADR = American Depositary Receipts

Notes to Statement of Investments

(a)  Non-income producing security.

(b)  All or a portion of this security was on loan at June 30, 2013. The total market value of securities on loan at June 30, 2013 was $45,473,233.

(c)  On June 30, 2013, the market value of foreign securities represented 1.97% of total net assets. The Fund's foreign portfolio was diversified as follows:

Country

 

Value

  Percentage
of Net Assets
 

Netherlands

 

$

8,492,960

     

1.03

   

Israel

   

4,862,216

     

0.59

   

India

   

2,920,750

     

0.35

   

Total Foreign Portfolio

 

$

16,275,926

     

1.97

   

(d)  Investment made with cash collateral received from securities lending activity.

(e)  At June 30, 2013, for federal income tax purposes, the cost of investments was $491,639,140 and net unrealized appreciation was $380,140,708 consisting of gross unrealized appreciation of $394,519,168 and gross unrealized depreciation of $14,378,460.

Fair Value Measurements

  Various inputs are used in determining the value of the Fund's investments, following the input prioritization hierarchy established by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). These inputs are summarized in the three broad levels listed below:

  Level 1 – quoted prices in active markets for identical securities

  Level 2 – prices determined using other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk and others)

  Level 3 – prices determined using significant unobservable inputs where quoted prices or observable inputs are unavailable or less reliable (including management's own assumptions about the factors market participants would use in pricing an investment)

The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.

  Examples of the types of securities in which the Fund would typically invest and how they are classified within this hierarchy are as follows. Typical Level 1 securities include exchange traded domestic equities, mutual funds whose NAVs are published each day and exchange traded foreign equities that are not statistically fair valued. Typical Level 2 securities include exchange traded foreign equities that are statistically fair valued, forward foreign currency exchange contracts and short-term investments valued at amortized cost. Additionally, securities fair valued by the Valuation Committee (the Committee) of the Fund's Board of Trustees (the Board) that rely on significant observable inputs are also included in Level 2. Typical Level 3 securities include any security fair valued by the Committee that relies on significant unobservable inputs.

  Under the direction of the Board, the Committee is responsible for carrying out the valuation procedures approved by the Board.

  The Committee meets as necessary, and no less frequently than quarterly, to determine fair values for securities for which market quotations are not readily available or for which the investment manager believes that available market quotations are unreliable, to review the appropriateness of the Trust's Portfolio Pricing Policy and the pricing procedures of the investment manager (the Policies), and to review the continuing appropriateness of the current value of any security subject to the Policies. The Policies address, among other things: circumstances under which market quotations will be deemed readily available;

See accompanying notes to financial statements.
13



Wanger USA 2013 Semiannual Report

Wanger USA

Statement of Investments (Unaudited), June 30, 2013

selection of third party pricing vendors; appropriate pricing methodologies; events that require fair valuation and fair value techniques; and circumstances under which securities will be deemed to pose a potential for stale pricing, including when securities are illiquid, restricted, or in default. The Committee may also meet to discuss additional valuation matters, which may include review of back-testing results, review of time-sensitive information or approval of other valuation related actions, and to review the appropriateness of the Policies.

  For investments categorized as Level 3, the significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement of the Funds' securities may include: (i) data specific to the issuer or comparable issuers, (ii) general market or specific sector news and (iii) quoted prices and specific or similar security transactions. The Committee considers this data and any changes from prior periods in order to assess the reasonableness of observable and unobservable inputs, any assumptions or internal models used to value those securities and changes in fair value. Significant changes in any of these factors could result in lower or higher fair value measurements. Various factors impact the frequency of monitoring (which may occur as often as daily), however the Committee may determine that changes to inputs, assumptions and models are not required with the same frequency.

The following table summarizes the inputs used, as of June 30, 2013, in valuing the Fund's assets:





Investment Type
 


Quoted Prices
(Level 1)
  Other
Significant
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
 
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
 



Total
 

Equities

 

Information

 

$

232,189,355

   

$

   

$

   

$

232,189,355

   
Industrial Goods &
Services
   

154,924,028

     

     

     

154,924,028

   
Consumer Goods &
Services
   

133,910,279

     

     

     

133,910,279

   

Finance

   

125,036,029

     

     

     

125,036,029

   

Health Care

   

74,812,352

     

     

     

74,812,352

   

Other Industries

   

52,011,678

     

     

     

52,011,678

   

Energy & Minerals

   

42,664,255

     

     

     

42,664,255

   

Total Equities

   

815,547,976

     

     

     

815,547,976

   
Total Short-Term
Investments
   

10,231,516

     

     

     

10,231,516

   
Total Securities
Lending Collateral
   

46,000,356

     

     

     

46,000,356

   

Total Investments

 

$

871,779,848

   

$

   

$

   

$

871,779,848

   

  There were no transfers of financial assets between levels 1 and 2 during the period.

