WANGER ADVISORS TRUST
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)
Ryan C.
Larrenaga
c/o Columbia Management
Investment Advisers, LLC
225 Franklin Street
Boston, MA 02110
Alan
Berkshire
Columbia Acorn Trust
227 West Monroe Street, Suite 3000
Chicago, Illinois 60606
Mary C. Moynihan
Perkins Coie LLP
700 13th Street, NW
Suite 600
Washington, DC 20005
(Name and address of agent for service)
Registrants telephone number, including area code: (312) 634-9200
Date of fiscal year end: December 31
Date of reporting period: June 30, 2018
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.
SemiAnnual
Report
June 30, 2018
Wanger USA
Managed by Columbia Wanger Asset Management,
LLC
Please remember that you may not buy (nor will you own)
shares of the Fund directly. The Fund is available through variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies offered by the separate accounts of participating insurance companies as well as qualified pension and retirement plans.
Please contact your financial advisor or insurance representative for more information.
Not FDIC Insured • No bank guarantee • May lose
value
|
3
|
|
5
|
|
7
|
|
8
|
|
14
|
|
15
|
|
16
|
|
17
|
|
18
|
|
25
|
|
29
|
Wanger USA | Semiannual Report 2018
Fund at a Glance
(Unaudited)
Investment objective
Wanger USA (the Fund) seeks long-term
capital appreciation.
Portfolio
management
Matthew A. Litfin,
CFA
Lead
Portfolio Manager since 2016
Service with the
Fund since 2015
Richard Watson,
CFA
Co-Portfolio
Manager since November 2017
Service with the
Fund since 2006
Average
annual total returns (%) (for the period ended June 30, 2018) |
|
|
Inception
|
6
Months cumulative |
1
Year |
5
Years |
10
Years |
Life
|
Wanger
USA |
05/03/95
|
15.60
|
23.99
|
14.30
|
11.32
|
12.28
|
Russell
2000 Growth Index |
|
9.70
|
21.86
|
13.65
|
11.24
|
-
|
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 most recent month-end performance updates, please visit columbiathreadneedleus.com/investor/.
Performance numbers reflect all Fund expenses but do not include
any fees and expenses imposed under your variable annuity contract or life insurance policy or qualified pension or retirement plan. If performance numbers included the effect of these additional charges, they would be lower.
The Fund’s annual operating expense ratio of 1.04% is
stated as of the Fund’s prospectus dated May 1, 2018, and differences in expense ratios disclosed elsewhere in this report may result from the reflection of fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements as well as different time periods used in
calculating the ratios.
All results shown assume
reinvestment of distributions.
The Russell 2000 Growth
Index, an unmanaged index, measures the performance of those Russell 2000 Index companies with higher price-to-book ratios and higher forecasted growth values.
Indexes are not managed and do not incur fees or expenses. It
is not possible to invest directly in an index.
Wanger
USA | Semiannual Report 2018 |
3
|
Fund at a Glance (continued)
(Unaudited)
Top
ten holdings (%) (at June 30, 2018) |
First
Busey Corp. Multi-bank holding company |
1.6
|
Houlihan
Lokey, Inc. Investment bank |
1.6
|
HealthEquity,
Inc. Technology-enabled services platforms for consumers to make healthcare saving and spending decisions |
1.6
|
Dave
& Buster’s Entertainment, Inc. Venues that combine dining and entertainment for adults and families |
1.5
|
Cabot
Microelectronics Corp. Slurries used in chemical mechanical planarization |
1.5
|
ICF
International, Inc. Management, technology, policy consulting, and implementation services |
1.5
|
Orion
Engineered Carbons SA Global supplier of Carbon Black |
1.5
|
Texas
Roadhouse, Inc. Moderately priced, full service restaurant chain |
1.4
|
iRhythm
Technologies, Inc. Medical instruments |
1.4
|
Extended
Stay America, Inc. Hotels and motels |
1.4
|
Percentages indicated are based
upon total investments (excluding Money Market Funds and Securities Lending Collateral).
For further detail about these holdings, please refer to the
section entitled “Portfolio of Investments."
Fund
holdings are as of the date given, are subject to change at any time, and are not recommendations to buy or sell any security.
Portfolio
breakdown (%) (at June 30, 2018) |
Common
Stocks |
92.5
|
Limited
Partnerships |
0.5
|
Money
Market Funds |
4.4
|
Securities
Lending Collateral |
2.6
|
Total
|
100.0
|
Percentages indicated are based
upon total investments. The Fund’s portfolio composition is subject to change.
Equity
sector breakdown (%) (at June 30, 2018) |
Consumer
Discretionary |
17.6
|
Consumer
Staples |
5.0
|
Energy
|
1.5
|
Financials
|
14.4
|
Health
Care |
26.5
|
Industrials
|
10.1
|
Information
Technology |
18.1
|
Materials
|
2.9
|
Real
Estate |
3.4
|
Telecommunication
Services |
0.5
|
Total
|
100.0
|
Percentages indicated are based
upon total equity investments. The Fund’s portfolio composition is subject to change.
4
|
Wanger USA
| Semiannual Report 2018 |
Manager Discussion of Fund Performance
(Unaudited)
Matthew A. Litfin, CFA
Lead Portfolio Manager
Richard Watson, CFA
Co-Portfolio Manager
Wanger USA gained 15.60% for the six-month period ended June 30, 2018. The
Fund significantly outperformed its benchmark, the Russell 2000 Growth Index, which returned 9.70% for the same period. Equity selection was the primary driver of relative performance. Sector weightings also benefited the Fund. Within the Russell
2000 Growth Index, information technology and heath care were the best performing sectors, gaining 17.9% and 17.0% respectively. The utilities sector lagged, losing 5.4% during the period.
The year began on a positive note, with the momentum of late
2017 carrying into January amid strengthening economic growth, rising corporate earnings and continued optimism surrounding the federal tax overhaul enacted in December. The rally came up short in early February, however, after unexpectedly strong
wage growth sparked fears that the U.S. Federal Reserve (the Fed) would feel compelled to speed up the pace of its interest rate increases. Stocks subsequently recovered as concerns regarding the Fed gradually abated, but the markets retreated once
again in March in reaction to escalating rhetoric surrounding U.S. trade policy. Despite these fluctuations — which stood in marked contrast to the low volatility of 2017— broad-based U.S. stock indices closed only modestly lower for the
first quarter of 2018.
As the second quarter progressed,
market performance was supported by a combination of robust economic growth, strong first-quarter corporate profits and rising earnings estimates. These factors helped to offset a variety of possible headwinds, including the apparent launch of a
global trade war, signs of a possible slowdown in growth overseas, and the Fed raising rates in June while signaling two more hikes by year end. For the six months ended June 30, 2018, the U.S. stock market, as gauged by the widely followed S&P
500 Index, posted a 2.65% return. Within the U.S. stock market, growth and small-cap stocks notably outperformed their value and large-cap counterparts, respectively, over the first half of 2018.
Overall equity selection was by far the largest contributor to
the Fund’s performance during the six-month period, especially within the health care sector. Stock picks within information technology and materials also were additive, while selection within industrials detracted. While our investment
approach focuses on adding value through equity selection versus making significant sector bets, sector weightings had a positive impact on the Fund’s relative performance during the six-month period. An underweight in the industrials sector
contributed to returns while an underweight in the information technology sector and an overweight in the financials sector detracted.
In terms of individual positions, leading positive
contributors included Alteryx, Agios Pharmaceuticals and Sientra. The Fund’s holdings in Alteryx, which provides unique software tools for managing and analyzing data derived from many disparate sources, posted solid gains during the first
half of the year as demand for the company’s solutions continued to drive stronger-than-expected revenue growth. Shares of Agios Pharmaceuticals, an emerging biotechnology company with the best-in-class leukemia drugs Idhifa and Ivosidenib,
rose during the period. Agios benefited from positive early feedback on Idhifa sales as well as favorable drug pipeline advancement. Sientra, a medical device company focused on aesthetics, posted gains following an FDA approval that facilitated the
company’s re-entry into the lucrative breast implant market.
Detractors from performance during the period included
holdings in Anika Therapeutics, WageWorks and Dave & Busters. Anika Therapeutics, which develops injections to manage knee osteoarthritis pain, suffered two significant setbacks during the period: a small product recall and later the failure of
a critical phase III clinical trial for its next-generation injection, CINGAL. In the case of WageWorks, a leading administrator of tax-advantaged employee benefit programs, its shares traded down after the company surprisingly delayed the filing of
a key financial report. WageWorks has subsequently made organizational changes to correct the issues, which had a relatively small impact on financial statements. WageWorks’ strategy, fundamental business and growth opportunities appear to be
intact.
Wanger
USA | Semiannual Report 2018 |
5
|
Manager Discussion of Fund Performance (continued)
(Unaudited)
Lastly, shares of
Dave & Busters, a family-focused restaurant concept that offers a variety of entertainment including video gaming, retreated due to disappointing fourth-quarter results driven by a combination of challenging comparisons for gaming revenue,
weather and competition.
U.S. trade policy disputes and
interest rate concerns have been persistent sources of market volatility in 2018. In our view, higher volatility levels and the increased number of economic and market divergences that are occurring on a global scale have the potential to create
attractive opportunities. We believe that an investment philosophy that favors higher quality, faster growing companies, as measured across return on invested capital, revenue and earnings growth, and superior debt ratios, can be particularly
advantageous in this environment.
Columbia Wanger has
specialized in investing in small- and mid-cap stocks since 1970. While cognizant of macroeconomic trends, our investment process takes a bottom-up approach, relying on intensive fundamental research and disciplined valuation techniques. We are
focused on investing the Fund in companies with sustainable competitive advantages, entrepreneurial management and the potential to gain market share. Our team creates and closely monitors a specific and unique investment thesis for every company in
which the Fund invests. We will continue to employ our time-tested process to look for opportunities for investors to benefit from growth in undervalued small- and mid-cap businesses.
Market risk may affect a single
issuer, sector of the economy, industry or the market as a whole. Investments in small and mid-cap companies involve risks and volatility and possible illiquidity greater than investments in larger, more
established companies. The Fund may invest significantly in issuers within a particular sector, which may be negatively affected by market, economic or other conditions, making the Fund more vulnerable to
unfavorable developments in the sector.
The views
expressed in this report reflect the current views of the respective parties. 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. 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 securities should not be construed as a recommendation or investment advice.
6
|
Wanger USA
| Semiannual Report 2018 |
Understanding Your Fund’s Expenses
(Unaudited)
As a shareholder, you incur three types of costs. There are
transaction costs, which may include redemption fees. There are also ongoing costs, which generally include investment advisory fees and other expenses for Wanger USA (the Fund). 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 these 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 $1,000 = 8.6),
then multiply the results by the expenses paid during the period under the Actual column. The amount listed in the “Hypothetical” column assumes a 5% annual rate of return before expenses (which is not the Fund’s actual return) and
then applies the Fund’s actual expense ratio for the period to the hypothetical return. You should not use the hypothetical account values and expenses to estimate either your actual account balance at the end of the period or the expenses you
paid during the period. See “Compare with other funds” below for details on how to use the hypothetical data.
Compare with other funds
Since all mutual funds are required to include the same
hypothetical calculations about expenses in shareholder reports, you can use this information to compare the ongoing cost of investing in the Fund with other funds. To do so, compare the hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that
appear in the shareholder reports of other funds. As you compare hypothetical examples of other funds, it is important to note that hypothetical examples are meant to highlight the ongoing cost of investing in a fund only and do not reflect any
transaction costs, such as redemption or exchange fees. Therefore, the hypothetical calculations are useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. If transaction costs
were included in these calculations, your costs would be higher.
January
1, 2018 — June 30, 2018 |
|
Account
value at the beginning of the period ($) |
Account
value at the end of the period ($) |
Expenses
paid during the period ($) |
Fund’s
annualized expense ratio (%) |
|
Actual
|
Hypothetical
|
Actual
|
Hypothetical
|
Actual
|
Hypothetical
|
Actual
|
Wanger
USA |
1,000.00
|
1,000.00
|
1,156.00
|
1,020.04
|
5.27
|
4.94
|
0.98
|
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.
Had the investment manager and/or certain of its affiliates not
waived/reimbursed certain fees and expenses, account value at the end of the period would have been reduced. See Note 3 to the Financial Statements.
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. The hypothetical example provided is useful in
comparing ongoing costs only and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds whose shareholders may incur transaction costs.
Wanger
USA | Semiannual Report 2018 |
7
|
Portfolio of Investments
June 30, 2018 (Unaudited)
(Percentages represent value of investments compared to net
assets)
Investments in securities
Common
Stocks 95.5% |
Issuer
|
Shares
|
Value
($) |
Consumer
Discretionary 16.4% |
Auto
Components 4.1% |
Cooper-Standard
Holding, Inc.(a) Sealing, fuel and brake delivery, fluid transfer systems, anti-vibration systems components,
subsystems, and modules |
66,441
|
8,681,846
|
Dorman
Products, Inc.(a) Automotive products and home hardware |
118,714
|
8,109,353
|
LCI
Industries Recreational vehicles and equipment |
64,661
|
5,829,189
|
Tenneco,
Inc. Emission control and ride control products and systems |
181,895
|
7,996,104
|
Total
|
|
30,616,492
|
Distributors
0.7% |
Pool
Corp. Swimming pool supplies, equipment and leisure products |
33,429
|
5,064,494
|
Diversified
Consumer Services 2.0% |
Adtalem
Global Education, Inc.(a) Higher education institutions |
183,785
|
8,840,059
|
Bright
Horizons Family Solutions, Inc.(a) Child care and early education services |
57,433
|
5,888,031
|
Total
|
|
14,728,090
|
Hotels,
Restaurants & Leisure 6.4% |
Churchill
Downs, Inc. Horse racing company, home of the Kentucky Derby |
12,800
|
3,795,200
|
Dave
& Buster’s Entertainment, Inc.(a) Venues that combine dining and entertainment for adults and
families |
228,142
|
10,859,559
|
Extended
Stay America, Inc. Hotels and motels |
466,094
|
10,072,291
|
Red
Rock Resorts, Inc., Class A Casino & entertainment properties |
201,344
|
6,745,024
|
Texas
Roadhouse, Inc. Moderately priced, full service restaurant chain |
154,519
|
10,122,540
|
Wingstop,
Inc. Cooked-to-order chicken wings |
112,885
|
5,883,566
|
Total
|
|
47,478,180
|
Common
Stocks (continued) |
Issuer
|
Shares
|
Value
($) |
Household
Durables 1.9% |
Cavco
Industries, Inc.(a) Designs and manufactures systems-built structures |
27,185
|
5,644,966
|
iRobot
Corp.(a),(b) Manufactures robots for cleaning |
108,173
|
8,196,268
|
Total
|
|
13,841,234
|
Leisure
Products 1.3% |
Brunswick
Corp. Consumer products serving the outdoor and indoor active recreation markets |
82,501
|
5,319,664
|
MCBC
Holdings, Inc.(a) Sport boats |
142,242
|
4,117,906
|
Total
|
|
9,437,570
|
Total
Consumer Discretionary |
121,166,060
|
Consumer
Staples 4.8% |
Beverages
0.7% |
MGP
Ingredients, Inc. Distillery ingredients and products |
55,405
|
4,920,518
|
Food
& Staples Retailing 0.6% |
BJ’s
Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc.(a) Warehouse club |
184,560
|
4,364,844
|
Food
Products 0.7% |
Hostess
Brands, Inc.(a) Packaged baked sweet goods |
388,486
|
5,283,410
|
Household
Products 1.7% |
Central
Garden & Pet Co.(a) Lawn, garden & pet supply products |
206,319
|
8,970,750
|
WD-40
Co. Multi-purpose lubricant products and heavy-duty hand cleaners |
26,524
|
3,879,135
|
Total
|
|
12,849,885
|
Personal
Products 1.1% |
Inter
Parfums, Inc. Fragrances and related products |
145,158
|
7,765,953
|
Total
Consumer Staples |
35,184,610
|
Energy
1.5% |
Energy
Equipment & Services 0.6% |
Core
Laboratories NV(b) Reservoir description, production enhancement, and reservoir management services |
32,112
|
4,052,855
|
The accompanying Notes to Financial Statements are an integral part
of this statement.