See accompanying notes to financial statements.
14




Wanger USA 2013 Semiannual Report

Statement of Assets and Liabilities
June 30, 2013 (Unaudited)

Assets:

 

Investments, at cost

 

$

491,639,140

   
Investments, at value (including securities on
loan of $45,473,233)
 

$

871,779,848

   

Receivable for:

 

Investments sold

   

1,369,327

   

Fund shares sold

   

74

   

Securities lending income

   

25,086

   

Dividends

   

451,898

   

Trustees' deferred compensation plan

   

100,638

   

Prepaid expenses

   

4,571

   

Total Assets

   

873,731,442

   

Liabilities:

 

Collateral on securities loaned

   

46,000,356

   

Payable for:

 

Investments purchased

   

552,181

   

Fund shares redeemed

   

860,745

   

Investment advisory fee

   

19,555

   

Administration fee

   

1,136

   

Transfer agent fee

   

2

   

Trustees' fees

   

1,436

   

Custody fee

   

96

   

Reports to shareholders

   

94,369

   

Trustees' deferred compensation plan

   

100,638

   

Other liabilities

   

37,457

   

Total Liabilities

   

47,667,971

   

Net Assets

 

$

826,063,471

   

Composition of Net Assets:

 

Paid-in capital

 

$

407,623,612

   

Overdistributed net investment income

   

(460,629

)

 

Accumulated net realized gain

   

38,759,780

   

Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:

 

Investments

   

380,140,708

   

Net Assets

 

$

826,063,471

   

Fund Shares Outstanding

   

23,939,653

   
Net asset value, offering price and redemption
price per share
 

$

34.51

   

Statement of Operations
For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2013 (Unaudited)

Investment Income:

 
Dividend income (net foreign taxes withheld
of $5,376)
 

$

3,303,006

   

Securities lending income, net

   

255,532

   

Total Investment Income

   

3,558,538

   

Expenses:

 

Investment advisory fee

   

3,507,612

   

Administration fee

   

203,678

   

Transfer agent fees

   

351

   

Trustees' fees

   

15,828

   

Custody fees

   

7,448

   

Reports to shareholders

   

82,785

   

Audit fees

   

21,528

   

Legal fees

   

25,640

   

Chief compliance officer expenses (See Note 4)

   

11,240

   

Commitment fee for line of credit (See Note 5)

   

2,305

   

Other expenses

   

14,401

   

Net Expenses

   

3,892,816

   

Net Investment Loss

   

(334,278

)

 
Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on
Investments:
 

Net realized gain (loss) on:

 

Investments

   

41,257,744

   

Net realized gain

   

41,257,744

   

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:

 

Investments

   

53,282,429

   

Net change in unrealized appreciation

   

53,282,429

   

Net realized and unrealized gain

   

94,540,173

   

Net Increase in Net Assets from Operations

 

$

94,205,895

   

See accompanying notes to financial statements.
15



Wanger USA 2013 Semiannual Report

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets

  (Unaudited)
Six Months
Ended
June 30,
2013
  Year Ended
December 31,
2012
 

Operations:

 

Net investment income (loss)

 

$

(334,278

)

 

$

3,561,029

   

Net realized gain (loss) on:

 

Investments

   

41,257,744

     

75,265,335

   

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:

 

Investments

   

53,282,429

     

65,032,346

   

Net Increase in Net Assets from Operations

   

94,205,895

     

143,858,710

   

Distributions to Shareholders From:

 

Net investment income

   

(1,173,697

)

   

(2,425,860

)

 

Net realized gains

   

(74,442,456

)

   

(39,051,960

)

 

Total Distributions to Shareholders

   

(75,616,153

)

   

(41,477,820

)

 

Share Transactions:

 

Subscriptions

   

14,411,426

     

29,722,426

   

Distributions reinvested

   

75,616,153

     

41,477,820

   

Redemptions

   

(64,775,777

)

   

(148,920,836

)

 

Net Increase (Decrease) from Share Transactions

   

25,251,802

     

(77,720,590

)

 

Total Increase in Net Assets

   

43,841,544

     

24,660,300

   

Net Assets:

 

Beginning of period

   

782,221,927

     

757,561,627

   

End of period

 

$

826,063,471

   

$

782,221,927

   

Undistributed (overdistributed) net investment income

 

$

(460,629

)

 

$

1,047,346

   

See accompanying notes to financial statements.
16




Wanger USA 2013 Semiannual Report

Financial Highlights

The following table is intended to help you understand the Fund's financial performance. Certain information reflects financial results for a single share held for the periods shown. Per share net investment income (loss) amounts are calculated based on average shares outstanding during the period. Total return assumes reinvestment of all dividends and distributions. Total return does not reflect payment of the expenses that apply to the variable accounts or contract charges, if any, and are not annualized for periods of less than one year.

    (Unaudited)
Six Months Ended
June 30,
 

Year Ended December 31,

 

Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

2010

 

2009

 

2008

 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

 

$

33.84

   

$

29.80

   

$

33.86

   

$

27.45

   

$

19.30

   

$

36.26

   

Income from Investment Operations:

 

Net investment income (loss)

   

(0.01

)

   

0.15

     

(0.13

)

   

(0.10

)

   

(0.06

)

   

(0.07

)

 

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

   

4.13

     

5.63

     

(0.82

)

   

6.51

     

8.21

     

(13.16

)

 

Total from Investment Operations

   

4.12

     

5.78

     

(0.95

)

   

6.41

     

8.15

     

(13.23

)

 

Less Distributions to Shareholders:

 

Net investment income

   

(0.06

)

   

(0.11

)

   

     

     

     

   

Net realized gains

   

(3.39

)

   

(1.63

)

   

(3.11

)

   

     

     

(3.73

)

 

Total Distributions to Shareholders

   

(3.45

)

   

(1.74

)

   

(3.11

)

   

     

     

(3.73

)