8
|
Wanger USA
| Semiannual Report 2018 |
Portfolio of Investments (continued)
June 30, 2018 (Unaudited)
Common
Stocks (continued) |
Issuer
|
Shares
|
Value
($) |
Oil,
Gas & Consumable Fuels 0.9% |
PDC
Energy, Inc.(a) Petroleum products |
111,637
|
6,748,457
|
Total
Energy |
10,801,312
|
Financials
13.8% |
Banks
5.4% |
First
Busey Corp. Multi-bank holding company |
352,350
|
11,176,542
|
Great
Southern Bancorp, Inc. Real estate, commercial real estate, commercial business, consumer, and construction loans |
107,871
|
6,170,221
|
Lakeland
Financial Corp. Bank holding company |
188,313
|
9,074,803
|
Sandy
Spring Bancorp, Inc. Holding company for Sandy Spring Bank |
163,851
|
6,719,530
|
Trico
Bancshares Holding company for Tri Counties Bank |
168,664
|
6,316,467
|
Total
|
|
39,457,563
|
Capital
Markets 3.9% |
Ares
Management LP Asset management firm |
344,600
|
7,133,220
|
Hamilton
Lane, Inc., Class A Private market investment solutions |
78,439
|
3,762,719
|
Houlihan
Lokey, Inc. Investment bank |
216,924
|
11,110,847
|
OM
Asset Management Plc Asset management company |
495,376
|
7,064,062
|
Total
|
|
29,070,848
|
Consumer
Finance 1.9% |
FirstCash,
Inc. Owns and operates pawn stores |
109,168
|
9,808,745
|
PRA
Group, Inc.(a) Provides outsourced receivables management |
107,500
|
4,144,125
|
Total
|
|
13,952,870
|
Thrifts
& Mortgage Finance 2.6% |
Merchants
Bancorp Bank holding company |
201,182
|
5,739,722
|
OceanFirst
Financial Corp. New Jersey banks |
244,423
|
7,322,913
|
Walker
& Dunlop, Inc. Commercial real estate financial services |
111,245
|
6,190,784
|
Total
|
|
19,253,419
|
Total
Financials |
101,734,700
|
Common
Stocks (continued) |
Issuer
|
Shares
|
Value
($) |
Health
Care 25.4% |
Biotechnology
8.1% |
Agios
Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(a) Therapeutics in the field of cancer metabolism |
55,839
|
4,703,319
|
Amicus
Therapeutics, Inc.(a) Orally-administered, small molecule drugs to treat human genetic diseases |
286,000
|
4,467,320
|
Clovis
Oncology, Inc.(a) Pre-commercial Biotech Company |
86,228
|
3,920,787
|
Genomic
Health, Inc.(a) Development and commercialization of genomic-based clinical diagnostic tests for cancer
|
102,797
|
5,180,969
|
Kiniksa
Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Class A(a) Clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company |
399,531
|
6,931,863
|
Ligand
Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(a) Drugs that regulate hormone activated intracellular receptors |
45,998
|
9,529,406
|
Loxo
Oncology, Inc.(a) Researches and develops cancer drugs |
21,207
|
3,678,990
|
MacroGenics,
Inc.(a) Treatments for autoimmune disorders, cancer and infectious diseases |
332,683
|
6,869,904
|
Repligen
Corp.(a) Supplier to Biopharma Industry |
206,300
|
9,704,352
|
Ultragenyx
Pharmaceutical, Inc.(a) Therapeutics and sialic acid for treating metabolic, body myopathy, glucuronidase, and rare
genetic diseases |
61,392
|
4,719,203
|
Total
|
|
59,706,113
|
Health
Care Equipment & Supplies 8.9% |
Atrion
Corp. Medical products and components |
8,932
|
5,353,841
|
AxoGen,
Inc.(a) Technologies for peripheral nerve reconstruction and regeneration |
126,561
|
6,359,690
|
Haemonetics
Corp.(a) Automated blood processing systems |
49,119
|
4,404,992
|
iRhythm
Technologies, Inc.(a) Medical instruments |
124,685
|
10,115,694
|
Masimo
Corp.(a) Medical signal processing and sensor technology for non-invasive monitoring of physiological
parameters |
93,758
|
9,155,469
|
Orthofix
International NV(a) Spine fixation and other orthopedic & spine solutions |
93,318
|
5,302,329
|
Sientra,
Inc.(a) Plastic surgery implantable devices |
337,585
|
6,586,283
|
The accompanying Notes to Financial Statements are an integral part
of this statement.
Wanger
USA | Semiannual Report 2018 |
9
|
Portfolio of Investments (continued)
June 30, 2018 (Unaudited)
Common
Stocks (continued) |
Issuer
|
Shares
|
Value
($) |
Tactile
Systems Technology, Inc.(a) Technology for treating lymphedema, chronic swelling & venous ulcers |
157,000
|
8,164,000
|
Tandem
Diabetes Care, Inc.(a) Produces medical devices |
232,031
|
5,109,323
|
Varex
Imaging Corp.(a) X-ray imaging components |
135,159
|
5,013,047
|
Total
|
|
65,564,668
|
Health
Care Providers & Services 6.4% |
Amedisys,
Inc.(a) Provider of alternate-site health care services |
114,287
|
9,766,967
|
AMN
Healthcare Services, Inc.(a) Temporary healthcare staffing |
169,386
|
9,926,020
|
Chemed
Corp. Hospice and palliative care services |
19,600
|
6,307,476
|
Encompass
Health Corp. Inpatient rehabilitative healthcare services |
56,545
|
3,829,227
|
HealthEquity,
Inc.(a) Technology-enabled services platforms for consumers to make healthcare saving and spending decisions
|
145,956
|
10,961,295
|
Tivity
Health, Inc.(a) Health fitness solutions |
190,548
|
6,707,290
|
Total
|
|
47,498,275
|
Pharmaceuticals
2.0% |
Optinose,
Inc.(a) Health care services |
270,906
|
7,579,950
|
Reata
Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Class A(a),(b) Biopharmaceutical company |
196,232
|
6,862,233
|
Total
|
|
14,442,183
|
Total
Health Care |
187,211,239
|
Industrials
9.7% |
Building
Products 0.7% |
American
Woodmark Corp.(a) Kitchen cabinets and vanities |
58,593
|
5,364,189
|
Commercial
Services & Supplies 2.9% |
Brink’s
Co. (The) Provides security services globally |
51,879
|
4,137,350
|
Healthcare
Services Group, Inc. Housekeeping, laundry, linen, facility maintenance, and food services |
130,527
|
5,637,461
|
Knoll,
Inc. Branded office furniture products and textiles |
182,115
|
3,789,813
|
Unifirst
Corp. Workplace uniforms and protective clothing |
44,913
|
7,945,110
|
Total
|
|
21,509,734
|
Common
Stocks (continued) |
Issuer
|
Shares
|
Value
($) |
Machinery
1.3% |
ESCO
Technologies, Inc. Engineered products and solutions |
106,469
|
6,143,261
|
Toro
Co. (The) Turf equipment |
52,903
|
3,187,406
|
Total
|
|
9,330,667
|
Professional
Services 2.8% |
Exponent,
Inc. Science and engineering consulting firm |
106,808
|
5,158,827
|
ICF
International, Inc. Management, technology, policy consulting, and implementation services |
145,882
|
10,364,916
|
Wageworks,
Inc.(a) Tax-advantaged programs for consumer-directed health, commuter, and other employee spending account
benefits |
104,196
|
5,209,800
|
Total
|
|
20,733,543
|
Road
& Rail 1.2% |
Saia,
Inc.(a) Trucking transportation |
103,397
|
8,359,647
|
Trading
Companies & Distributors 0.8% |
SiteOne
Landscape Supply, Inc.(a) Landscape supplies |
70,950
|
5,957,672
|
Total
Industrials |
71,255,452
|
Information
Technology 17.4% |
Electronic
Equipment, Instruments & Components 2.3% |
ePlus,
Inc.(a) Provides IT hardware, software and services |
106,643
|
10,035,106
|
II-VI,
Inc.(a) Optical and optoelectronic devices |
159,504
|
6,930,449
|
Total
|
|
16,965,555
|
The accompanying Notes to Financial Statements are an integral part
of this statement.
10
|
Wanger USA
| Semiannual Report 2018 |
Portfolio of Investments (continued)
June 30, 2018 (Unaudited)
Common
Stocks (continued) |
Issuer
|
Shares
|
Value
($) |
Internet
Software & Services 4.5% |
Alteryx,
Inc., Class A(a),(b) Data storage, retrieval, management, reporting, and analytics solutions |
184,302
|
7,032,964
|
Apptio,
Inc., Class A(a) Cloud-based business management solutions |
201,888
|
7,308,346
|
Mimecast
Ltd.(a) Cloud security and risk management services for corporate information and email |
144,831
|
5,968,486
|
MINDBODY,
Inc., Class A(a) Business management software |
192,114
|
7,415,600
|
Q2
Holdings, Inc.(a) Secure, cloud-based virtual banking solutions |
96,516
|
5,506,238
|
Total
|
|
33,231,634
|
IT
Services 0.7% |
CoreLogic,
Inc.(a) Consumer, financial and property information, analytics and services to business and government
|
96,334
|
4,999,735
|
Semiconductors
& Semiconductor Equipment 5.8% |
Advanced
Energy Industries, Inc.(a) Engineered precision power conversion, measurement and control solutions |
136,403
|
7,923,650
|
Brooks
Automation, Inc. Automation solutions for the global semiconductor and related industries |
248,139
|
8,094,294
|
Cabot
Microelectronics Corp. Slurries used in chemical mechanical planarization |
97,454
|
10,482,152
|
Inphi
Corp.(a),(b) Analog semiconductor solutions |
160,222
|
5,224,840
|
Monolithic
Power Systems, Inc. Power management solutions |
33,275
|
4,447,869
|
Semtech
Corp.(a) Analog and mixed-signal semiconductors |
133,442
|
6,278,446
|
Total
|
|
42,451,251
|
Common
Stocks (continued) |
Issuer
|
Shares
|
Value
($) |
Software
4.1% |
Blackline,
Inc.(a) Develops and markets enterprise software |
143,372
|
6,226,646
|
CyberArk
Software Ltd.(a) IT security solutions |
109,631
|
6,902,368
|
Qualys,
Inc.(a) Information technology security risk and compliance management solutions |
100,018
|
8,431,518
|
Zscaler,
Inc.(a),(b) Cloud-based internet security platform |
110,979
|
3,967,499
|
Zuora,
Inc., Class A(a),(b) Develops cloud based software |
172,717
|
4,697,902
|
Total
|
|
30,225,933
|
Total
Information Technology |
127,874,108
|
Materials
2.7% |
Chemicals
2.7% |
Orion
Engineered Carbons SA Global supplier of Carbon Black |
333,378
|
10,284,711
|
PolyOne
Corp. International polymer services company |
87,000
|
3,760,140
|
Quaker
Chemical Corp. Custom-formulated chemical specialty products |
39,525
|
6,121,237
|
Total
|
|
20,166,088
|
Total
Materials |
20,166,088
|
Real
Estate 3.3% |
Equity
Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITS) 2.6% |
CoreCivic,
Inc. Detention and corrections services |
214,518
|
5,124,835
|
Coresite
Realty Corp. Develops, owns & operates data centers |
53,813
|
5,963,557
|
UMH
Properties, Inc. Real estate investment trust |
519,198
|
7,969,689
|
Total
|
|
19,058,081
|
Real
Estate Management & Development 0.7% |
Colliers
International Group, Inc. Commercial real estate, residential property management and property services |
69,142
|
5,234,049
|
Total
Real Estate |
24,292,130
|
The accompanying Notes to Financial Statements are an integral part
of this statement.
Wanger
USA | Semiannual Report 2018 |
11
|
Portfolio of Investments (continued)
June 30, 2018 (Unaudited)
Common
Stocks (continued) |
Issuer
|
Shares
|
Value
($) |
Telecommunication
Services 0.5% |
Wireless
Telecommunication Services 0.5% |
Boingo
Wireless, Inc.(a) Mobile internet services |
158,000
|
3,569,220
|
Total
Telecommunication Services |
3,569,220
|
Total
Common Stocks (Cost: $523,885,306) |
703,254,919
|
|
Limited
Partnerships 0.5% |
|
|
|
Consumer
Discretionary 0.5% |
Hotels,
Restaurants & Leisure 0.5% |
Cedar
Fair LP Owns and operates amusement parks |
54,200
|
3,415,142
|
Total
Consumer Discretionary |
3,415,142
|
Total
Limited Partnerships (Cost: $3,582,097) |
3,415,142
|
|
Securities
Lending Collateral 2.7% |
|
Shares
|
Value
($) |
Dreyfus
Government Cash Management Fund, Institutional Shares, 1.810%(c),(d) |
20,098,095
|
20,098,095
|
Total
Securities Lending Collateral (Cost: $20,098,095) |
20,098,095
|
|
Money
Market Funds 4.5% |
|
|
|
JPMorgan
U.S. Government Money Market Fund, Agency Shares, 1.713%(c) |
33,325,254
|
33,325,254
|
Total
Money Market Funds (Cost: $33,325,254) |
33,325,254
|
Total
Investments in Securities (Cost $580,890,752) |
760,093,410
|
Obligation
to Return Collateral for Securities Loaned |
|
(20,098,095)
|
Other
Assets & Liabilities, Net |
|
(3,721,289)
|
Net
Assets |
$736,274,026
|
Notes to Portfolio of Investments
(a)
|
Non-income
producing security. |
(b)
|
All or a
portion of this security was on loan at June 30, 2018. The total market value of securities on loan at June 30, 2018 was $19,716,937. |
(c)
|
The rate
shown is the seven-day current annualized yield at June 30, 2018. |
(d)
|
Investment made
with cash collateral received from securities lending activity. |
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 net asset values 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 Columbia Wanger Asset Management’s Valuation Committee (the Committee) 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.
The Committee is responsible for applying the Wanger
Advisors Trust Portfolio Pricing Policy and the Columbia Wanger Asset Management pricing procedures (the Policies), which are approved by and subject to the oversight of the Board of Trustees.
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 Columbia Wanger Asset Management believes that available market quotations are unreliable. The Committee also
reviews the continuing appropriateness of the Policies. In circumstances where a security has been fair valued, the Committee will also review the continuing appropriateness of the current value of the security. 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; circumstances under
which securities will be deemed to pose a potential for stale pricing, including when securities are illiquid, restricted, or in default; and certain delegations of authority to determine fair values to the Fund’s investment manager. 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.
The accompanying Notes to Financial Statements are an integral part of this
statement.
12
|
Wanger USA
| Semiannual Report 2018 |
Portfolio of Investments (continued)
June 30, 2018 (Unaudited)
Fair value
measurements (continued)
For investments categorized as Level 3, the significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement of the Fund’s 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 is a summary of the inputs used to value the
Fund’s investments at June 30, 2018:
|
Level
1 quoted prices in active markets for identical assets ($) |
Level
2 other significant observable inputs ($) |
Level
3 significant unobservable inputs ($) |
Total
($) |
Investments
in Securities |
|
|
|
|
Common
Stocks |
|
|
|
|
Consumer
Discretionary |
121,166,060
|
—
|
—
|
121,166,060
|
Consumer
Staples |
35,184,610
|
—
|
—
|
35,184,610
|
Energy
|
10,801,312
|
—
|
—
|
10,801,312
|
Financials
|
101,734,700
|
—
|
—
|
101,734,700
|
Health
Care |
187,211,239
|
—
|
—
|
187,211,239
|
Industrials
|
71,255,452
|
—
|
—
|
71,255,452
|
Information
Technology |
127,874,108
|
—
|
—
|
127,874,108
|
Materials
|
20,166,088
|
—
|
—
|
20,166,088
|
Real
Estate |
24,292,130
|
—
|
—
|
24,292,130
|
Telecommunication
Services |
3,569,220
|
—
|
—
|
3,569,220
|
Total
Common Stocks |
703,254,919
|
—
|
—
|
703,254,919
|
Limited
Partnerships |
|
|
|
|
Consumer
Discretionary |
3,415,142
|
—
|
—
|
3,415,142
|
Total
Limited Partnerships |
3,415,142
|
—
|
—
|
3,415,142
|
Securities
Lending Collateral |
20,098,095
|
—
|
—
|
20,098,095
|
Money
Market Funds |
33,325,254
|
—
|
—
|
33,325,254
|
Total
Investments in Securities |
760,093,410
|
—
|
—
|
760,093,410
|
There were no transfers of financial
assets between levels during the period.
The accompanying Notes to Financial Statements are an integral part of this
statement.
Wanger
USA | Semiannual Report 2018 |
13
|
Statement of Assets and Liabilities
June 30, 2018 (Unaudited)
Assets
|
|
Investments
in securities, at value* |
|
Unaffiliated
issuers (cost $580,890,752) |
$760,093,410
|
Receivable
for: |
|
Investments
sold |
3,980,817
|
Capital
shares sold |
203,727
|
Dividends
|
390,468
|
Securities
lending income |
21,476
|
Foreign
tax reclaims |
346
|
Prepaid
expenses |
5,248
|
Trustees’
deferred compensation plan |
231,005
|
Total
assets |
764,926,497
|
Liabilities
|
|
Due
upon return of securities on loan |
20,098,095
|
Payable
for: |
|
Investments
purchased |
6,783,171
|
Capital
shares purchased |
1,434,867
|
Investment
advisory fee |
17,469
|
Administration
fees |
1,011
|
Trustees’
fees |
1,476
|
Other
expenses |
85,377
|
Trustees’
deferred compensation plan |
231,005
|
Total
liabilities |
28,652,471
|
Net
assets applicable to outstanding capital stock |
$736,274,026
|
Represented
by |
|
Paid
in capital |
498,021,615
|
Excess
of distributions over net investment income |
(39,592)
|
Accumulated
net realized gain |
59,089,345
|
Unrealized
appreciation (depreciation) on: |
|
Investments
- unaffiliated issuers |
179,202,658
|
Total
- representing net assets applicable to outstanding capital stock |
$736,274,026
|
Shares
outstanding |
30,285,434
|
Net
asset value per share |
24.31
|
*
Value of securities on loan |
19,716,937
|
The accompanying Notes to Financial Statements are an integral part of this
statement.
14
|
Wanger USA
| Semiannual Report 2018 |
Statement of Operations
Six Months Ended June 30, 2018 (Unaudited)
Net
investment income |
|
Income:
|
|
Dividends
— unaffiliated issuers |
$3,382,714
|
Income
from securities lending — net |
183,633
|
Foreign
taxes withheld |
(26,439)
|
Total
income |
3,539,908
|
Expenses:
|
|
Investment
advisory fee |
3,035,202
|
Service
fees |
275,914
|
Administration
fees |
175,473
|
Trustees’
fees |
34,802
|
Custodian
fees |
4,848
|
Printing
and postage fees |
80,290
|
Audit
fees |
20,071
|
Legal
fees |
53,721
|
Compensation
of chief compliance officer |
1,084
|
Other
|
21,658
|
Total
expenses |
3,703,063
|
Fees
waived by transfer agent |
(275,914)
|
Total
net expenses |
3,427,149
|
Net
investment income |
112,759
|
Realized
and unrealized gain (loss) — net |
|
Net
realized gain (loss) on: |
|
Investments
— unaffiliated issuers |
60,533,296
|
Net
realized gain |
60,533,296
|
Net
change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on: |
|
Investments
— unaffiliated issuers |
41,568,285
|
Net
change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) |
41,568,285
|
Net
realized and unrealized gain |
102,101,581
|
Net
increase in net assets resulting from operations |
$102,214,340
|
The accompanying Notes to Financial Statements are an
integral part of this statement.
Wanger
USA | Semiannual Report 2018 |
15
|
Statement of Changes in Net Assets
|
Six
Months Ended June 30, 2018 (Unaudited) |
Year
Ended December 31, 2017 |
Operations
|
|
|
Net
investment income (loss) |
$112,759
|
$(528,477)
|
Net
realized gain |
60,533,296
|
163,958,845
|
Net
change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) |
41,568,285
|
(42,319,867)
|
Net
increase in net assets resulting from operations |
102,214,340
|
121,110,501
|
Distributions
to shareholders |
|
|
Net
realized gains |
(161,321,944)
|
(108,009,366)
|
Total
distributions to shareholders |
(161,321,944)
|
(108,009,366)
|
Increase
in net assets from capital stock activity |
110,669,740
|
7,375,038
|
Total
increase in net assets |
51,562,136
|
20,476,173
|
Net
assets at beginning of period |
684,711,890
|
664,235,717
|
Net
assets at end of period |
$736,274,026
|
$684,711,890
|
Excess
of distributions over net investment income |
$(39,592)
|
$(152,351)
|
|
Six
Months Ended |
Year
Ended |
|
June
30, 2018 (Unaudited) |
December
31, 2017 |
|
Shares
|
Dollars
($) |
Shares
|
Dollars
($) |
Capital
stock activity |
|
|
|
|
|
Subscriptions
|
310,144
|
8,566,760
|
368,297
|
9,709,107
|
Distributions
reinvested |
6,497,058
|
161,321,944
|
4,399,567
|
108,009,366
|
Redemptions
|
(2,125,342)
|
(59,218,964)
|
(4,199,383)
|
(110,343,435)
|
Total
net increase |
4,681,860
|
110,669,740
|
568,481
|
7,375,038
|
The accompanying Notes to Financial Statements are an integral part of this
statement.
16
|
Wanger USA
| Semiannual Report 2018 |
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, if any. Total return does not reflect payment of the expenses that apply to the variable accounts or contract charges, if
any. Total return and portfolio turnover are not annualized for periods of less than one year. The portfolio turnover rate is calculated without regard to purchase and sales transactions of short-term instruments and certain derivatives, if any. If
such transactions were included, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate may be higher.
|
Six
Months Ended June 30, 2018 (Unaudited) |
Year
Ended December 31, |
2017
|
2016
|
2015
|
2014
|
2013
|
Per
share data |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
asset value, beginning of period |
$26.74
|
$26.53
|
$31.75
|
$37.71
|
$41.13
|
$33.84
|
Income
from investment operations: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
investment income (loss) |
0.00
(a) |
(0.02)
|
(0.04)
|
(0.12)
|
(0.06)
|
(0.05)
|
Net
realized and unrealized gain |
4.31
|
4.81
|
3.56
|
0.45
|
1.70
|
10.79
|
Total
from investment operations |
4.31
|
4.79
|
3.52
|
0.33
|
1.64
|
10.74
|
Less
distributions to shareholders from: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
investment income |
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
(0.06)
|
Net
realized gains |
(6.74)
|
(4.58)
|
(8.74)
|
(6.29)
|
(5.06)
|
(3.39)
|
Total
distributions to shareholders |
(6.74)
|
(4.58)
|
(8.74)
|
(6.29)
|
(5.06)
|
(3.45)
|
Net
asset value, end of period |
$24.31
|
$26.74
|
$26.53
|
$31.75
|
$37.71
|
$41.13
|
Total
return |
15.60%
(b) |
19.58%
(b) |
13.69%
|
(0.61)%
|
4.78%
|
33.75%
|
Ratios
to average net assets |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
gross expenses(c) |
1.06%
(d) |
1.03%
|
1.00%
|
1.01%
|
0.96%
|
0.96%
|
Total
net expenses(c) |
0.98%
(d) |
0.99%
|
1.00%
|
1.01%
|
0.96%
|
0.96%
|
Net
investment income (loss) |
0.03%
(d) |
(0.08)%
|
(0.16)%
|
(0.34)%
|
(0.15)%
|
(0.12)%
|
Supplemental
data |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Portfolio
turnover |
35%
|
96%
|
118%
|
45%
|
14%
|
15%
|
Net
assets, end of period (in thousands) |
$736,274
|
$684,712
|
$664,236
|
$692,605
|
$800,933
|
$912,143
|
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)
|
In
addition to the fees and expenses that the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of any other funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the Fund’s reported expense
ratios. |
(d)
|
Annualized.
|
The accompanying Notes to Financial Statements are an integral part of this
statement.
Wanger
USA | Semiannual Report 2018 |
17
|
Notes to Financial Statements
June 30, 2018 (Unaudited)
Note 1. Organization
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.
Note 2. Summary of significant accounting
policies
Basis of preparation
The Fund is an investment company that applies the accounting
and reporting guidance in the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946, Financial Services - Investment Companies (ASC 946). The financial statements are prepared
in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), which 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 income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
The following is a summary of significant accounting policies
followed by the Fund in the preparation of its financial statements.
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. 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. Exchange-traded funds are valued at their closing net asset value as reported on the applicable exchange. A
security for which there is no reported sale on the valuation date is valued by comparison of the mean of the latest bid and ask quotations.
Foreign equity securities are generally valued based on the
closing price on the foreign exchange in which such securities are primarily traded. If any foreign equity security closing prices are not readily available, the securities are valued at the mean of the latest quoted bid and ask prices on such
exchanges or markets. Foreign currency exchange rates are generally determined at 4:00 p.m. Eastern (U.S.) time. Many securities markets and exchanges outside the U.S. close prior to the close of the New York Stock Exchange; therefore, the closing
prices for securities in such markets or on such exchanges may not fully reflect events that occur after such close but before the close of the New York Stock Exchange. In situations where foreign markets are closed, where a significant event has
occurred after the foreign exchange closes but before the time at which the Fund’s share price is calculated, and in the event of significant movement in the trigger index for the statistical fair valuation process established by the Board of
Trustees, foreign securities will be fair valued pursuant to a policy adopted by the Board of Trustees. 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.
Short-term investments maturing in 60 days or less are valued
at amortized cost, which approximates market value.
18
|
Wanger USA
| Semiannual Report 2018 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
June 30, 2018 (Unaudited)
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 on each day the New York Stock 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.
GAAP requires disclosure regarding the inputs and valuation
techniques used to measure fair value and any changes in valuation inputs or techniques. In addition, investments shall be disclosed by major category. This information is disclosed following the Fund’s Portfolio of Investments.
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 the economic equivalent 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. The income earned from the securities lending program 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 (the Investment Manager or 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, 2018, is included in the Statement of Operations.
The following table indicates the total amount of securities
loaned by type, reconciled to gross liability payable upon return of the securities loaned by the Fund as of June 30, 2018:
|
Overnight
and continuous |
Up
to 30 days |
30-90
days |
Greater
than 90 days |
Total
|
Wanger
USA |
|
|
|
|
|
Securities
lending transactions |
|
|
|
|
|
Equity
securities |
$19,716,937
|
$—
|
$—
|
$—
|
$19,716,937
|
Gross
amount of recognized liabilities for securities lending (collateral received) |
|
|
|
|
20,098,095
|
Amounts
due to counterparty in the event of default |
|
|
|
|
$381,158
|
Offsetting of assets and
liabilities
The following table presents the
Fund’s gross and net amount of assets and liabilities available for offset under netting arrangements as well as any related collateral received or pledged by the Fund as of June 30, 2018:
|
Goldman
Sachs ($) |
Liabilities
|
|
Collateral
on Securities loaned |
20,098,095
|
Total
Liabilities |
20,098,095
|
Total
Financial and Derivative Net Assets |
(20,098,095)
|
Financial
Instruments |
19,716,937
|
Net
Amount (a) |
(381,158)
|
(a)
|
Represents
the net amount due from/(to) counterparties in the event of default. |
Wanger
USA | Semiannual Report 2018 |
19
|
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
June 30, 2018 (Unaudited)
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.
Income recognition
Corporate actions and dividend income are generally recorded
net of any non-reclaimable tax withholdings, on the ex-dividend date or upon receipt of ex-dividend notification in the case of certain foreign securities.
The Fund may receive distributions from holdings in equity
securities, exchange traded funds (ETFs), limited partnerships (LPs), other regulated investment companies (RICs), and real estate investment trusts (REITs), which report information on the tax character of their distributions annually. These
distributions are allocated to dividend income, capital gain and return of capital based on actual information reported. Return of capital is recorded as a reduction of the cost basis of securities held. If the Fund no longer owns the applicable
securities, return of capital is recorded as a realized gain. With respect to REITs, to the extent actual information has not yet been reported, estimates for return of capital may be made by the Fund’s management. Management’s estimates
are subsequently adjusted when the actual character of the distributions is disclosed by the REITs, which could result in a proportionate change in return of capital to shareholders.
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.
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.
Federal income tax status
The Fund intends to comply with the provisions of the Internal
Revenue Code available to regulated investment companies and, in the manner provided therein, intends to distribute 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. The Fund meets the exception under Internal Revenue Code Section 4982(f) and the Fund expects not to be
subject to federal excise tax.
Foreign 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.
Guarantees and 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.
20
|
Wanger USA
| Semiannual Report 2018 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
June 30, 2018 (Unaudited)
Recent
accounting pronouncement
Accounting Standards Update
2017-08 Premium Amortization on Purchased Callable Debt Securities
In March 2017, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued
Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2017-08 Premium Amortization on Purchased Callable Debt Securities. ASU No. 2017-08 updates the accounting standards to shorten the amortization period for certain purchased callable debt securities, held at a
premium, to be amortized to the earliest call date. The update applies to securities with explicit, noncontingent call features that are callable at fixed prices and on preset dates. The standard is effective for annual periods beginning after
December 15, 2018 and interim periods within those fiscal years. At this time, management is evaluating the implication of this guidance and the impact it will have on the financial statement amounts and footnote disclosures, if any.
Note 3. Fees and other transactions with
affiliates
Management services fees
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 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,
2018, the annualized effective investment advisory fee rate was 0.86% of the Fund’s average daily net assets.
Administration fees
CWAM provides administrative services and receives an
administration fee from the Fund at the following annual rates:
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,
2018, the annualized effective administration fee rate was 0.05% of the Fund’s average daily net assets. CWAM has delegated to Columbia Management responsibility to provide certain sub-administrative services to the Fund.
Compensation of board members
Certain officers and trustees of the Trust are also officers
of CWAM or Columbia Management. The Trust makes no direct payments to its officers and trustees who are affiliated with CWAM or Columbia Management. 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 Institutional Class 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.
Wanger
USA | Semiannual Report 2018 |
21
|
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
June 30, 2018 (Unaudited)
Compensation of Chief Compliance Officer
The Board of Trustees has appointed a Chief Compliance Officer
to the Fund in accordance with federal securities regulations. As disclosed in the Statement of Operations, a portion of the Chief Compliance Officer’s total compensation is allocated to the Fund, along with other allocations to affiliated
funds governed by the Board of Trustees, based on relative net assets.
Service fees
Pursuant to the Transfer, Dividend Disbursing and Shareholder
Servicing Agreement between the Fund and Columbia Management Investment Services Corp. (the Transfer Agent), an affiliate of the Investment Manager and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ameriprise Financial, the Fund bears a service fee paid to the
Transfer Agent to compensate it for amounts paid to Participating Insurance Companies and other financial intermediaries (together, Participating Organizations) for various sub-transfer agency and other shareholder services each Participating
Organization provides to its clients, customers and participants that are invested directly or indirectly in the Fund, up to a cap approved by the Board of Trustees from time to time.
The Transfer Agent may retain as compensation for its services
revenues from fees for wire, telephone and redemption orders, account transcripts due the Transfer Agent from Fund shareholders and interest (net of bank charges) earned with respect to balances in accounts the Transfer Agent maintains in connection
with its services to the Fund.
Effective July 1, 2018
through June 30, 2019, the Transfer Agent has contractually agreed to waive a portion of the service fee payable by the Fund such that the annual service fee paid by the Fund does not exceed 0.04% of the Fund’s average daily net assets, unless
sooner terminated at the sole discretion of the Board of Trustees. Prior to July 1, 2018, the Transfer Agent had contractually agreed to waive a portion of the service fee payable by the Fund such that the annual service fee paid by the Fund did not
exceed 0.00% of the Fund’s average daily net assets.
Distributor
Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc., a wholly
owned subsidiary of Ameriprise Financial, serves as the Fund’s distributor and principal underwriter.
Note 4. 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 because of temporary or permanent book to tax differences.
At June 30, 2018, the approximate cost of all investments for
federal income tax purposes and the aggregate gross approximate unrealized appreciation and depreciation based on that cost was:
Federal
tax cost ($) |
Gross
unrealized appreciation ($) |
Gross
unrealized (depreciation) ($) |
Net
unrealized appreciation ($) |
580,891,000
|
192,054,000
|
(12,852,000)
|
179,202,000
|
Tax cost of investments and
unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) may also include timing differences that do not constitute adjustments to tax basis.
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 in the Fund 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.
22
|
Wanger USA
| Semiannual Report 2018 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
June 30, 2018 (Unaudited)
Note 5. Portfolio information
The aggregate cost of purchases and proceeds from sales
other than short-term obligations for the six months ended June 30, 2018, were $241,471,766 and $315,411,261, respectively. The amount of purchase and sales activity impacts the portfolio turnover rate reported in the Financial Highlights.
Note 6. Line of credit
The Fund has access to a revolving credit facility with a
syndicate of banks led by Citibank, N.A., HSBC Bank USA, N.A. and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. whereby the Fund may borrow for the temporary funding of shareholder redemptions or for other temporary or emergency purposes. The credit facility, which is
a collective agreement between the Fund and certain other funds managed by the Investment Manager, severally and not jointly, permits collective borrowings up to $1 billion. Interest is charged to each participating fund based on its borrowings at a
rate equal to the higher of (i) the overnight federal funds rate plus 1.00% or (ii) the one-month LIBOR rate plus 1.00%. Each borrowing under the credit facility matures no later than 60 days after the date of borrowing. The Fund also pays a
commitment fee equal to its pro rata share of the amount of the credit facility at a rate of 0.15% per annum. The commitment fee is included in other expenses in the Statement of Operations.
The Fund had no borrowings during the six months ended June
30, 2018.
Note 7. Significant risks
Health care sector risk
The Fund may be more susceptible to the particular risks that
may affect companies in the health care sector than if it were invested in a wider variety of companies in unrelated sectors. Companies in the health care sector are subject to certain risks, including restrictions on government reimbursement for
medical expenses, government approval of medical products and services, competitive pricing pressures, and the rising cost of medical products and services (especially for companies dependent upon a relatively limited number of products or
services). Performance of such companies may be affected by factors including, government regulation, obtaining and protecting patents (or the failure to do so), product liability and other similar litigation as well as product obsolescence.