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

 

$

34.51

   

$

33.84

   

$

29.80

   

$

33.86

   

$

27.45

   

$

19.30

   

Total Return

   

12.22

%

   

20.02

%(a)

   

(3.49

)%(a)

   

23.35

%(a)

   

42.23

%

   

(39.68

)%

 

Ratios to Average Net Assets/Supplemental Data: (b)

 

Total gross expenses

   

0.96

%(c)

   

0.96

%

   

0.94

%

   

0.98

%(d)

   

0.98

%

   

0.96

%

 

Total net expenses

   

0.96

%(c)

   

0.96

%(e)

   

0.93

%(e)

   

0.97

%(d)(e)

   

0.98

%(e)

   

0.96

%(e)

 

Net investment income (loss)

   

(0.08

)%(c)

   

0.45

%

   

(0.40

)%

   

(0.35

)%

   

(0.29

)%

   

(0.26

)%

 

Portfolio turnover rate

   

7

%

   

12

%

   

10

%

   

27

%

   

30

%

   

22

%

 

Net assets, end of period (000s)

 

$

826,063

   

$

782,222

   

$

757,562

   

$

911,424

   

$

1,277,154

   

$

952,249

   

Notes to Financial Highlights

(a)  Had the investment manager and/or its affiliates not waived a portion of expenses, total return would have been reduced.

(b)  In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.

(c)  Annualized.

(d)  Includes interest expense which rounds to less than 0.01%.

(e)  The benefits derived from custody fees paid indirectly had an impact of less than 0.01%.

See accompanying notes to financial statements.
17




Wanger USA 2013 Semiannual Report

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited)

1.  Nature of Operations

Wanger USA (the Fund), a series of Wanger Advisors Trust (the Trust), is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act), as an open-end management investment company organized as a Massachusetts business trust. The investment objective of the Fund is to seek long-term capital appreciation. The Fund is available only for allocation to certain life insurance company separate accounts established for the purpose of funding participating variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies and may also be offered directly to certain qualified pension and retirement plans.

2.  Significant Accounting Policies

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Security valuation

Securities of the Fund are valued at market value or, if a market quotation for a security is not readily available or is deemed not to be reliable because of events or circumstances that have occurred between the market quotation and the time as of which the security is to be valued, the security is valued at its fair value determined in good faith under consistently applied procedures established by the Board of Trustees (the Board). A security traded on a securities exchange or in an over-the-counter market in which transaction prices are reported is valued at the last sales price at the time of valuation. A security traded principally on NASDAQ is valued at the NASDAQ official closing price. Mutual funds and exchange traded funds are valued at their closing net asset value as reported to the applicable exchange. A security for which there is no reported sale on the valuation date is valued at the mean of the latest bid and ask quotations.

Short-term investments maturing in 60 days or less are valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value.

A security for which a market quotation is not readily available and any other assets are valued at their fair value determined in good faith under consistently applied procedures established by the Board. The Trust has retained an independent statistical fair value pricing service that employs a systematic methodology to assist in the fair valuation process for securities principally traded in a foreign market in order to adjust for possible changes in value that may occur between the close of the foreign market and the time as of which the securities are to be valued. If a security is valued at a fair value, that value may be different from the last quoted market price for the security.

Security transactions and investment income

Security transactions are accounted for on the trade date (date the order to buy or sell is executed) and dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date, except that certain dividends from foreign securities are recorded as soon as the information

is available to the Fund. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis and includes amortization of discounts on debt obligations when required for federal income tax purposes. Realized gains and losses from security transactions are recorded on an identified cost basis.

Awards, if any, from class action litigation related to securities owned may be recorded as a reduction of cost of those securities. If the applicable securities are no longer owned, the proceeds are recorded as realized gains.

The Fund estimates the tax character of distributions from real estate investment trusts (REITs). Distributions received in excess of income are recorded as a reduction of the cost of the related investments. If the applicable securities are no longer owned, any distributions received in excess of income are recorded as realized gains.

Expenses

General expenses of the Trust are allocated to the Fund and the other series of the Trust based upon relative net assets or other expense allocation methodologies determined by the nature of the expense. Expenses directly attributable to the Fund are charged to the Fund.

Fund share valuation

Fund shares are sold and redeemed on a continuing basis at net asset value. Net asset value per share is determined daily as of the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the Exchange) on each day the Exchange is open for trading by dividing the total value of the Fund's investments and other assets, less liabilities, by the number of Fund shares outstanding.

Securities lending

The Fund may lend securities up to one-third of the value of its total assets to certain approved brokers, dealers and other financial institutions to earn additional income. The Fund retains the benefits of owning the securities, including receipt of dividends or interest generated by the security. The Fund also receives a fee for the loan. The Fund has the ability to recall the loans at any time and could do so in order to vote proxies or to sell the loaned securities. Each loan is collateralized by cash that exceeded the value of the securities on loan. The market value of the loaned securities is determined daily at the close of business of the Fund and any additional required collateral is delivered to each Fund on the next business day. The Fund has elected to invest the cash collateral in the Dreyfus Government Cash Management Fund and the income earned is paid to the Fund, net of any fees remitted to Goldman Sachs Agency Lending, the Fund's lending agent and borrower rebates. The Fund's investment manager, Columbia Wanger Asset Management, LLC (CWAM), does not retain any fees earned by the lending program. Generally, in the event of borrower default, the Fund has the right to use the collateral to offset any losses incurred. In the event the Fund is delayed or prevented from exercising its right to dispose of the collateral, there may be a potential loss to the Fund. Some of these losses may be indemnified by the lending agent. The Fund bears the risk of loss with respect to the investment of collateral. The net lending income earned by the Fund as of June 30, 2013, is included in the Statement of Operations.