Shareholder concentration risk
At June 30, 2018, two unaffiliated shareholders of record
owned 33.9% of the outstanding shares of the Fund in one or more accounts. The Fund has no knowledge about whether any portion of those shares was owned beneficially. Affiliated shareholders of record owned 59.5% of the outstanding shares of the
Fund in one or more accounts. Subscription and redemption activity by concentrated accounts may have a significant effect on the operations of the Fund. In the case of a large redemption, the Fund may be forced to sell investments at inopportune
times, including its liquid positions, which may result in Fund losses and the Fund holding a higher percentage of less liquid positions. Large redemptions could result in decreased economies of scale and increased operating expenses for
non-redeeming Fund shareholders.
Note
8. 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.
Note 9. 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 Fund is not currently the subject of, and that neither Ameriprise Financial nor any of its affiliates are the subject of, any pending legal, arbitration or regulatory proceedings that are
likely to have a material adverse effect on the Fund or the ability of Ameriprise Financial or its affiliates
Wanger
USA | Semiannual Report 2018 |
23
|
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
June 30, 2018 (Unaudited)
to perform under
their contracts with the Fund. Ameriprise Financial is required to make quarterly (10-Q), annual (10-K) and, as necessary, 8-K filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on legal and regulatory matters that relate to Ameriprise
Financial and its affiliates. Copies of these filings may be obtained by accessing the SEC website at 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 Fund. Further, although we believe proceedings are not likely to have a material adverse effect on the
Fund or the ability of Ameriprise Financial or its affiliates to perform under their contracts with the Fund, 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 USA
| Semiannual Report 2018 |
Board Consideration and Approval of Advisory
Agreement
Wanger
Advisors Trust (the "Trust") has an investment advisory agreement (the "Advisory Agreement") with Columbia Wanger Asset Management, LLC ("CWAM") under which CWAM 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 "Contract 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 Contract 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 CWAM investment personnel (as does
the Board’s Investment Performance Analysis Committee (the "Performance Committee")), and receives monthly reports from CWAM on the performance of the Fund.
In connection with their most recent consideration of the
Advisory Agreement for the Fund, the Contract Committee and all Trustees received and reviewed a substantial amount of information provided by CWAM, Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC ("Columbia Management") and the parent of CWAM and
Columbia Management, Ameriprise Financial, Inc. ("Ameriprise") in response to written requests from the Independent Trustees and their independent legal counsel. Throughout the process, the Trustees had numerous opportunities to ask questions of and
request additional materials from CWAM, Columbia Management and Ameriprise.
During each meeting at which the Contract Committee or the
Independent Trustees considered the Advisory Agreement, they met in at least one executive session with their independent legal counsel. The Contract Committee also met with representatives of CWAM, Columbia Management and Ameriprise on several
occasions. In all, the Contract Committee convened formally on five 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 Contract
Committee’s status reports, receive presentations from CWAM, Columbia Management and Ameriprise representatives, and/or to discuss outstanding issues. In addition, the Performance Committee, also comprised exclusively of Independent Trustees,
reviewed the performance of the Fund, met in joint meetings with the Contract Committee, and reported to the Board and/or the Contract Committee throughout the year. The chair of the Compliance Committee of the Board (the "Compliance Committee")
made available relevant information with respect to matters within the realm of its oversight responsibilities.
The materials reviewed by the Contract Committee and the
Trustees included, among other items: (i) information on the investment performance of the Fund relative to an independently selected peer group of funds and the Fund’s performance benchmark over various time periods, as presented and analyzed
by an independent consultant; (ii) information on the Fund’s advisory fees and other expenses, including information comparing the Fund’s fees and expenses to those of a peer group 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 CWAM and Ameriprise, as well as potential "fall-out" or ancillary benefits that CWAM and its affiliates may receive as
a result of their relationships with the Fund. The Contract Committee and the Board also considered other information such as: (i) CWAM’s financial condition; (ii) the Fund’s investment objective and strategy; (iii) the size, education,
experience and resources of CWAM’s investment staff and its use of technology, external research and trading cost measurement tools and level of resources devoted to the Fund; (iv) turnover of investment management personnel; (v) the portfolio
manager compensation framework; (vi) the allocation of the Fund’s brokerage, and the use of "soft" commission dollars to pay for research products and services; (vii) CWAM’s risk management program; (viii) 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 and procedures; and (ix) CWAM’s and its affiliates’ conflicts of
interest.
At a meeting held on June 12, 2018, the Board
considered and 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.
Wanger
USA | Semiannual Report 2018 |
25
|
Board Consideration and Approval of Advisory
Agreement (continued)
Nature, quality and extent of services
The Trustees reviewed the nature, quality and extent of the
services provided by CWAM 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 CWAM and its affiliates, especially those providing investment management services to the Fund. The Trustees also considered other
services provided to the Fund by CWAM 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; 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 also noted the quality of CWAM’s compliance record.
The Trustees took into account the changes made by CWAM in the
past year to improve Fund performance. This included but was not limited to: the continued addition of more systematic and quantitative tools and risk-based analyses into the portfolio and construction management process; the significant reduction
in the number of Fund holdings since 2015 and increased concentration of the portfolio in fewer high conviction names; and certain portfolio manager and analyst changes.
The Trustees concluded that the nature, quality and extent of
the services provided by CWAM 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 CWAM. They also concluded that CWAM
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. The Trustees also considered that
Ameriprise had previously committed to the Board that CWAM would have sufficient investment management resources to continue to improve performance, including but not limited to resources to continue hiring additional analysts and other investment
and operational personnel. The Trustees therefore believed that CWAM would have sufficient resources to attract and retain personnel as necessary to improve performance.
Performance of the Fund
The Trustees reviewed information comparing the Fund’s
performance with that of its primary benchmark and with the performance of comparable peer funds as identified by Broadridge. The Trustees evaluated the performance and risk characteristics of the Fund over various time periods, including over the
one-, three- and five-year periods ended December 31, 2017, which showed that the Fund had outperformed its Broadridge peer group median for the three-year period but had underperformed for the one- and five-year periods. Relative to the
Fund’s primary benchmark, the Trustees determined that the Fund performed satisfactorily for the more recent periods relative to the Fund’s primary benchmark. They also considered data as of April 30, 2018 in order to evaluate
CWAM’s progress in improving Fund performance, noting that the Fund’s returns were satisfactory verses peers and its primary benchmark.
The Trustees concluded that CWAM had taken and continued to
take a number of corrective steps to improve the Fund’s performance, although it would take some time to determine their effectiveness, and that the Performance Committee was monitoring the Fund’s performance closely. In addition, the
Trustees considered that CWAM’s Chief Investment Officer and Director of Research (U.S.) had each reported to them at numerous Contract Committee, Performance Committee and Board meetings on the corrective steps being taken to improve the
Fund’s performance.
Costs of services and
profits realized by CWAM
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 Broadridge. The Trustees took into account that while the Fund’s net expenses and
actual advisory fees paid were higher than the median of its Broadridge peer group, the Fund’s advisory fees were generally comparable to the advisory fees of Columbia Acorn USA, which is managed almost identically to Wanger USA, at the same
asset levels.
26
|
Wanger USA
| Semiannual Report 2018 |
Board Consideration and Approval of Advisory
Agreement (continued)
The Trustees also reviewed the advisory fee rates charged by
CWAM for managing another investment company as a sub-adviser that had investment strategies similar to the Fund, as detailed in materials provided to the Contract Committee by CWAM. The Trustees determined that the Fund’s advisory fees were
somewhat higher than CWAM’s sub-advisory fees. The Trustees considered the information provided by CWAM regarding its performance of significant additional services for the Fund that it did not provide to sub-advisory clients, including
administrative and fund accounting services, oversight of the Fund’s other service providers, Trustee support, regulatory compliance and numerous other services, and that, in servicing the Fund, CWAM assumed many legal and business risks that
it did not assume in servicing many of its sub-advisory clients.
The Trustees reviewed the analysis of CWAM’s
profitability in serving as the Fund’s investment manager and of CWAM and its affiliates in their other service provider relationships with the Fund. The Contract Committee and the Board 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 reviewed the methodology used by CWAM
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 a third-party consultant, Strategic Insight,
which compared CWAM’s profitability to other similar investment managers in the mutual fund industry. 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. The Trustees evaluated CWAM’s profitability in light of the resources that had been, and would continue to be, provided to the Fund by
Ameriprise to assist in improving Fund performance.
Economies of scale
At various Committee and Board meetings and other informal
meetings, the Trustees considered information about the extent to which CWAM realized economies of scale in connection with an increase in Fund assets. The Trustees noted that the advisory fee schedule for the Fund included breakpoints in the rate
of fees at various asset levels. The Trustees concluded that the fee structure of the Advisory Agreement for the Fund reflected a sharing of economies of scale between CWAM and the Fund.
Other benefits to CWAM
The Trustees also reviewed benefits that accrued to CWAM and
its affiliates from their relationships with the Fund, based upon information provided to them by Ameriprise. They noted that the Fund’s transfer agency services were performed by Columbia Management Investment Services Corp., an affiliate of
Ameriprise, which received compensation from the Fund for its transfer agent services. They considered that another affiliate of Ameriprise, Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc., served as the Fund’s distributor under an
underwriting agreement but received no fees for its services to the Fund. In addition, they considered that Columbia Management provided sub-administration services to the Fund. The Contract Committee and the Board received information regarding the
profitability of these Fund agreements to the CWAM affiliates and also reviewed information about and discussed the capabilities of each affiliated entity in performing its respective duties.
The Trustees considered other ways that the Fund and CWAM
might potentially benefit from their relationship with each other. For example, the Trustees considered CWAM’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 CWAM. They noted that the Compliance Committee reviewed CWAM’s annual "soft dollar" report during the year and met with representatives from CWAM to review CWAM’s soft dollar spending. The Trustees also
considered that the Compliance Committee regularly reviewed third-party prepared reports that evaluated the quality of CWAM’s execution of the Fund’s portfolio transactions. The Trustees determined that CWAM’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 CWAM benefitted 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 CWAM’s receipt of those products and services as well as research products and services acquired through commissions paid by other
clients of CWAM.
Wanger
USA | Semiannual Report 2018 |
27
|
Board Consideration and Approval of Advisory
Agreement (continued)
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 advisory fees were reasonable and that the continuation of the Advisory Agreement was in
the best interest of the Fund. At the Board meeting held on June 12, 2018, the Trustees approved continuation of the Advisory Agreement for the Fund through July 31, 2019.
28
|
Wanger USA
| Semiannual Report 2018 |
Proxy
voting policies and procedures
The policy of the Board
of Trustees is to vote the proxies of the companies in which the Fund holds investments consistent with the procedures as stated in the Statement of Additional Information (SAI). You may obtain a copy of the SAI without charge by calling
800.345.6611; contacting your financial intermediary or searching the website of the SEC at sec.gov. Information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities is filed with the SEC by August 31st for the most recent 12-month
period ending June 30th of that year, and is available without charge by visiting columbiathreadneedleus.com/investor/, or searching the website of the SEC at sec.gov.
Quarterly schedule of investments
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 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 Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling 800.SEC.0330. The Fund’s complete schedule of portfolio holdings, as filed on Form N-Q, can also be obtained without charge, upon request, by calling
800.345.6611.
Additional Fund information
Fund investment manager
Columbia Wanger Asset Management, LLC
227 West Monroe, Suite 3000
Chicago, IL 60606
888.4.WANGER
(888.492.6437)
Fund distributor
Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc.
225 Franklin Street
Boston, MA 02110
Fund transfer agent
Columbia Management Investment Services Corp.
P.O. Box 8081
Boston, MA 02266-8081
Wanger
USA | Semiannual Report 2018 |
29
|
Additional information (continued)
Trustees
Laura M. Born, Chair of the
Board
David J. Rudis, Vice
Chair of the Board
Maureen M. Culhane
P. Zachary Egan
Margaret M. Eisen
Eric A. Feldstein
John C. Heaton
Charles R. Phillips
Ralph Wanger (Trustee Emeritus)
Officers
P. Zachary Egan, President
Alan G. Berkshire, Vice
President
Michael G. Clarke,
Assistant Treasurer
David L.
Frank, Vice President
Paul B.
Goucher, Assistant Secretary
Tae Han (Simon) Kim, Vice
President
John M. Kunka, Vice
President, Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer
Stephen Kusmierczak, Vice
President
Joseph C. LaPalm,
Vice President
Ryan C.
Larrenaga, Assistant Secretary
Matthew A. Litfin, Vice
President
Satoshi Matsunaga,
Vice President
Thomas P.
McGuire, Chief Compliance Officer
Louis J. Mendes, Vice President
Julian Quero, Assistant
Treasurer
Martha A. Skinner,
Assistant Treasurer
Richard Watson, Vice President
Linda K.
Roth-Wiszowaty, Secretary
Charles Young, Vice President
30
|
Wanger USA
| Semiannual Report 2018 |
[THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
Wanger USA
Through October 31, 2018:
P.O. Box 8081
Boston, MA 02266-8081
Effective November 1, 2018:
P.O. Box 219104
Kansas City, MO 64121-9104
Please read and consider the investment objectives, risks,
charges and expenses for any fund carefully before investing. For variable fund and variable contract prospectuses, which contain this and other important information, including the fees and expenses imposed under your contract, investors should
contact their financial advisor or insurance representative. Read the prospectus for the Fund and your variable contract carefully before investing. Columbia Wanger Funds are distributed by Columbia Management
Investment Distributors, Inc., member FINRA, and are managed by Columbia Wanger Asset Management, LLC.
Columbia Threadneedle Investments (Columbia Threadneedle) is
the global brand name of the Columbia and Threadneedle group of companies. All rights reserved. Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc., 225 Franklin Street, Boston, MA 02110-2804
© 2018 Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC.
SemiAnnual
Report
June 30, 2018
Wanger Select
Managed by Columbia Wanger Asset Management,
LLC
Please remember that you may not buy (nor will you own)
shares of the Fund directly. The Fund is available through variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies offered by the separate accounts of participating insurance companies as well as qualified pension and retirement plans.
Please contact your financial advisor or insurance representative for more information.
Not FDIC Insured • No bank guarantee • May lose
value
|
3
|
|
5
|
|
7
|
|
8
|
|
11
|
|
12
|
|
13
|
|
14
|
|
15
|
|
21
|
|
24
|
Wanger Select | Semiannual Report 2018
Fund at a Glance
(Unaudited)
Investment objective
Wanger Select (the Fund) seeks
long-term capital appreciation.
Portfolio
management
David L. Frank,
CFA
Portfolio
Manager since 2015
Service with
Fund since 2002
Average
annual total returns (%) (for the period ended June 30, 2018) |
|
|
Inception
|
6
Months cumulative |
1
Year |
5
Years |
10
Years |
Life
|
Wanger
Select |
02/01/99
|
6.33
|
20.50
|
13.56
|
8.94
|
10.88
|
Russell
2500 Growth Index |
|
8.04
|
21.53
|
13.87
|
11.38
|
-
|
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 most recent month-end performance updates, please visit columbiathreadneedleus.com/investor/.
Performance numbers reflect all Fund expenses but do not include
any fees and expenses imposed under your variable annuity contract or life insurance policy or qualified pension or retirement plan. If performance numbers included the effect of these additional charges, they would be lower.
The Fund’s annual operating expense ratio of 0.84% is
stated in the Fund’s prospectus dated May 1, 2018, and differences in expense ratios disclosed elsewhere in this report may result from the reflection of fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements as well as different time periods used in
calculating the ratios.
All results shown assume
reinvestment of distributions.
The Russell 2500 Growth
Index measures the performance of those Russell 2500 companies with higher price-to-book ratios and higher forecasted growth values.
Indexes are not managed and do not incur fees or expenses. It
is not possible to invest directly in an index.
Wanger
Select | Semiannual Report 2018 |
3
|
Fund at a Glance (continued)
(Unaudited)
Top
ten holdings (%) (at June 30, 2018) |
Vail
Resorts, Inc. Operates resorts globally |
5.5
|
Masimo
Corp. Medical signal processing and sensor technology for non-invasive monitoring of physiological parameters |
5.5
|
VeriSign,
Inc. Domain names and Internet security services |
5.2
|
JB
Hunt Transport Services, Inc. Logistics services |
5.1
|
ANSYS,
Inc. Software solutions for design analysis and optimization |
5.1
|
CDW
Corp. IT products and services |
4.6
|
LCI
Industries Recreational vehicles and equipment |
4.6
|
GoDaddy,
Inc., Class A Cloud-based web platform for small businesses, web design professionals and individuals |
4.5
|
Cavco
Industries, Inc. Designs and manufactures systems-built structures |
4.0
|
LKQ
Corp. Automotive products and services |
4.0
|
Percentages indicated are based
upon total investments (excluding Money Market Funds).
For further detail about these holdings, please refer to the
section entitled “Portfolio of Investments."
Fund
holdings are as of the date given, are subject to change at any time, and are not recommendations to buy or sell any security.
Portfolio
breakdown (%) (at June 30, 2018) |
Common
Stocks |
97.7
|
Money
Market Funds |
2.3
|
Total
|
100.0
|
Percentages indicated are based
upon total investments. The Fund’s portfolio composition is subject to change.
Equity
sector breakdown (%) (at June 30, 2018) |
Consumer
Discretionary |
20.6
|
Financials
|
15.6
|
Health
Care |
14.5
|
Industrials
|
16.5
|
Information
Technology |
24.5
|
Materials
|
3.3
|
Real
Estate |
5.0
|
Total
|
100.0
|
Percentages indicated are based
upon total equity investments. The Fund’s portfolio composition is subject to change.
4
|
Wanger Select
| Semiannual Report 2018 |
Manager Discussion of Fund Performance
(Unaudited)
David L. Frank, CFA
Portfolio Manager
Wanger Select returned 6.33% for the six-month period that ended June 30,
2018. The Fund’s benchmark, the Russell 2500 Growth Index, returned 8.04% for the same period. The Fund’s relative performance was aided by issue selection in the financials, information technology and health care sectors, while
selection in the consumer discretionary and industrials sectors detracted.
The year began on a positive note, with the momentum of late
2017 carrying into January 2018 amid strengthening economic growth, rising corporate earnings, and our continued optimism surrounding the tax reform package enacted in December. The rally came to an abrupt halt in early February, however, after
unexpectedly strong wage growth data sparked fears that the U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed) would feel compelled to speed up the pace of its interest rate increases. Stocks subsequently recovered as concerns about the Fed gradually abated, but the
markets retreated once again in March in reaction to escalating rhetoric around U.S. trade policy. Despite these fluctuations — which stood in marked contrast to the low volatility of 2017— broad-based U.S. stock indexes closed only
modestly lower for the first quarter of 2018.
As the
second quarter progressed, market performance was supported by the combination of robust economic growth, strong first-quarter corporate profits and rising earnings estimates for the remainder of 2018. These factors helped offset a variety of
possible headwinds, including the apparent launch of a global trade war, signs of a possible slowdown in growth overseas, and the Fed raising rates in June while signaling two more hikes by year-end. For the six months ended June 30, 2018, the U.S.
stock market as gauged by the widely followed S&P 500 Index posted a positive return of 2.65%. Within the U.S. stock market, growth and small cap stocks notably outperformed their value and large cap counterparts, respectively, over the first
half of 2018.
Overall, stock selection detracted from
the Fund’s performance relative to the benchmark for the six months ended June 30, 2018. Picks within the consumer discretionary and industrials sectors lagged, while selection was notably positive within the health care, information
technology, materials and financials sectors. Sector allocation detracted from relative performance, principally due to an underweight in information technology and an overweight in financials. An underweight in the materials sector aided
performance.
In terms of individual positions, leading
positive contributors included GoDaddy, Encompass Health and SVB Financial Group. GoDaddy is the leading provider of domain name registrations, which the company leverages to sell digital marketing solutions to its large base of customers. The stock
rose during the period driven by strong earnings results, which demonstrated GoDaddy’s ability to maintain double-digit revenue growth with solid cash flow return on invested capital. After GoDaddy reported earnings, we took advantage of the
surge in its share price to take profits by reducing the Fund’s position. Encompass Health is a leading provider of inpatient rehab, home health and hospice services primarily to Medicare patients. Consistent execution, steady market share
gains and a stabilizing reimbursement environment led to greater investor appreciation of the business. Silicon Valley-based SVB Financial Group is the premier lender for venture-capital-backed starts ups. The bank has ridden the wave of higher
funding for new technology companies, growing at over a 20% pace the past several quarters. It has also benefited from higher interest rates more than other banks due to a very high degree of variable rate loans and zero cost deposits.
The most significant detractors for the period included LCI
Industries, LKQ Corp., and Natus Medical. Shares of LCI Industries, a components supplier to RV manufacturers, sold off sharply in the first quarter of 2018 due to two factors. Investors worried that higher steel and aluminum prices, partially due
to proposed tariffs, would take time for the company to pass through to customers. There were also concerns that dealer inventories have grown too large. We believe that these materials and inventory issues will prove transitory as long as the
middle-income U.S. consumer remains in a buying mode. LKQ sells alternative and specialty repair parts and accessories to the automotive industry. The company reported disappointing quarterly results driven by higher freight and labor costs as well
as issues around ramping up a new, large distribution center. We view these issues as temporary and we
Wanger
Select | Semiannual Report 2018 |
5
|
Manager Discussion of Fund Performance (continued)
(Unaudited)
believe that LKQ is
well positioned to benefit from increased usage of its lower cost alternative parts, as it consolidates certain regional markets. Natus Medical provides newborn, neurological and audiological diagnostic equipment to hospitals and clinics. Weakening
growth across segments and poor operational execution has led to impaired earnings power that we believe is likely to persist. The Fund exited the position during the period.
U.S. trade policy disputes and interest rate concerns have
been persistent sources of market volatility in 2018. In our view, the higher volatility and greater number of economic and market divergences that have occurred on a global scale may have the potential to create good opportunities for stock
pickers. We believe an investment philosophy that favors higher quality, faster growing companies, as measured across metrics such as return on invested capital, revenue and earnings growth and superior debt ratios, can be particularly advantageous
in this environment.
While cognizant of macroeconomic
trends, our investment process takes a bottom-up approach, relying on intensive fundamental research and disciplined valuation techniques. We are focused on investing the Fund in companies with sustainable competitive advantages, entrepreneurial
management and the potential to gain market share. Our team creates and closely monitors a specific and unique investment thesis for each company in which the Fund invests. We will continue to employ our time-tested process to look for opportunities
for investors to benefit from growth in undervalued small- and mid-cap businesses.
Market risk may affect a single
issuer, sector of the economy, industry or the market as a whole. Investments in small and mid-cap companies involve risks and volatility and possible illiquidity greater than investments in larger, more
established companies. Foreign investments subject the Fund to risks, including political, economic, market, social and other risks, within a particular country, as well as to potential currency instabilities
and less stringent financial and accounting standards generally applicable to U.S. issuers. Risks are enhanced for emerging market issuers. The Fund may invest significantly in issuers within a particular
sector, which may be negatively affected by market, economic or other conditions, making the Fund more vulnerable to unfavorable developments in the sector. See the Fund’s prospectus for more
information on these and other risks.
The views
expressed in this report reflect the current views of the respective parties. 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. 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 securities should not be construed as a recommendation or investment advice.
6
|
Wanger Select
| Semiannual Report 2018 |
Understanding Your Fund’s Expenses
(Unaudited)
As a shareholder, you incur three types of costs. There are
transaction costs, which may include redemption fees. There are also ongoing costs, which generally include investment advisory fees and other expenses for Wanger Select (the Fund). 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 these 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 $1,000 = 8.6),
then multiply the results by the expenses paid during the period under the Actual column. The amount listed in the “Hypothetical” column assumes a 5% annual rate of return before expenses (which is not the Fund’s actual return) and
then applies the Fund’s actual expense ratio for the period to the hypothetical return. You should not use the hypothetical account values and expenses to estimate either your actual account balance at the end of the period or the expenses you
paid during the period. See “Compare with other funds” below for details on how to use the hypothetical data.
Compare with other funds
Since all mutual funds are required to include the same
hypothetical calculations about expenses in shareholder reports, you can use this information to compare the ongoing cost of investing in the Fund with other funds. To do so, compare the hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that
appear in the shareholder reports of other funds. As you compare hypothetical examples of other funds, it is important to note that hypothetical examples are meant to highlight the ongoing cost of investing in a fund only and do not reflect any
transaction costs, such as redemption or exchange fees. Therefore, the hypothetical calculations are useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. If transaction costs
were included in these calculations, your costs would be higher.
January
1, 2018 — June 30, 2018 |
|
Account
value at the beginning of the period ($) |
Account
value at the end of the period ($) |
Expenses
paid during the period ($) |
Fund’s
annualized expense ratio (%) |
|
Actual
|
Hypothetical
|
Actual
|
Hypothetical
|
Actual
|
Hypothetical
|
Actual
|
Wanger
Select |
1,000.00
|
1,000.00
|
1,063.30
|
1,021.19
|
3.86
|
3.78
|
0.75
|
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.
Had the investment manager and/or certain of its affiliates not
waived/reimbursed certain fees and expenses, account value at the end of the period would have been reduced. See Note 3 to the Financial Statements.
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. The hypothetical example provided is useful in
comparing ongoing costs only and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds whose shareholders may incur transaction costs.
Wanger
Select | Semiannual Report 2018 |
7
|
Portfolio of Investments
June 30, 2018 (Unaudited)
(Percentages represent value of investments compared to net
assets)
Investments in securities
Common
Stocks 97.7% |
Issuer
|
Shares
|
Value
($) |
Consumer
Discretionary 20.1% |
Auto
Components 4.5% |
LCI
Industries Recreational vehicles and equipment |
68,891
|
6,210,524
|
Distributors
3.9% |
LKQ
Corp.(a) Automotive products and services |
170,225
|
5,430,178
|
Hotels,
Restaurants & Leisure 5.4% |
Vail
Resorts, Inc. Operates resorts globally |
27,100
|
7,430,549
|
Household
Durables 3.9% |
Cavco
Industries, Inc.(a) Designs and manufactures systems-built structures |
26,191
|
5,438,561
|
Media
2.4% |
Liberty
Global PLC, Class A(a) Broadband, distribution, and content companies |
120,871
|
3,328,787
|
Total
Consumer Discretionary |
27,838,599
|
Financials
15.2% |
Banks
3.9% |
SVB
Financial Group(a) Holding company for Silicon Valley Bank |
18,786
|
5,424,645
|
Capital
Markets 8.5% |
Ares
Management LP Asset management firm |
133,343
|
2,760,200
|
Eaton
Vance Corp. Creates, markets, and manages mutual funds |
98,588
|
5,145,308
|
Lazard
Ltd., Class A Corporate Advisory & Asset Management |
77,222
|
3,776,928
|
Total
|
|
11,682,436
|
Consumer
Finance 2.8% |
FirstCash,
Inc. Owns and operates pawn stores |
43,694
|
3,925,906
|
Total
Financials |
21,032,987
|
Common
Stocks (continued) |
Issuer
|
Shares
|
Value
($) |
Health
Care 14.2% |
Biotechnology
4.1% |
Genomic
Health, Inc.(a) Development and commercialization of genomic-based clinical diagnostic tests for cancer
|
74,712
|
3,765,485
|
Ultragenyx
Pharmaceutical, Inc.(a) Therapeutics and sialic acid for treating metabolic, body myopathy, glucuronidase, and rare
genetic diseases |
24,422
|
1,877,319
|
Total
|
|
5,642,804
|
Health
Care Equipment & Supplies 6.2% |
Anika
Therapeutics, Inc.(a) Integrated orthopedic medicines company |
36,100
|
1,155,200
|
Masimo
Corp.(a) Medical signal processing and sensor technology for non-invasive monitoring of physiological
parameters |
76,030
|
7,424,329
|
Total
|
|
8,579,529
|
Health
Care Providers & Services 3.9% |
Encompass
Health Corp. Inpatient rehabilitative healthcare services |
79,587
|
5,389,632
|
Total
Health Care |
19,611,965
|
Industrials
16.1% |
Machinery
6.4% |
Nordson
Corp. Systems that apply adhesives, sealants, and coatings to products during manufacturing |
31,723
|
4,073,550
|
Oshkosh
Corp. Fire and emergency apparatuses and specialty commercial, and military trucks |
67,083
|
4,717,277
|
Total
|
|
8,790,827
|
Professional
Services 1.1% |
Wageworks,
Inc.(a) Tax-advantaged programs for consumer-directed health, commuter, and other employee spending account
benefits |
31,776
|
1,588,800
|
Road
& Rail 5.0% |
JB
Hunt Transport Services, Inc. Logistics services |
56,352
|
6,849,586
|
Trading
Companies & Distributors 3.6% |
SiteOne
Landscape Supply, Inc.(a) Landscape supplies |
59,557
|
5,001,001
|
Total
Industrials |
22,230,214
|
The accompanying Notes to Financial Statements are an integral part
of this statement.
8
|
Wanger Select
| Semiannual Report 2018 |
Portfolio of Investments (continued)
June 30, 2018 (Unaudited)
Common
Stocks (continued) |
Issuer
|
Shares
|
Value
($) |
Information
Technology 23.9% |
Electronic
Equipment, Instruments & Components 6.1% |
CDW
Corp. IT products and services |
77,514
|
6,262,356
|
Coherent,
Inc.(a) Laser-based photonic products |
14,031
|
2,194,729
|
Total
|
|
8,457,085
|
Internet
Software & Services 12.0% |
GoDaddy,
Inc., Class A(a) Cloud-based web platform for small businesses, web design professionals and individuals
|
85,700
|
6,050,420
|
SPS
Commerce, Inc.(a) On-demand supply chain management solutions through an online hosted software suite |
46,363
|
3,406,754
|
VeriSign,
Inc.(a) Domain names and Internet security services |
51,360
|
7,057,891
|
Total
|
|
16,515,065
|
IT
Services 0.9% |
GreenSky,
Inc., Class A(a) Technology company |
56,456
|
1,194,044
|
Software
4.9% |
ANSYS,
Inc.(a) Software solutions for design analysis and optimization |
39,162
|
6,821,237
|
Total
Information Technology |
32,987,431
|
Materials
3.3% |
Chemicals
3.3% |
Celanese
Corp., Class A Global integrated producer of chemicals and advanced materials |
40,555
|
4,504,038
|
Total
Materials |
4,504,038
|
Common
Stocks (continued) |
Issuer
|
Shares
|
Value
($) |
Real
Estate 4.9% |
Equity
Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITS) 4.9% |
Coresite
Realty Corp. Develops, owns & operates data centers |
42,329
|
4,690,900
|
UMH
Properties, Inc. Real estate investment trust |
134,338
|
2,062,088
|
Total
|
|
6,752,988
|
Total
Real Estate |
6,752,988
|
Total
Common Stocks (Cost: $99,734,357) |
134,958,222
|
|
Money
Market Funds 2.3% |
|
Shares
|
Value
($) |
JPMorgan
U.S. Government Money Market Fund, IM Shares, 1.819%(b) |
3,163,943
|
3,163,943
|
Total
Money Market Funds (Cost: $3,163,943) |
3,163,943
|
Total
Investments in Securities (Cost $102,898,300) |
138,122,165
|
Other
Assets & Liabilities, Net |
|
(22,508)
|
Net
Assets |
$138,099,657
|
Notes to Portfolio of Investments
(a)
|
Non-income
producing security. |
(b)
|
The rate
shown is the seven-day current annualized yield at June 30, 2018. |
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.
The accompanying Notes to Financial Statements are an integral part of this
statement.
Wanger
Select | Semiannual Report 2018 |
9
|
Portfolio of Investments (continued)
June 30, 2018 (Unaudited)
Fair value
measurements (continued)
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 net asset values 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 Columbia Wanger Asset Management’s Valuation Committee (the
Committee) 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.
The Committee is responsible for applying the Wanger Advisors
Trust Portfolio Pricing Policy and the Columbia Wanger Asset Management pricing procedures (the Policies), which are approved by and subject to the oversight of the Board of Trustees.
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 Columbia Wanger Asset Management believes that available market quotations are unreliable. The Committee also reviews the
continuing appropriateness of the Policies. In circumstances where a security has been fair valued, the Committee will also review the continuing appropriateness of the current value of the security. 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; circumstances under which
securities will be deemed to pose a potential for stale pricing, including when securities are illiquid, restricted, or in default; and certain delegations of authority to determine fair values to the Fund’s investment manager. 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 Fund’s 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 is a summary of the inputs used to value the
Fund’s investments at June 30, 2018:
|
Level
1 quoted prices in active markets for identical assets ($) |
Level
2 other significant observable inputs ($) |
Level
3 significant unobservable inputs ($) |
Total
($) |
Investments
in Securities |
|
|
|
|
Common
Stocks |
|
|
|
|
Consumer
Discretionary |
27,838,599
|
—
|
—
|
27,838,599
|
Financials
|
21,032,987
|
—
|
—
|
21,032,987
|
Health
Care |
19,611,965
|
—
|
—
|
19,611,965
|
Industrials
|
22,230,214
|
—
|
—
|
22,230,214
|
Information
Technology |
32,987,431
|
—
|
—
|
32,987,431
|
Materials
|
4,504,038
|
—
|
—
|
4,504,038
|
Real
Estate |
6,752,988
|
—
|
—
|
6,752,988
|
Total
Common Stocks |
134,958,222
|
—
|
—
|
134,958,222
|
Money
Market Funds |
3,163,943
|
—
|
—
|
3,163,943
|
Total
Investments in Securities |
138,122,165
|
—
|
—
|
138,122,165
|
There were no transfers of financial
assets between levels during the period.