The following table presents the Fund's gross and net amount of assets available for offset under a securities lending agreement as well as the related collateral received by the Fund as of June 30, 2013:

  Gross
Amounts of
  Gross Amounts
Offset in the
  Net Amounts of Assets
Presented in the
  Gross Amounts Not Offset in
the Statement of Assets and Liabilities
 

 

  Recognized
Assets
  Statement of
Assets and Liabilities
  Statement of
Assets and Liabilities
  Financial
Instruments (a)
  Cash Collateral
Received
  Securities
Collateral Received
 

Net Amount (b)

 

Securities loaned

 

$

45,743,233

   

$

   

$

45,743,233

   

$

   

$

45,743,233

   

$

   

$

   

(a)  Represents the amount of assets that could be offset by liabilities with the same counterparty under master netting or similar agreements that management elects not to offset on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

(b)  Represents the net amount due from counterparties in the event of default.


18



Wanger USA 2013 Semiannual Report

Notes to Financial Statements, continued (Unaudited)

Federal income taxes

The Fund has complied with the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code available to regulated investment companies and, in the manner provided therein, distributes substantially all its taxable income, as well as any net realized gain on sales of investments and foreign currency transactions reportable for federal income tax purposes. Accordingly, the Fund paid no federal income taxes and no federal income tax provision was required.

Distributions to shareholders

Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date.

Indemnification

In the normal course of business, the Trust on behalf of the Fund enters into contracts that contain a variety of representations and warranties and that provide general indemnities. The Fund's maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims against the Fund. Also under the Trust's organizational documents, the trustees and officers of the Trust are indemnified against certain liabilities that may arise out of their duties to the Trust. However based on experience, the Fund expects the risk of loss due to these warranties and indemnities to be remote.

3.  Federal Tax Information

The timing and character of income and capital gain distributions are determined in accordance with income tax regulations, which may differ from GAAP. Reclassifications are made to the Fund's capital accounts for permanent tax differences to reflect income and gains available for distribution (or available capital loss carryforwards) under income tax regulations.

Management is required to determine whether a tax position of the Fund is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by the applicable taxing authority, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefit to be recognized by the Fund is measured as the largest amount of benefit that is greater than fifty percent likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. Management is not aware of any tax positions for which it is reasonably possible that the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits will significantly change in the next twelve months. However, management's conclusions may be subject to review and adjustment at a later date based on factors including, but not limited to, new tax laws, regulations, and administrative interpretations (including relevant court decisions). The Fund's federal tax returns for the prior three fiscal years remain subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service.

4.  Transactions With Affiliates

CWAM is a wholly owned subsidiary of Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (Columbia Management), which in turn is a wholly owned subsidiary of Ameriprise Financial, Inc. (Ameriprise Financial). CWAM furnishes continuing investment supervision to the Fund and is responsible for the overall management of the Fund's business affairs.

CWAM receives a monthly advisory fee based on the Fund's average daily net assets at the following annual rates:

Average Daily Net Assets

 

Annual Fee Rate

 

Up to $100 million

   

0.94

%

 

$100 million to $250 million

   

0.89

%

 

$250 million to $2 billion

   

0.84

%

 
$2 billion and over    

0.80

%

 

For the six months ended June 30, 2013, the annualized effective investment advisory fee rate was 0.86% of the Fund's average daily net assets.

CWAM provides administrative services and receives an administration fee from the Fund at the following annual rates:

Wanger Advisors Trust Aggregate
Average Daily Net Assets of the Trust
 

Annual Fee Rate

 

Up to $4 billion

   

0.05

%

 

$4 billion to $6 billion

   

0.04

%

 

$6 billion to $8 billion

   

0.03

%

 
$8 billion and over    

0.02

%

 

For the six months ended June 30, 2013, the annualized effective administration fee rate was 0.05% of the Fund's average daily net assets. Columbia Management provides certain sub-administrative services to the Fund.

Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. (CMID), a wholly owned subsidiary of Ameriprise Financial, serves as the Fund's distributor and principal underwriter.

Columbia Management Investment Services Corp. (CMIS), a wholly owned subsidiary of Ameriprise Financial, is the transfer agent to the Fund. For its services, the Fund pays CMIS a monthly fee at the annual rate of $21.00 per open account. CMIS also receives reimbursement from the Fund for certain out-of-pocket expenses.

Certain officers and trustees of the Trust are also officers of CWAM. The Trust makes no direct payments to its officers and trustees who are affiliated with CWAM.

The Board has appointed a Chief Compliance Officer of the Trust in accordance with federal securities regulations. The Fund, along with other affiliated funds, pays its pro-rata share of the expenses associated with the Office of the Chief Compliance Officer. These expenses are disclosed separately as "Chief compliance officer expenses" in the Statement of Operations.

The Trust offers a deferred compensation plan for its independent trustees. Under that plan, a trustee may elect to defer all or a portion of his or her compensation. Amounts deferred are retained by the Trust and may represent an unfunded obligation of the Trust. The value of amounts deferred is determined by reference to the change in value of Class Z shares of one or more series of Columbia Acorn Trust or a money market fund as specified by the trustee. Benefits under the deferred compensation plan are payable in accordance with the plan.