The accompanying Notes to Financial Statements are an integral part of this
statement.
10
|
Wanger Select
| Semiannual Report 2018 |
Statement of Assets and Liabilities
June 30, 2018 (Unaudited)
Assets
|
|
Investments
in securities, at value |
|
Unaffiliated
issuers (cost $102,898,300) |
$138,122,165
|
Receivable
for: |
|
Investments
sold |
614,936
|
Capital
shares sold |
1,501
|
Dividends
|
103,333
|
Prepaid
expenses |
1,008
|
Total
assets |
138,842,943
|
Liabilities
|
|
Payable
for: |
|
Investments
purchased |
563,307
|
Capital
shares purchased |
83,274
|
Investment
advisory fee |
2,269
|
Administration
fees |
189
|
Trustees’
fees |
45,548
|
Other
expenses |
48,699
|
Total
liabilities |
743,286
|
Net
assets applicable to outstanding capital stock |
$138,099,657
|
Represented
by |
|
Paid
in capital |
95,195,603
|
Undistributed
net investment income |
312,746
|
Accumulated
net realized gain |
7,367,443
|
Unrealized
appreciation (depreciation) on: |
|
Investments
- unaffiliated issuers |
35,223,865
|
Total
- representing net assets applicable to outstanding capital stock |
$138,099,657
|
Shares
outstanding |
6,955,554
|
Net
asset value per share |
19.85
|
The accompanying Notes to Financial Statements are an integral part of this
statement.
Wanger
Select | Semiannual Report 2018 |
11
|
Statement of Operations
Six Months Ended June 30, 2018 (Unaudited)
Net
investment income |
|
Income:
|
|
Dividends
— unaffiliated issuers |
$862,722
|
Income
from securities lending — net |
758
|
Total
income |
863,480
|
Expenses:
|
|
Investment
advisory fee |
553,933
|
Service
fees |
103,498
|
Administration
fees |
34,621
|
Trustees’
fees |
7,449
|
Custodian
fees |
1,930
|
Printing
and postage fees |
23,052
|
Audit
fees |
14,666
|
Legal
fees |
10,819
|
Compensation
of chief compliance officer |
224
|
Other
|
10,212
|
Total
expenses |
760,404
|
Fees
waived by transfer agent |
(103,498)
|
Advisory
fee waiver |
(138,483)
|
Total
net expenses |
518,423
|
Net
investment income |
345,057
|
Realized
and unrealized gain (loss) — net |
|
Net
realized gain (loss) on: |
|
Investments
— unaffiliated issuers |
7,500,141
|
Net
realized gain |
7,500,141
|
Net
change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on: |
|
Investments
— unaffiliated issuers |
660,115
|
Net
change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) |
660,115
|
Net
realized and unrealized gain |
8,160,256
|
Net
increase in net assets resulting from operations |
$8,505,313
|
The accompanying Notes to Financial Statements are an
integral part of this statement.
12
|
Wanger Select
| Semiannual Report 2018 |
Statement of Changes in Net Assets
|
Six
Months Ended June 30, 2018 (Unaudited) |
Year
Ended December 31, 2017 |
Operations
|
|
|
Net
investment income |
$345,057
|
$247,316
|
Net
realized gain |
7,500,141
|
15,047,757
|
Net
change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) |
660,115
|
15,936,463
|
Net
increase in net assets resulting from operations |
8,505,313
|
31,231,536
|
Distributions
to shareholders |
|
|
Net
investment income |
—
|
(229,911)
|
Net
realized gains |
(15,021,272)
|
(17,779,427)
|
Total
distributions to shareholders |
(15,021,272)
|
(18,009,338)
|
Increase
in net assets from capital stock activity |
3,402,643
|
2,491,048
|
Total
increase (decrease) in net assets |
(3,113,316)
|
15,713,246
|
Net
assets at beginning of period |
141,212,973
|
125,499,727
|
Net
assets at end of period |
$138,099,657
|
$141,212,973
|
Undistributed
(excess of distributions over) net investment income |
$312,746
|
$(32,311)
|
|
Six
Months Ended |
Year
Ended |
|
June
30, 2018 (Unaudited) |
December
31, 2017 |
|
Shares
|
Dollars
($) |
Shares
|
Dollars
($) |
Capital
stock activity |
|
|
|
|
|
Subscriptions
|
133,830
|
2,853,107
|
229,255
|
4,453,222
|
Distributions
reinvested |
727,070
|
15,021,272
|
990,881
|
18,009,338
|
Redemptions
|
(679,806)
|
(14,471,736)
|
(1,016,605)
|
(19,971,512)
|
Total
net increase |
181,094
|
3,402,643
|
203,531
|
2,491,048
|
The accompanying Notes to Financial Statements are an integral part of this
statement.
Wanger
Select | Semiannual Report 2018 |
13
|
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, if any. Total return does not reflect payment of the expenses that apply to the variable accounts or contract charges, if
any. Total return and portfolio turnover are not annualized for periods of less than one year. The portfolio turnover rate is calculated without regard to purchase and sales transactions of short-term instruments and certain derivatives, if any. If
such transactions were included, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate may be higher.
|
Six
Months Ended June 30, 2018 (Unaudited) |
Year
Ended December 31, |
2017
|
2016
|
2015
|
2014
|
2013
|
Per
share data |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
asset value, beginning of period |
$20.84
|
$19.10
|
$24.18
|
$32.99
|
$36.41
|
$27.54
|
Income
from investment operations: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
investment income (loss) |
0.05
|
0.04
|
0.03
|
(0.02)
|
(0.07)
|
(0.05)
|
Net
realized and unrealized gain |
1.36
|
4.62
|
2.48
|
0.69
|
1.07
|
9.46
|
Total
from investment operations |
1.41
|
4.66
|
2.51
|
0.67
|
1.00
|
9.41
|
Less
distributions to shareholders from: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
investment income |
—
|
(0.03)
|
(0.03)
|
(0.00)
(a) |
—
|
(0.09)
|
Net
realized gains |
(2.40)
|
(2.89)
|
(7.56)
|
(9.48)
|
(4.42)
|
(0.45)
|
Total
distributions to shareholders |
(2.40)
|
(2.92)
|
(7.59)
|
(9.48)
|
(4.42)
|
(0.54)
|
Net
asset value, end of period |
$19.85
|
$20.84
|
$19.10
|
$24.18
|
$32.99
|
$36.41
|
Total
return |
6.33%
(b) |
26.67%
(b) |
13.31%
(b) |
0.26%
(b) |
3.17%
|
34.58%
|
Ratios
to average net assets |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
gross expenses(c) |
1.10%
(d) |
1.05%
|
0.93%
(e) |
0.98%
|
0.93%
(f) |
0.93%
|
Total
net expenses(c) |
0.75%
(d) |
0.77%
|
0.73%
(e) |
0.85%
|
0.93%
(f) |
0.93%
|
Net
investment income (loss) |
0.50%
(d) |
0.19%
|
0.17%
|
(0.06)%
|
(0.20)%
|
(0.15)%
|
Supplemental
data |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Portfolio
turnover |
33%
|
52%
|
93%
|
59%
|
18%
|
24%
|
Net
assets, end of period (in thousands) |
$138,100
|
$141,213
|
$125,500
|
$135,841
|
$191,647
|
$257,911
|
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)
|
In
addition to the fees and expenses that the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of any other funds in which it invests, if any. Such indirect expenses are not included in the Fund’s reported
expense ratios. |
(d)
|
Annualized.
|
(e)
|
Expenses
have been reduced due to a reimbursement of expenses overbilled by a third party. If the reimbursement had been excluded, the expense ratios would have been higher by 0.03%. All fee waivers and expense reimbursements by the Investment Manager and
its affiliates were applied before giving effect to this third party reimbursement. |
(f)
|
Ratios
include line of credit interest expense which is less than 0.01%. |
The accompanying Notes to Financial Statements are an integral part of this
statement.
14
|
Wanger Select
| Semiannual Report 2018 |
Notes to Financial Statements
June 30, 2018 (Unaudited)
Note 1. Organization
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.
Note 2. Summary of significant accounting
policies
Basis of preparation
The Fund is an investment company that applies the accounting
and reporting guidance in the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946, Financial Services - Investment Companies (ASC 946). The financial statements are prepared
in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), which 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 income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
The following is a summary of significant accounting policies
followed by the Fund in the preparation of its financial statements.
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. 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. Exchange-traded funds are valued at their closing net asset value as reported on the applicable exchange. A
security for which there is no reported sale on the valuation date is valued by comparison of the mean of the latest bid and ask quotations.
Foreign equity securities are generally valued based on the
closing price on the foreign exchange in which such securities are primarily traded. If any foreign equity security closing prices are not readily available, the securities are valued at the mean of the latest quoted bid and ask prices on such
exchanges or markets. Foreign currency exchange rates are generally determined at 4:00 p.m. Eastern (U.S.) time. Many securities markets and exchanges outside the U.S. close prior to the close of the New York Stock Exchange; therefore, the closing
prices for securities in such markets or on such exchanges may not fully reflect events that occur after such close but before the close of the New York Stock Exchange. In situations where foreign markets are closed, where a significant event has
occurred after the foreign exchange closes but before the time at which the Fund’s share price is calculated, and in the event of significant movement in the trigger index for the statistical fair valuation process established by the Board of
Trustees, foreign securities will be fair valued pursuant to a policy adopted by the Board of Trustees. 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.
Short-term investments maturing in 60 days or less are valued
at amortized cost, which approximates market value.
Wanger
Select | Semiannual Report 2018 |
15
|
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
June 30, 2018 (Unaudited)
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 on each day the New York Stock 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.
GAAP requires disclosure regarding the inputs and valuation
techniques used to measure fair value and any changes in valuation inputs or techniques. In addition, investments shall be disclosed by major category. This information is disclosed following the Fund’s Portfolio of Investments.
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 the economic equivalent 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. The income earned from the securities lending program 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) or the Investment Manager, 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, 2018, is included in the Statement of Operations.
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.
Income recognition
Corporate actions and dividend income are generally recorded
net of any non-reclaimable tax withholdings, on the ex-dividend date or upon receipt of ex-dividend notification in the case of certain foreign securities.
The Fund may receive distributions from holdings in equity
securities, exchange traded funds (ETFs), limited partnerships (LPs), other regulated investment companies (RICs), and real estate investment trusts (REITs), which report information on the tax character of their distributions annually. These
distributions are allocated to dividend income, capital gain and return of capital based on actual information reported. Return of capital is recorded as a reduction of the cost basis of securities held. If the Fund no longer owns the applicable
securities, return of capital is recorded as a realized gain. With respect to REITs, to the extent actual information has not yet been reported, estimates for return of capital may be made by the Fund’s management. Management’s estimates
are subsequently adjusted when the actual character of the distributions is disclosed by the REITs, which could result in a proportionate change in return of capital to shareholders.
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.
16
|
Wanger Select
| Semiannual Report 2018 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
June 30, 2018 (Unaudited)
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.
Federal income tax status
The Fund intends to comply with the provisions of the Internal
Revenue Code available to regulated investment companies and, in the manner provided therein, intends to distribute 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. The Fund meets the exception under Internal Revenue Code Section 4982(f) and the Fund expects not to be
subject to federal excise tax.
Distributions to
shareholders
Distributions to shareholders are recorded
on the ex-dividend date.
Guarantees and
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.
Recent accounting pronouncement
Accounting Standards Update 2017-08 Premium Amortization on
Purchased Callable Debt Securities
In March 2017, the
Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2017-08 Premium Amortization on Purchased Callable Debt Securities. ASU No. 2017-08 updates the accounting standards to shorten the amortization period for certain
purchased callable debt securities, held at a premium, to be amortized to the earliest call date. The update applies to securities with explicit, noncontingent call features that are callable at fixed prices and on preset dates. The standard is
effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018 and interim periods within those fiscal years. At this time, management is evaluating the implication of this guidance and the impact it will have on the financial statement amounts and
footnote disclosures, if any.
Note 3. Fees and
other transactions with affiliates
Management services
fees
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
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%
|
Through April 30, 2019, CWAM has
contractually agreed to waive 0.20% of the advisory fee otherwise payable to it by the Fund. When determining whether the Fund’s total expenses exceed the contractual expense cap described below, the Fund’s net advisory fee, reflecting
application of the 0.20% waiver, will be used to calculate the Fund’s total expenses. This arrangement may only be modified or amended with approval from the Fund and CWAM.
Wanger
Select | Semiannual Report 2018 |
17
|
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
June 30, 2018 (Unaudited)
For
the six months ended June 30, 2018, the annualized effective investment advisory fee rate, net of fee waivers, was 0.60% of the Fund’s average daily net assets.
Administration fees
CWAM provides administrative services and receives an
administration fee from the Fund at the following annual rates:
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,
2018, the annualized effective administration fee rate was 0.05% of the Fund’s average daily net assets. CWAM has delegated to Columbia Management responsibility to provide certain sub-administrative services to the Fund.
Compensation of board members
Certain officers and trustees of the Trust are also officers
of CWAM or Columbia Management. The Trust makes no direct payments to its officers and trustees who are affiliated with CWAM or Columbia Management. 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 Institutional Class 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.
Compensation of Chief Compliance Officer
The Board of Trustees has appointed a Chief Compliance Officer
to the Fund in accordance with federal securities regulations. As disclosed in the Statement of Operations, a portion of the Chief Compliance Officer’s total compensation is allocated to the Fund, along with other allocations to affiliated
funds governed by the Board of Trustees, based on relative net assets.
Service fees
Pursuant to the Transfer, Dividend Disbursing and Shareholder
Servicing Agreement between the Fund and Columbia Management Investment Services Corp. (the Transfer Agent), an affiliate of the Investment Manager and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ameriprise Financial, the Fund bears a service fee paid to the
Transfer Agent to compensate it for amounts paid to Participating Insurance Companies and other financial intermediaries (together, Participating Organizations) for various sub-transfer agency and other shareholder services each Participating
Organization provides to its clients, customers and participants that are invested directly or indirectly in the Fund, up to a cap approved by the Board of Trustees from time to time.
The Transfer Agent may retain as compensation for its services
revenues from fees for wire, telephone and redemption orders, account transcripts due the Transfer Agent from Fund shareholders and interest (net of bank charges) earned with respect to balances in accounts the Transfer Agent maintains in connection
with its services to the Fund.
Effective July 1, 2018
through June 30, 2019, the Transfer Agent has contractually agreed to waive a portion of the service fee payable by the Fund such that the annual service fee paid by the Fund does not exceed 0.07% of the Fund’s average daily net assets, unless
sooner terminated at the sole discretion of the Board of Trustees. Prior to July 1, 2018, the Transfer Agent had contractually agreed to waive a portion of the service fee payable by the Fund such that the annual service fee paid by the Fund did not
exceed 0.00% of the Fund’s average daily net assets.
18
|
Wanger Select
| Semiannual Report 2018 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
June 30, 2018 (Unaudited)
Distributor
Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc., a wholly
owned subsidiary of Ameriprise Financial, serves as the Fund’s distributor and principal underwriter.
Other expenses waived/reimbursed by the Investment Manager and
its affiliates
Through April 30, 2018, CWAM had
contractually agreed to bear a portion of the Fund’s expenses so that its ordinary operating expenses (excluding transaction costs and certain other investment-related expenses, interest and fees on borrowings and expenses associated with the
Fund’s investment in other investment companies, if any), after giving effect to any balance credits from the Fund’s custodian, did not exceed the annual rate of 1.35% of the Fund’s average daily net assets.
Note 4. 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 because of temporary or permanent book to tax differences.
At June 30, 2018, the approximate cost of all investments for
federal income tax purposes and the aggregate gross approximate unrealized appreciation and depreciation based on that cost was:
Federal
tax cost ($) |
Gross
unrealized appreciation ($) |
Gross
unrealized (depreciation) ($) |
Net
unrealized appreciation ($) |
102,898,000
|
37,190,000
|
(1,966,000)
|
35,224,000
|
Tax cost of investments and
unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) may also include timing differences that do not constitute adjustments to tax basis.
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 in the Fund 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.
Note 5. Portfolio information
The aggregate cost of purchases and proceeds from sales
other than short-term obligations for the six months ended June 30, 2018, were $44,281,781 and $55,873,745, respectively. The amount of purchase and sales activity impacts the portfolio turnover rate reported in the Financial Highlights.
Note 6. Line of credit
The Fund has access to a revolving credit facility with a
syndicate of banks led by Citibank, N.A., HSBC Bank USA, N.A. and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. whereby the Fund may borrow for the temporary funding of shareholder redemptions or for other temporary or emergency purposes. The credit facility, which is
a collective agreement between the Fund and certain other funds managed by the Investment Manager, severally and not jointly, permits collective borrowings up to $1 billion. Interest is charged to each participating fund based on its borrowings at a
rate equal to the higher of (i) the overnight federal funds rate plus 1.00% or (ii) the one-month LIBOR rate plus 1.00%. Each borrowing under the credit facility matures no later than 60 days after the date of borrowing. The Fund also pays a
commitment fee equal to its pro rata share of the amount of the credit facility at a rate of 0.15% per annum. The commitment fee is included in other expenses in the Statement of Operations.