5.  Borrowing Arrangements

During the six months ended June 30, 2013, the Trust participated in a credit facility with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., along with Columbia Acorn Trust, another trust managed by CWAM, in the amount of $150 million prior to January 11, 2013, and in the amount of $200 million thereafter. The credit facility was entered into to facilitate portfolio liquidity. Under the facility, interest is charged to each participating fund based on its borrowings at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate plus 1.00%. In addition, a commitment fee of 0.08% per annum of the unutilized line of credit is accrued and apportioned among the participating funds based on their relative net assets. The commitment fee is disclosed separately as "Commitment fee for line of credit" in the Statement of Operations. The Trust renewed the line of credit in July in the amount of $150 million, and will continue to do so each year at then current market rates and terms.

No amounts were borrowed for the benefit of the Fund during the six months ended June 30, 2013.

6.  Fund Share Transactions

Proceeds and payments on Fund shares as shown in the Statement of Changes in Net Assets are in respect of the following numbers of shares:

    (Unaudited)
Six months ended
June 30, 2013
  Year ended
December 31, 2012
 

Shares sold

   

393,816

     

900,062

   
Shares issued in reinvestment
of dividend distributions
   

2,203,910

     

1,353,693

   

Less shares redeemed

   

(1,772,196

)

   

(4,560,981

)

 


19



Wanger USA 2013 Semiannual Report

Notes to Financial Statements, continued (Unaudited)

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding

   

825,530

     

(2,307,226

)

 

7.  Investment Transactions

The aggregate cost of purchases and proceeds from sales other than short-term obligations for the six months ended June 30, 2013, were $59,906,242 and $122,622,049, respectively.

8.  Shareholder Concentration

At June 30, 2013, one unaffiliated shareholder account owned 19.0% of the outstanding shares of the Fund. The Fund has no knowledge about whether any portion of those shares was owned beneficially by such account. Affiliated shareholder accounts owned 54.6% of the outstanding shares of the Fund. Subscription and redemption activity by concentrated accounts may have a significant effect on the operations of the Fund.

9.  Subsequent Events

Management has evaluated the events and transactions that have occurred through the date the financial statements were issued and noted no items requiring adjustment of the financial statements or additional disclosure.

10.  Information Regarding Pending and Settled Legal Proceedings

Ameriprise Financial and certain of its affiliates have historically been involved in a number of legal, arbitration and regulatory proceedings, including routine litigation, class actions, and governmental actions, concerning matters arising in connection with the conduct of their business activities. Ameriprise Financial believes that the Funds are not currently the subject of, and that neither Ameriprise Financial nor any of its affiliates are the subject of, any pending legal, arbitration or regulatory proceedings that are likely to have a material adverse effect on the Funds or the ability of Ameriprise Financial or its affiliates to perform under their contracts with the Funds. Ameriprise Financial is required to make 10-Q, 10-K and, as necessary, 8-K filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission on legal and regulatory matters that relate to Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates. Copies of these filings may be obtained by accessing the SEC website at www.sec.gov.

There can be no assurance that these matters, or the adverse publicity associated with them, will not result in increased fund redemptions, reduced sale of fund shares or other adverse consequences to the Funds. Further, although we believe proceedings are not likely to have a material adverse effect on the Funds or the ability of Ameriprise Financial or its affiliates to perform under their contracts with the Funds, these proceedings are subject to uncertainties and, as such, we are unable to estimate the possible loss or range of loss that may result. An adverse outcome in one or more of these proceedings could result in adverse judgments, settlements, fines, penalties or other relief that could have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial condition or results of operations of Ameriprise Financial.


20




Wanger USA 2013 Semiannual Report

Board Approval of the Advisory Agreement

Wanger Advisors Trust (the "Trust") has an investment advisory agreement (the "Advisory Agreement") with Columbia Wanger Asset Management, LLC ("Columbia WAM") under which Columbia WAM manages Wanger USA (the "Fund"). More than 75% of the trustees of the Trust (the "Trustees") are persons who have no direct or indirect interest in the Advisory Agreement and are not "interested persons" (as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act")) of the Trust (the "Independent Trustees"). The Trustees oversee the management of the Fund and, as required by law, determine at least annually whether to continue the Advisory Agreement for the Fund.

The Contract Committee (the "Committee") of the Board of Trustees (the "Board"), which is comprised solely of Independent Trustees, makes recommendations to the Board regarding any proposed continuation of the Advisory Agreement. After the Committee has made its recommendations, the full Board determines whether to approve continuation of the Advisory Agreement. The Board also considers matters bearing on the Advisory Agreement at its various meetings throughout the year, meets at least quarterly with Columbia WAM's portfolio managers (the Board's Investment Performance Analysis Committee meets frequently with them as well), and receives monthly reports from Columbia WAM on the performance of the Fund.

In connection with their most recent consideration of the Advisory Agreement for the Fund, the Committee and all Trustees received and reviewed a substantial amount of information provided by Columbia WAM, Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC ("Columbia Management") and Ameriprise Financial, Inc. ("Ameriprise") in response to written requests from the Independent Trustees and their independent legal counsel. In addition, the Trustees reviewed the Management Fee Evaluation dated June 2013 (the "Fee Evaluation") prepared by the Trust's chief compliance officer, senior vice president and general counsel, at the request of the Board. Throughout the process, the Trustees had numerous opportunities to ask questions of and request additional materials from Columbia WAM, Columbia Management and Ameriprise.

During each meeting at which the Committee or the Independent Trustees considered the Advisory Agreement, they met in executive session with their independent legal counsel. The Committee also met with representatives of Columbia WAM, Columbia Management and Ameriprise on several occasions. In all, the Committee convened formally on four separate occasions to consider the continuation of the Advisory Agreement. The Board and/or some or all of the Independent Trustees met on other occasions to receive the Committee's status reports, receive presentations from Columbia WAM, Columbia Management and Ameriprise representatives, and to discuss outstanding issues. In addition, the Investment Performance Analysis Committee of the Board, also comprised exclusively of Independent Trustees, reviewed the performance of the Fund, met in a joint meeting with the Committee, and presented its findings to the Board and the Committee throughout the year. The Compliance Committee of the Board also provided information to the Committee with respect to relevant matters.

The materials reviewed by the Committee and the Trustees included, among other items, (i) information on the investment performance of the Fund and of independently selected peer groups of funds and of the Fund's performance benchmark over various time periods, (ii) information on the Fund's advisory fees and other expenses, including information comparing the Fund's fees and expenses to those of peer groups of funds and information about any applicable expense limitations and fee breakpoints, (iii) data on sales and redemptions of Fund shares, and (iv) information on the profitability to Columbia WAM and Ameriprise, as well as potential "fall-out" or ancillary benefits that Columbia WAM and its affiliates may receive as a result of their relationships with the Fund. The Trustees also considered other information such as (i) Columbia WAM's financial condition, (ii) the Fund's investment objective and strategy, (iii) the size, education and experience of Columbia WAM's investment staff and its use of technology, external research and trading cost measurement tools, (iv) the portfolio manager compensation framework, (v) the allocation of the Fund's brokerage, and the use of "soft" commission dollars to pay for research products and services, (vi) Columbia WAM's risk management program, and (vii) the resources devoted to, and the record of compliance with, the Fund's

investment policies and restrictions, policies on personal securities transactions and other compliance policies.

At a meeting held on June 5, 2013, upon the recommendation of the Committee, the Board unanimously approved the continuation of the Advisory Agreement.

In considering the continuation of the Advisory Agreement, the Trustees reviewed and analyzed various factors that they determined were relevant, none of which by itself was considered dispositive. The material factors and conclusions that formed the basis for the Trustees' determination to approve the continuation of the Advisory Agreement are discussed below.

Nature, quality and extent of services. The Trustees reviewed the nature, quality and extent of the services provided by Columbia WAM and its affiliates to the Fund under the Advisory Agreement, taking into account the investment objective and strategy of the Fund, its shareholder base, and knowledge gained from meetings with management, which were held on at least a quarterly basis. In addition, the Trustees reviewed the available resources and key personnel of Columbia WAM and its affiliates, especially those providing investment management services to the Fund. The Trustees also considered other services provided to the Fund by Columbia WAM and its affiliates, including: managing the execution of portfolio transactions and selecting broker-dealers for those transactions; monitoring adherence to the Fund's investment restrictions; producing shareholder reports; providing support services for the Board and committees of the Board; managing the Fund's securities lending program; communicating with shareholders; serving as the Fund's administrator; and overseeing the activities of the Fund's other service providers, including monitoring for compliance with various policies and procedures as well as applicable securities laws and regulations.

The Trustees concluded that the nature, quality and extent of the services provided by Columbia WAM and its affiliates to the Fund under the Advisory Agreement were appropriate for the Fund and that the Fund was likely to benefit from the continued provision of those services by Columbia WAM. They also concluded that Columbia WAM currently had sufficient personnel, with appropriate education and experience, to serve the Fund effectively, and that the firm had demonstrated its continuing ability to attract and retain well-qualified personnel. In addition, they considered the quality of Columbia WAM's compliance record.

Performance of the Fund. The Trustees received and considered detailed performance information at various meetings of the Board, the Committee and the Investment Performance Analysis Committee of the Board throughout the year. They reviewed information comparing the Fund's performance with that of its benchmark(s) and with the performance of comparable funds and peer groups as identified by Lipper Inc. ("Lipper") and Morningstar, Inc. ("Morningstar"). The Trustees evaluated the performance of the Fund over various time periods, including over the one-, three- and five-year periods ending December 31, 2012. The Trustees also considered peer performance rankings for similar time periods, although they generally focused more on the five-year period.

The Trustees considered that the Fund's returns were excellent versus its peer group over the one- and five-year periods ending December 31, 2012. The Trustees also took into account that the Fund outperformed its benchmark for the same periods. The Trustees noted that the Fund underperformed its peers and benchmark for the three-year period, but the Trustees focused more on the improved performance in the one-year period. They also considered that the Fund exposed shareholders to more risk than its peers.

The Trustees concluded that the Fund's performance was satisfactory over the longer term and for the one year.

Costs of Services and Profits Realized by Columbia WAM. At various Committee and Board meetings, the Trustees examined detailed information on the fees and expenses of the Fund in comparison to information for comparable funds provided by Lipper and Morningstar. The Trustees noted that the Fund's net expenses were higher than both the Lipper and Morningstar peer groups. The Trustees also took into account that the actual advisory fees paid by the Fund were higher than the median of Lipper and Morningstar peers.