The Fund had no borrowings during the six months ended June
30, 2018.
Wanger
Select | Semiannual Report 2018 |
19
|
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
June 30, 2018 (Unaudited)
Note 7. Significant risks
Consumer discretionary sector risk
The Fund may be more susceptible to the particular risks that
may affect companies in the consumer discretionary sector than if it were invested in a wider variety of companies in unrelated sectors. Companies in the consumer discretionary sector are subject to certain risks, including fluctuations in the
performance of the overall domestic and international economy, interest rate changes, increased competition and consumer confidence. Performance of such companies may be affected by factors including reduced disposable household income, reduced
consumer spending, changing demographics and consumer tastes.
Shareholder concentration risk
At June 30, 2018, two unaffiliated shareholders of record
owned 89.2% of the outstanding shares of the Fund in one or more accounts. The Fund has no knowledge about whether any portion of those shares was owned beneficially. Subscription and redemption activity by concentrated accounts may have a
significant effect on the operations of the Fund. In the case of a large redemption, the Fund may be forced to sell investments at inopportune times, including its liquid positions, which may result in Fund losses and the Fund holding a higher
percentage of less liquid positions. Large redemptions could result in decreased economies of scale and increased operating expenses for non-redeeming Fund shareholders.
Technology and technology-related investment risk
The Fund may be more susceptible to the particular risks that
may affect companies in the information technology sector, as well as other technology-related sectors (collectively, the technology sectors) than if it were invested in a wider variety of companies in unrelated sectors. Companies in the technology
sectors are subject to certain risks, including the risk that new services, equipment or technologies will not be accepted by consumers and businesses or will become rapidly obsolete. Performance of such companies may be affected by factors
including obtaining and protecting patents (or the failure to do so) and significant competitive pressures, including aggressive pricing of their products or services, new market entrants, competition for market share and short product cycles due to
an accelerated rate of technological developments. Such competitive pressures may lead to limited earnings and/or falling profit margins. As a result, the value of their securities may fall or fail to rise. In addition, many technology sector
companies have limited operating histories and prices of these companies’ securities historically have been more volatile than other securities, especially over the short term.
Note 8. 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.
Note 9. 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 Fund is not currently the subject of, and that neither Ameriprise Financial nor any of its affiliates are the subject of, any pending legal, arbitration or regulatory proceedings that are
likely to have a material adverse effect on the Fund or the ability of Ameriprise Financial or its affiliates to perform under their contracts with the Fund. Ameriprise Financial is required to make quarterly (10-Q), annual (10-K) and, as necessary,
8-K filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on legal and regulatory matters that relate to Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates. Copies of these filings may be obtained by accessing the SEC website at 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 Fund. Further, although we believe proceedings are not likely to have a material adverse effect on the
Fund or the ability of Ameriprise Financial or its affiliates to perform under their contracts with the Fund, 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 Select
| Semiannual Report 2018 |
Board Consideration and Approval of Advisory
Agreement
Wanger
Advisors Trust (the "Trust") has an investment advisory agreement (the "Advisory Agreement") with Columbia Wanger Asset Management, LLC ("CWAM") under which CWAM 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 "Contract 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 Contract 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 CWAM investment personnel (as does
the Board’s Investment Performance Analysis Committee (the "Performance Committee")), and receives monthly reports from CWAM on the performance of the Fund.
In connection with their most recent consideration of the
Advisory Agreement for the Fund, the Contract Committee and all Trustees received and reviewed a substantial amount of information provided by CWAM, Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC ("Columbia Management") and the parent of CWAM and
Columbia Management, Ameriprise Financial, Inc. ("Ameriprise") in response to written requests from the Independent Trustees and their independent legal counsel. Throughout the process, the Trustees had numerous opportunities to ask questions of and
request additional materials from CWAM, Columbia Management and Ameriprise.
During each meeting at which the Contract Committee or the
Independent Trustees considered the Advisory Agreement, they met in at least one executive session with their independent legal counsel. The Contract Committee also met with representatives of CWAM, Columbia Management and Ameriprise on several
occasions. In all, the Contract Committee convened formally on five 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 Contract
Committee’s status reports, receive presentations from CWAM, Columbia Management and Ameriprise representatives, and/or to discuss outstanding issues. In addition, the Performance Committee, also comprised exclusively of Independent Trustees,
reviewed the performance of the Fund, met in joint meetings with the Contract Committee, and reported to the Board and/or the Contract Committee throughout the year. The chair of the Compliance Committee of the Board (the "Compliance Committee")
made available relevant information with respect to matters within the realm of its oversight responsibilities.
The materials reviewed by the Contract Committee and the
Trustees included, among other items: (i) information on the investment performance of the Fund relative to an independently selected peer group of funds and the Fund’s performance benchmark over various time periods, as presented and analyzed
by an independent consultant; (ii) information on the Fund’s advisory fees and other expenses, including information comparing the Fund’s fees and expenses to those of a peer group 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 CWAM and Ameriprise, as well as potential "fall-out" or ancillary benefits that CWAM and its affiliates may receive as
a result of their relationships with the Fund. The Contract Committee and the Board also considered other information such as: (i) CWAM’s financial condition; (ii) the Fund’s investment objective and strategy; (iii) the size, education,
experience and resources of CWAM’s investment staff and its use of technology, external research and trading cost measurement tools and level of resources devoted to the Fund; (iv) turnover of investment management personnel; (v) the portfolio
manager compensation framework; (vi) the allocation of the Fund’s brokerage, and the use of "soft" commission dollars to pay for research products and services; (vii) CWAM’s risk management program; (viii) 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 and procedures; and (ix) CWAM’s and its affiliates’ conflicts of
interest.
At a meeting held on June 12, 2018, the Board
considered and 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.
Wanger
Select | Semiannual Report 2018 |
21
|
Board Consideration and Approval of Advisory
Agreement (continued)
Nature, quality and extent of services
The Trustees reviewed the nature, quality and extent of the
services provided by CWAM 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 CWAM and its affiliates, especially those providing investment management services to the Fund. The Trustees also considered other
services provided to the Fund by CWAM 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; 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 also noted the quality of CWAM’s compliance record.
The Trustees took into account the changes made by CWAM in the
past year to improve Fund performance. This included but was not limited to: the continued addition of more systematic and quantitative tools and risk-based analyses into the portfolio and construction management process; the significant reduction
in the number of Fund holdings since 2015 and increased concentration of the portfolio in fewer high conviction names; and certain analyst changes.
The Trustees concluded that the nature, quality and extent of
the services provided by CWAM 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 CWAM. They also concluded that CWAM
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. The Trustees also considered that
Ameriprise had previously committed to the Board that CWAM would have sufficient investment management resources to continue to improve performance, including but not limited to resources to continue hiring additional analysts and other investment
and operational personnel. The Trustees therefore believed that CWAM would have sufficient resources to attract and retain personnel as necessary to improve performance.
Performance of the Fund
The Trustees reviewed information comparing the Fund’s
performance with that of its primary benchmark and with the performance of comparable peer funds as identified by Broadridge. The Trustees evaluated the performance and risk characteristics of the Fund over various time periods, which showed that
the Fund had outperformed against its peer group median for the one-, three- and five-year periods ended December 31, 2017. They also considered more recent Fund performance. The Trustees took into account that for the one-year period ended April
30, 2018, the Fund had achieved above median peer performance and had outperformed its primary benchmark, which they believed indicated that CWAM’s performance remediation efforts, including the additional management resources provided to the
Fund over the past two years, were having a positive impact.
The Trustees concluded that CWAM had taken and continued to
take a number of corrective steps to improve the Fund’s performance, although it would take some time to determine their effectiveness, and that the Performance Committee was monitoring the Fund’s performance closely. In addition, the
Trustees considered that CWAM’s Chief Investment Officer and Director of Research (U.S.) had each reported to them at numerous Contract Committee, Performance Committee and Board meetings on the corrective steps being taken to improve the
Fund’s performance.
Costs of services and
profits realized by CWAM
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 Broadridge. The Trustees noted that the Fund’s net expenses were lower than the
median of its Broadridge peer group, and that the actual advisory fees paid by the Fund were lower than its peer group median. The Trustees considered that the Fund’s advisory fees were generally comparable to Columbia Acorn Select’s
advisory fees at the same asset levels.
22
|
Wanger Select
| Semiannual Report 2018 |
Board Consideration and Approval of Advisory
Agreement (continued)
The Trustees considered that CWAM did not manage other
investment companies as a sub-adviser or other institutional separate accounts that had investment strategies similar to the Fund.
The Trustees reviewed the analysis of CWAM’s
profitability in serving as the Fund’s investment manager and of CWAM and its affiliates in their other service provider relationships with the Fund. The Contract Committee and the Board 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 reviewed the methodology used by CWAM
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 a third-party consultant, Strategic Insight,
which compared CWAM’s profitability to other similar investment managers in the mutual fund industry. 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. The Trustees evaluated CWAM’s profitability in light of the resources that had been, and would continue to be, provided to the Fund by
Ameriprise to assist in improving Fund performance.
Economies of scale
At various Committee and Board meetings and other informal
meetings, the Trustees considered information about the extent to which CWAM realized economies of scale in connection with an increase in Fund assets. The Trustees noted that the advisory fee schedule for the Fund included breakpoints in the rate
of fees at various asset levels. In evaluating whether CWAM was sharing economies of scale with Fund shareholders, the Trustees also took into account the fee waivers/reimbursements and expense caps that CWAM had agreed to for Wanger Select for
2017, 2018 and 2019. The Trustees concluded that the fee structure of the Advisory Agreement for the Fund reflected a sharing of economies of scale between CWAM and the Fund.
Other benefits to CWAM
The Trustees also reviewed benefits that accrued to CWAM and
its affiliates from their relationships with the Fund, based upon information provided to them by Ameriprise. They noted that the Fund’s transfer agency services were performed by Columbia Management Investment Services Corp., an affiliate of
Ameriprise, which received compensation from the Fund for its transfer agent services. They considered that another affiliate of Ameriprise, Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc., served as the Fund’s distributor under an
underwriting agreement but received no fees for its services to the Fund. In addition, they considered that Columbia Management provided sub-administration services to the Fund. The Contract Committee and the Board received information regarding the
profitability of these Fund agreements to the CWAM affiliates and also reviewed information about and discussed the capabilities of each affiliated entity in performing its respective duties.
The Trustees considered other ways that the Fund and CWAM
might potentially benefit from their relationship with each other. For example, the Trustees considered CWAM’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 CWAM. They noted that the Compliance Committee reviewed CWAM’s annual "soft dollar" report during the year and met with representatives from CWAM to review CWAM’s soft dollar spending. The Trustees also
considered that the Compliance Committee regularly reviewed third-party prepared reports that evaluated the quality of CWAM’s execution of the Fund’s portfolio transactions. The Trustees determined that CWAM’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 CWAM benefitted 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 CWAM’s receipt of those products and services as well as research products and services acquired through commissions paid by other
clients of CWAM.
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 advisory fees were reasonable and that the continuation of the
Advisory Agreement was in the best interest of the Fund. At the Board meeting held on June 12, 2018, the Trustees approved continuation of the Advisory Agreement for the Fund through July 31, 2019.
Wanger
Select | Semiannual Report 2018 |
23
|
Proxy
voting policies and procedures
The policy of the Board
of Trustees is to vote the proxies of the companies in which the Fund holds investments consistent with the procedures as stated in the Statement of Additional Information (SAI). You may obtain a copy of the SAI without charge by calling
800.345.6611; contacting your financial intermediary or searching the website of the SEC at sec.gov. Information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities is filed with the SEC by August 31st for the most recent 12-month
period ending June 30th of that year, and is available without charge by visiting columbiathreadneedleus.com/investor/, or searching the website of the SEC at sec.gov.
Quarterly schedule of investments
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 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 Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling 800.SEC.0330. The Fund’s complete schedule of portfolio holdings, as filed on Form N-Q, can also be obtained without charge, upon request, by calling
800.345.6611.
Additional Fund information
Fund investment manager
Columbia Wanger Asset Management, LLC
227 West Monroe, Suite 3000
Chicago, IL 60606
888.4.WANGER
(888.492.6437)
Fund distributor
Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc.
225 Franklin Street
Boston, MA 02110
Fund transfer agent
Columbia Management Investment Services Corp.
P.O. Box 8081
Boston, MA 02266-8081
24
|
Wanger Select
| Semiannual Report 2018 |
Additional information (continued)
Trustees
Laura M. Born, Chair of the
Board
David J. Rudis, Vice
Chair of the Board
Maureen M. Culhane
P. Zachary Egan
Margaret M. Eisen
Eric A. Feldstein
John C. Heaton
Charles R. Phillips
Ralph Wanger (Trustee Emeritus)
Officers
P. Zachary Egan, President
Alan G. Berkshire, Vice
President
Michael G. Clarke,
Assistant Treasurer
David L.
Frank, Vice President
Paul B.
Goucher, Assistant Secretary
Tae Han (Simon) Kim, Vice
President
John M. Kunka, Vice
President, Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer
Stephen Kusmierczak, Vice
President
Joseph C. LaPalm,
Vice President
Ryan C.
Larrenaga, Assistant Secretary
Matthew A. Litfin, Vice
President
Satoshi Matsunaga,
Vice President
Thomas P.
McGuire, Chief Compliance Officer
Louis J. Mendes, Vice President
Julian Quero, Assistant
Treasurer
Martha A. Skinner,
Assistant Treasurer
Richard Watson, Vice President
Linda K.
Roth-Wiszowaty, Secretary
Charles Young, Vice President
Wanger
Select | Semiannual Report 2018 |
25
|
[THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
[THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
Wanger Select
Through October 31, 2018:
P.O. Box 8081
Boston, MA 02266-8081
Effective November 1, 2018:
P.O. Box 219104
Kansas City, MO 64121-9104
Please read and consider the investment objectives, risks,
charges and expenses for any fund carefully before investing. For variable fund and variable contract prospectuses, which contain this and other important information, including the fees and expenses imposed under your contract, investors should
contact their financial advisor or insurance representative. Read the prospectus for the Fund and your variable contract carefully before investing. Columbia Wanger Funds are distributed by Columbia Management
Investment Distributors, Inc., member FINRA, and are managed by Columbia Wanger Asset Management, LLC.
Columbia Threadneedle Investments (Columbia Threadneedle) is
the global brand name of the Columbia and Threadneedle group of companies. All rights reserved. Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc., 225 Franklin Street, Boston, MA 02110-2804
© 2018 Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC.
SemiAnnual
Report
June 30, 2018
Wanger International
Managed by Columbia Wanger Asset Management,
LLC
Please remember that you may not buy (nor will you own)
shares of the Fund directly. The Fund is available through variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies offered by the separate accounts of participating insurance companies as well as qualified pension and retirement plans.
Please contact your financial advisor or insurance representative for more information.
Not FDIC Insured • No bank guarantee • May lose
value
|
3
|
|
5
|
|
7
|
|
8
|
|
14
|
|
15
|
|
16
|
|
17
|
|
18
|
|
26
|
|
30
|
Wanger International | Semiannual Report 2018
Fund at a Glance
(Unaudited)
Investment objective
Wanger International (the Fund) seeks
long-term capital appreciation.
Portfolio
management
Louis J. Mendes,
CFA
Co-Portfolio
Manager since 2005
Service with
Fund since 2001
Tae Han (Simon)
Kim, CFA
Co-Portfolio
Manager since December 2017
Service with
Fund since 2011
Average
annual total returns (%) (for the period ended June 30, 2018) |
|
|
Inception
|
6
Months cumulative |
1
Year |
5
Years |
10
Years |
Life
|
Wanger
International |
05/03/95
|
-1.33
|
9.17
|
7.44
|
5.84
|
11.91
|
MSCI
ACWI ex USA Small Cap Index (Net) |
|
-2.94
|
10.57
|
8.98
|
5.77
|
-
|
MSCI
ACWI ex USA Small Cap Growth Index (Net) |
|
-0.84
|
13.67
|
9.73
|
5.40
|
-
|
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 most recent month-end performance updates, please visit columbiathreadneedleus.com/investor/.
Performance numbers reflect all Fund expenses but do not include
any fees and expenses imposed under your variable annuity contract or life insurance policy or qualified pension or retirement plan. If performance numbers included the effect of these additional charges, they would be lower.
The Fund’s annual operating expense ratio of 1.15% is
stated as of the Fund’s prospectus dated May 1, 2018, and differences in expense ratios disclosed elsewhere in this report may result from the reflection of fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements as well as different time periods used in
calculating the ratios.
All results shown assume
reinvestment of distributions.
The MSCI ACWI ex USA Small
Cap Index (Net) captures small-cap representation across 22 of 23 developed market countries (excluding the United States) and 24 emerging markets countries.