21



Wanger USA 2013 Semiannual Report

Board Approval of the Advisory Agreement, continued

The Trustees also reviewed the advisory fee rates charged by Columbia WAM for managing other investment companies, sub-advised funds and other institutional separate accounts, as detailed in materials provided to the Committee by Columbia WAM and in the Fee Evaluation. The Trustees noted that the Fund's advisory fees were generally comparable to Columbia Acorn USA's advisory fees at the same asset levels. The Trustees also examined Columbia WAM's institutional separate account fees for parallel investment strategies and determined that institutional account advisory fees tended to be lower than the Fund in most cases. The Trustees noted that Columbia WAM performs significant additional services for the Fund that it does not provide to sub-advised funds or non-mutual fund clients, including administrative services, oversight of the Fund's other service providers, Trustee support, regulatory compliance and numerous other services, and that, in servicing the Fund, Columbia WAM assumes many legal and business risks that it does not assume in servicing many of its non-fund clients.

The Trustees concluded that the rate of advisory fees payable to Columbia WAM were reasonable in relation to the nature and quality of the services to be provided and the investment performance of the Fund, taking into account Columbia WAM's recent steps to improve performance of the Fund.

The Trustees reviewed the analysis of the historic profitability of Columbia WAM in serving as the Fund's investment manager and of Columbia WAM and its affiliates in their relationships with the Fund. The Committee and Trustees met with representatives from Ameriprise to discuss its methodologies for calculating profitability and allocating costs. They considered that Ameriprise calculated profitability and allocated costs on a contract-by-contract and Fund-by-Fund basis. The Trustees also considered the methodology used by Columbia WAM and Ameriprise in determining compensation payable to portfolio managers and the competitive market for investment management talent. The Trustees were also provided with profitability information from Lipper, which compared Columbia WAM's profitability to other similar investment managers in the mutual fund industry. The Trustees concluded that Columbia WAM's and its affiliates' profits were within a reasonable range of those of competitors with similar business models. The Trustees discussed, however, that profitability comparisons among fund managers may not always be meaningful due to the lack of consistency in data, small number of publicly-owned managers, and the fact that profitability of any investment manager is affected by numerous factors, including its particular organizational structure, the types of funds and other accounts managed, other lines of business, expense allocation methodology, capital structure and other factors.

Economies of Scale. At various Committee and Board meetings and other informal meetings, the Trustees considered information about the extent to which Columbia WAM realizes economies of scale in connection with an increase in Fund assets. The Trustees noted that the advisory fee schedule for the Fund includes breakpoints in the rate of fees at various asset levels. The Trustees concluded that the fee structure of the Fund was reflective of a sharing of economies of scale between Columbia WAM and the Fund.

Other Benefits to Columbia WAM. The Trustees also reviewed benefits that accrue to Columbia WAM and its affiliates from their relationships with the Fund, based upon information provided to them by Ameriprise and as outlined in the Fee Evaluation. They noted that the Fund's transfer agency services are performed by Columbia Management Investment Services Corp., an affiliate of Ameriprise, which receives compensation from the Fund for its services provided. They considered that an affiliate of Ameriprise, Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. ("CMID"), serves as the Fund's distributor under an underwriting agreement but receives no fees for its services to the Fund. In addition, Columbia Management provides sub-administration services to the Fund. The Committee received information regarding the profitability of the Fund agreement with Columbia WAM affiliates. The Committee and the Board also reviewed information about and discussed the capabilities of each affiliated entity in performing its duties.

The Trustees considered other ways that the Fund and Columbia WAM may potentially benefit from their relationship with each other. For example, the Trustees considered Columbia WAM's use of commissions paid by the Fund on its portfolio brokerage transactions to obtain research products and services benefiting the Fund

and/or other clients of Columbia WAM. The Committee reviewed Columbia WAM's annual "soft dollar" report and met with representatives from Columbia WAM to review Columbia WAM's soft dollar spending. The Committee also considered that the Compliance Committee of the Board regularly reviewed third-party prepared reports that evaluated the quality of Columbia WAM's execution of the Fund's portfolio transactions. The Trustees noted that these reports showed that Columbia WAM's execution capabilities were generally better than industry peers. The Trustees determined that Columbia WAM's use of the Fund's "soft" commission dollars to obtain research products and services was consistent with current regulatory requirements and guidance. They also concluded that Columbia WAM benefits from the receipt of proprietary research products and services acquired through commissions paid on portfolio transactions of the Fund, and that the Fund benefitted from Columbia WAM's receipt of those products and services as well as research products and services acquired through commissions paid by other clients of Columbia WAM.

After full consideration of the above factors, as well as other factors that were instructive in evaluating the Advisory Agreement, the Trustees, including the Independent Trustees by separate vote, concluded that the continuation of the Advisory Agreement was in the best interest of the Fund. On June 5, 2013, the Trustees approved continuation of the Advisory Agreement through July 31, 2014.


22



Wanger USA 2013 Semiannual Report

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23



Wanger USA 2013 Semiannual Report

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24



Wanger USA 2013 Semiannual Report

Columbia Wanger Funds

Trustees

Laura M. Born
Chair of the Board

Steven N. Kaplan
Vice Chair of the Board

Michelle L. Collins
Maureen M. Culhane
Margaret M. Eisen
John C. Heaton
Charles P. McQuaid
David J. Rudis
David B. Small
Ralph Wanger (Trustee Emeritus)

Officers

Charles P. McQuaid
President

Robert A. Chalupnik
Vice President

Michael G. Clarke
Assistant Treasurer

Joseph F. DiMaria
Assistant Treasurer

P. Zachary Egan
Vice President

Fritz Kaegi
Vice President

John M. Kunka
Assistant Treasurer

Stephen Kusmierczak
Vice President

Joseph C. LaPalm
Vice President

Bruce H. Lauer
Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer

Louis J. Mendes III
Vice President

Robert A. Mohn
Vice President

Christopher J. Olson
Vice President

Christopher O. Petersen
Assistant Secretary

Scott R. Plummer
Assistant Secretary

Linda K. Roth-Wiszowaty
Assistant Secretary

Robert P. Scales
Chief Compliance Officer, Chief Legal Officer,
Senior Vice President and
General Counsel

Andreas Waldburg-Wolfegg
Vice President

Investment Manager

Columbia Wanger Asset Management,LLC
227 West Monroe Street, Suite 3000
Chicago, Illinois 60606
1-888-4-WANGER
(1-888-492-6437)

Transfer Agent,
Dividend Disbursing Agent

Columbia Management Investment Services Corp.
P.O.Box 8081
Boston, Massachusetts
02266-8081

Distributor

Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc.
225 Franklin Street
Boston, Massachusetts
02110

Legal Counsel to the Funds

Perkins Coie LLP
Washington, DC

Legal Counsel to the Independent Trustees

Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Chicago, Illinois

This document contains Global Industry Classification Standard data. The Global Industry Classification Standard ("GICS") was developed by and is the exclusive property and a service mark of MSCI Inc. ("MSCI") and Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC ("S&P") and is licensed for use by Columbia Wanger Asset Management, LLC ("CWAM"). Neither MSCI, S&P, nor any other party involved in making or compiling the GICS or any GICS classifications makes any express or implied warranties or representations with respect to such standard or classification (or the results to be obtained by the use thereof), and all such parties hereby expressly disclaim all warranties of originality, accuracy, completeness, merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose with respect to any of such standard or classification. Without limiting any of the foregoing, in no event shall MSCI, S&P, any of their affiliates or any third party involved in making or compiling the GICS or any GICS classifications have any liability for any direct, indirect, special, punitive, consequential or any other damages (including lost profits) even if notified of the possibility of such damages.

This report, including the schedules of investments and financial statements, is submitted for the general information of the shareholders of the Wanger Advisors Trust.

A description of the Fund's proxy voting policies and procedures and a copy of the Fund's voting record for the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 are available (i) on our website, columbiamanagement.com, (ii) on the Securities and Exchange Commission's website at www.sec.gov, and (iii) without charge, upon request, by calling 888-492-6437.

The Fund files a complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q. The Fund's Form N-Q is available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov and may be reviewed and copied at the SEC's Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. Information on the operation of the Pubic Reference Room may be obtained by calling 800-SEC-0330. The Fund's complete portfolio holdings are disclosed at www.columbiamanagement.com approximately 30 to 40 days after each month end.


25




Columbia Wanger Funds

© 2013 Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC. All rights reserved.

(8/13) 710310




 

Item 2. Code of Ethics.

 

Not applicable for semiannual reports.

 

Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert.

 

Not applicable for semiannual reports.

 

Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.

 

Not applicable for semiannual reports.

 

Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrants.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 6. Investments

 

(a)         The registrant’s “Schedule I — Investments in securities of unaffiliated issuers” (as set forth in 17 CFR 210.12-12) is included in Item 1 of this Form N-CSR.

 

(b)         Not applicable.

 

Item 7. Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 8. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 9. Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers.

 

Not applicable.

 



 

Item 10. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

 

There were no material changes to the procedures by which shareholders may recommend nominees to the registrant’s board of directors.

 

Item 11. Controls and Procedures.

 

(a)         The registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officers, based on their evaluation of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days of the filing of this report, have concluded that such controls and procedures are adequately designed to ensure that material information required to be disclosed by the registrant in Form N-CSR is accumulated and communicated to the registrant’s management, including the principal executive officer and principal financial officer, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

 

(b)         There was no change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s second fiscal quarter of the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Item 12. Exhibits.

 

(a)(1) Code of ethics required to be disclosed under Item 2 of Form N-CSR: Not applicable for semiannual reports.

 

(a)(2) Certifications pursuant to Rule 30a-2(a) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (17 CFR 270.30a-2(a)) attached hereto as Exhibit 99.CERT.

 

(a)(3) Not applicable.

 

(b) Certification pursuant to Rule 30a-2(b) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (17 CFR 270.30a-2(b)) attached hereto as Exhibit 99.906CERT.

 



 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

(registrant)

 

Wanger Advisors Trust

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By (Signature and Title)

 

/s/ Charles P. McQuaid

 

 

 

Charles P. McQuaid, President

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Date

 

August 15, 2013

 

 

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

 

By (Signature and Title)

 

/s/ Charles P. McQuaid

 

 

 

Charles P. McQuaid, President

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Date

 

August 15, 2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By (Signature and Title)

 

/s/ Bruce H. Lauer

 

 

 

Bruce H. Lauer, Treasurer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Date

 

August 15, 2013