The MSCI ACWI ex USA Small Cap Growth Index (Net) captures
small cap securities exhibiting overall growth style characteristics across 22 of 23 Developed Markets (DM) countries (excluding the US) and 24 Emerging Markets (EM) countries.
Indexes are not managed and do not incur fees or expenses. It
is not possible to invest directly in an index.
Wanger
International | Semiannual Report 2018 |
3
|
Fund at a Glance (continued)
(Unaudited)
Top
ten holdings (%) (at June 30, 2018) |
SimCorp
AS (Denmark) Global provider of highly specialised software for the investment management industry |
2.8
|
Nemetschek
SE (Germany) Standard software for designing, constructing and managing buildings and real estate |
2.7
|
Brembo
SpA (Italy) Braking systems and components |
1.7
|
Unibet
Group PLC (Malta) Online gambling services |
1.7
|
WH
Smith PLC (United Kingdom) Retails books, magazines, newspapers, and periodicals |
1.7
|
Vitasoy
International Holdings Ltd. (Hong Kong) Food and beverages |
1.6
|
Rightmove
PLC (United Kingdom) Website that lists properties across Britain |
1.6
|
NagaCorp
Ltd. (Cambodia) Leisure and tourism company |
1.6
|
Atea
ASA (Norway) Nordic and Baltic supplier of IT infrastructure |
1.5
|
Hastings
Group Holdings PLC (United Kingdom) General insurance services to the automobile and home insurance products |
1.5
|
Percentages indicated are based
upon total investments (excluding Money Market Funds and Securities Lending Collateral).
For further detail about these holdings, please refer to the
section entitled “Portfolio of Investments."
Fund
holdings are as of the date given, are subject to change at any time, and are not recommendations to buy or sell any security.
Equity
sector breakdown (%) (at June 30, 2018) |
Consumer
Discretionary |
22.0
|
Consumer
Staples |
6.9
|
Energy
|
1.2
|
Financials
|
11.5
|
Health
Care |
5.7
|
Industrials
|
25.1
|
Information
Technology |
20.6
|
Materials
|
2.0
|
Real
Estate |
4.0
|
Telecommunication
Services |
1.0
|
Total
|
100.0
|
Percentages indicated are based
upon total equity investments. The Fund’s portfolio composition is subject to change.
Country
breakdown (%) (at June 30, 2018) |
Australia
|
2.0
|
Belgium
|
0.7
|
Brazil
|
0.6
|
Cambodia
|
1.5
|
Canada
|
4.3
|
Cayman
Islands |
3.1
|
China
|
0.8
|
Denmark
|
2.7
|
Finland
|
0.7
|
France
|
1.3
|
Germany
|
8.7
|
Hong
Kong |
2.6
|
India
|
2.0
|
Indonesia
|
1.0
|
Ireland
|
1.1
|
Italy
|
2.9
|
Japan
|
21.3
|
Malta
|
1.7
|
Mexico
|
0.5
|
Netherlands
|
1.2
|
New
Zealand |
1.3
|
Norway
|
2.0
|
Poland
|
0.4
|
Russian
Federation |
0.8
|
Singapore
|
0.9
|
South
Africa |
1.9
|
South
Korea |
4.3
|
Spain
|
0.8
|
Sweden
|
3.1
|
Switzerland
|
2.9
|
Taiwan
|
3.1
|
Thailand
|
1.3
|
Turkey
|
0.4
|
United
Kingdom |
12.9
|
United
States(a) |
3.2
|
Total
|
100.0
|
(a)
|
Includes
investments in Money Market Funds. |
Country breakdown is based primarily on issuer’s place
of organization/incorporation. Percentages indicated are based upon total investments. The Fund’s portfolio composition is subject to change.
4
|
Wanger International
| Semiannual Report 2018 |
Manager Discussion of Fund Performance
(Unaudited)
Louis J. Mendes, CFA
Co-Portfolio Manager
Tae Han (Simon) Kim,
CFA
Co-Portfolio Manager
Wanger International returned -1.33% in the six-month period ended June 30,
2018, outperforming its benchmark, the MSCI ACWI ex USA Small Cap Index (Net), which returned -2.94% for the same time period.
International small-cap stocks finished the first half of the
year with a roughly flat return. The foreign markets, in general, experienced headwinds from the combination of weaker-than-expected growth, uncertainty regarding U.S. trade policy, and the shift toward tighter monetary policy by the world’s
central banks. Political disruptions, including the ongoing Brexit negotiations and renewed worries about Italy’s elevated government debt, also weighed on sentiment. Returns for U.S.-based investors were further pressured by the adverse
impact of currency translation, as the euro, Japanese yen, and other major foreign currencies declined in value relative to the U.S. dollar. Despite these issues, small-cap stocks performed reasonably well and exceeded the returns of their large-cap
counterparts.
In this challenging environment, the Fund
outpaced its benchmark on the strength of our individual stock selection. The Fund’s holdings outperformed the corresponding benchmark components by a comfortable margin in the information technology, industrials and consumer staples sectors,
and to a lesser extent in the health care sector. Our relative strength in these areas was offset by our weaker showing in the consumer discretionary, financials and energy sectors.
Top individual contributors included SimCorp (Denmark),
Nemetschek SE (Germany) and 51job Inc (China). SimCorp, a Denmark-based provider of specialized software for the investment management industry, contributed to the Fund’s healthy showing in information technology, reporting higher earnings,
rising profit margins, and a dividend increase, which boosted its shares. Nemetschek, a provider of design software used in large building and infrastructure construction, generated strong growth in the license sales for one of its key products. We
maintained the the Fund’s investment on the belief that the company is positioned to benefit from increasing penetration in a variety of businesses. The Chinese online recruiting services firm 51job also posted a gain despite the poor showing
for China’s stock market, as investors responded favorably after the company reported revenues that came in well above expectations.
Detractors from the Fund’s performance during the period
included financials company Deutsche Beteiligungs AG (Germany), insurance company Hastings Group Holdings Plc (United Kingdom) and retailer WH Smith PLC (United Kingdom). Deutsche Beteiligungs is a leading German mid-market private equity firm.
After a strong 2017 marked by several impressive exits, the company became cautious earlier in 2018 on the sustainability of the present favorable exit environment, citing volatility in public market valuations. It also flagged slower than expected
progress in operational improvement within individual portfolio companies. Despite this near-term disruption, Deutsche Beteiligungs has an impressive acquisition and development track record, and we believed the longer term value proposition
remained intact. Hastings is a UK motor insurance company operating only through price comparison websites. We believe that this insurer has a very large competitive advantage in gathering, analyzing and pricing motor insurance and will keep growing
its market share. Multi-car households and home are also large venues for growth. After four years of positive pricing cycle, we started to see a decline in the average premium in the first half of the year. Motor insurers all reacted poorly to this
negative pricing trends. We believed the growth prospects were unchanged and the valuation very appealing at 10% dividend yield. WH Smith, a stationary and book retailer in the UK, had a great performance in 2017, driven by strong growth in its
travel division — especially in airports where WH Smith has systematically outperformed the sales density of the incumbents, translating in higher rent for the landlords. However, worries about the UK customers and lower traffic on the High
Street has impacted the stock in the first half of the year.
Wanger
International | Semiannual Report 2018 |
5
|
Manager Discussion of Fund Performance (continued)
(Unaudited)
At
the close of the period, our bottom-up process translated to overweight positions in the industrials, consumer discretionary, and information technology sectors. Conversely, the Fund’s most sizable underweights were in materials, real estate
and utilities. The Fund was also underweight in the energy sector, where the performance of individual stocks is tied more to the direction of commodity prices than organic, bottom-up growth trends.
We believe the global economy remains on a solid footing.
However, the divergences in economic trends in the first half of the year represented a departure from the synchronized global growth that helped support equities in 2017. Given the ongoing strength in corporate revenues and bottom-line earnings, we
view these divergences — and the associated market volatility — as a source of opportunity for individual stock selection.
Columbia Wanger has specialized in investing in small- and
mid-cap stocks since 1970. While cognizant of macroeconomic trends, our investment process takes a bottom-up approach, relying on intensive fundamental research and disciplined valuation techniques. We are focused on investing the Fund in companies
with sustainable competitive advantages, entrepreneurial management and the potential to gain market share. Our team creates and closely monitors a specific and unique investment thesis for every company in which the Fund invests. We will continue
to employ our time-tested process to look for opportunities for investors to benefit from growth in undervalued small- and mid-cap businesses.
Market risk may affect a single
issuer, sector of the economy, industry or the market as a whole. International investing involves certain risks and volatility due to potential political, economic or currency instabilities and different,
potentially less stringent, financial and accounting standards than those generally applicable to U.S. issuers. Risks are enhanced for emerging market issuers. Investments in small- and mid-cap companies involve risks and volatility and possible illiquidity greater than investments in larger, more established companies.
The views expressed in this report reflect the current views of
the respective parties. 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.
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 securities should not be construed as a
recommendation or investment advice.
6
|
Wanger International
| Semiannual Report 2018 |
Understanding Your Fund’s Expenses
(Unaudited)
As a shareholder, you incur three types of costs. There are
transaction costs, which may include redemption fees. There are also ongoing costs, which generally include investment advisory fees and other expenses for Wanger International (the Fund). 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 these 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 $1,000 = 8.6),
then multiply the results by the expenses paid during the period under the Actual column. The amount listed in the “Hypothetical” column assumes a 5% annual rate of return before expenses (which is not the Fund’s actual return) and
then applies the Fund’s actual expense ratio for the period to the hypothetical return. You should not use the hypothetical account values and expenses to estimate either your actual account balance at the end of the period or the expenses you
paid during the period. See “Compare with other funds” below for details on how to use the hypothetical data.
Compare with other funds
Since all mutual funds are required to include the same
hypothetical calculations about expenses in shareholder reports, you can use this information to compare the ongoing cost of investing in the Fund with other funds. To do so, compare the hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that
appear in the shareholder reports of other funds. As you compare hypothetical examples of other funds, it is important to note that hypothetical examples are meant to highlight the ongoing cost of investing in a fund only and do not reflect any
transaction costs, such as redemption or exchange fees. Therefore, the hypothetical calculations are useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. If transaction costs
were included in these calculations, your costs would be higher.
January
1, 2018 — June 30, 2018 |
|
Account
value at the beginning of the period ($) |
Account
value at the end of the period ($) |
Expenses
paid during the period ($) |
Fund’s
annualized expense ratio (%) |
|
Actual
|
Hypothetical
|
Actual
|
Hypothetical
|
Actual
|
Hypothetical
|
Actual
|
Wanger
International |
1,000.00
|
1,000.00
|
986.70
|
1,019.40
|
5.50
|
5.59
|
1.11
|
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.
Had the investment manager and/or certain of its affiliates not
waived/reimbursed certain fees and expenses, account value at the end of the period would have been reduced. See Note 3 to the Financial Statements.
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. The hypothetical example provided is useful in
comparing ongoing costs only and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds whose shareholders may incur transaction costs.
Wanger
International | Semiannual Report 2018 |
7
|
Portfolio of Investments
June 30, 2018 (Unaudited)
(Percentages represent value of investments compared to net
assets)
Investments in securities
Common
Stocks 98.3% |
Issuer
|
Shares
|
Value
($) |
Australia
2.0% |
carsales.com
Ltd. Automotive & related industry websites |
473,353
|
5,291,089
|
DuluxGroup
Ltd. Manufactures and supplies paints and other surface coatings |
491,000
|
2,776,320
|
National
Storage REIT Owns self storage facilities |
2,367,000
|
2,881,912
|
Total
|
10,949,321
|
Belgium
0.7% |
Melexis
NV Advanced integrated semiconductors, sensor ICs, and programmable sensor IC systems |
39,423
|
3,649,649
|
Brazil
0.6% |
Odontoprev
SA Dental benefits company |
937,200
|
3,191,909
|
Cambodia
1.5% |
NagaCorp
Ltd. Leisure and tourism company |
9,118,000
|
8,269,550
|
Canada
4.3% |
AG
Growth International, Inc. Manufacturer of Augers & Grain Handling Equipment |
132,266
|
5,569,730
|
CAE,
Inc. Training solutions based on simulation technology and integrated training services |
350,871
|
7,288,850
|
CES
Energy Solutions Corp. Oil and natural gas industry |
642,000
|
2,192,660
|
ShawCor
Ltd. Energy services company |
231,817
|
4,500,034
|
Winpak
Ltd. Packaging materials and machines for the protection of perishables |
106,070
|
3,550,055
|
Total
|
23,101,329
|
Common
Stocks (continued) |
Issuer
|
Shares
|
Value
($) |
Cayman
Islands 3.1% |
Gourmet
Master Co., Ltd. Coffee & bakery cafes |
402,960
|
3,893,101
|
Parade
Technologies Ltd. Fabless semiconductor company |
237,000
|
3,964,226
|
Silicon
Motion Technology Corp., ADR Semiconductor products |
77,269
|
4,086,757
|
Xiabuxiabu
Catering Management China Holdings Co., Ltd. Chain of restaurants in China |
2,187,500
|
4,776,776
|
Total
|
16,720,860
|
China
0.8% |
51job,
Inc., ADR(a) Integrated human resource services |
19,005
|
1,855,648
|
China
Medical System Holdings Ltd. Pharmaceutical and medical products |
1,167,000
|
2,324,486
|
Total
|
4,180,134
|
Denmark
2.7% |
SimCorp
AS Global provider of highly specialised software for the investment management industry |
180,521
|
14,579,964
|
Finland
0.8% |
Ahlstrom-Munksjo
Oyj Industrial paper |
224,115
|
4,042,475
|
France
1.3% |
Akka
Technologies High-technology engineering consulting services |
66,764
|
4,763,232
|
Elior
Group SA Provides catering, cleaning, and facility management services |
158,438
|
2,283,564
|
Total
|
7,046,796
|
Germany
8.8% |
AURELIUS
Equity Opportunities SE & Co. KGaA Loans to distressed companies |
83,582
|
4,947,079
|
CTS
Eventim AG & Co. KGaA Online ticket sales |
120,709
|
5,926,536
|
Deutsche
Beteiligungs AG Private equity company, investing in domestic medium-sized companies |
139,308
|
5,515,731
|
Nemetschek
SE Standard software for designing, constructing and managing buildings and real estate |
117,822
|
14,121,748
|
The accompanying Notes to Financial Statements are an integral part
of this statement.
8
|
Wanger International
| Semiannual Report 2018 |
Portfolio of Investments (continued)
June 30, 2018 (Unaudited)
Common
Stocks (continued) |
Issuer
|
Shares
|
Value
($) |
Norma
Group SE Plastic and metal-based components and systems in connecting technology |
65,839
|
4,498,344
|
Stroeer
SE & Co. KGaA Digital multi-channel media company |
77,888
|
4,702,479
|
Vapiano
SE(a) Chain of restaurants |
234,276
|
5,530,266
|
Varta
AG(a) Manufactures and markets a wide range of industrial, commercial and miniaturized batteries |
68,784
|
1,865,169
|
Total
|
47,107,352
|
Hong
Kong 2.6% |
ASM
Pacific Technology Ltd. Machines, tools & materials used in the semiconductor industry |
243,900
|
3,074,000
|
Value
Partners Group Ltd. Independent, value oriented asset management group |
3,049,000
|
2,397,401
|
Vitasoy
International Holdings Ltd. Food and beverages |
2,724,000
|
8,703,751
|
Total
|
14,175,152
|
India
2.0% |
Care
Ratings Ltd. Credit rating services |
294,494
|
5,392,200
|
GRUH
Finance Ltd. Provides a range of home loans as well as insurance products |
1,183,856
|
5,260,734
|
Total
|
10,652,934
|
Indonesia
1.0% |
PT
Link Net Tbk High-speed internet connection through fiber optic lines |
9,028,300
|
2,767,760
|
PT
Tower Bersama Infrastructure Tbk Telecommunication infrastructure services to Indonesian wireless carriers |
7,299,900
|
2,541,053
|
Total
|
5,308,813
|
Ireland
1.1% |
UDG
Healthcare PLC Commercialisation solutions for health care companies |
553,820
|
6,018,548
|
Italy
2.9% |
Brembo
SpA Braking systems and components |
675,554
|
9,111,039
|
Industria
Macchine Automatiche SpA Packaging machinery for the food, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics industries |
75,600
|
6,559,910
|
Total
|
15,670,949
|
Common
Stocks (continued) |
Issuer
|
Shares
|
Value
($) |
Japan
21.3% |
Aeon
Credit Service Co., Ltd. Credit card company |
194,000
|
4,134,922
|
Aeon
Mall Co., Ltd. Large-scale shopping malls |
306,700
|
5,501,906
|
Aica
Kogyo Co., Ltd. Manufactures adhesives, melamine boards, and housing materials |
167,400
|
5,868,834
|
Amano
Corp. Electronic time recorders and information systems |
138,500
|
3,271,592
|
Asahi
Intecc Co., Ltd. Manufactures medical tools and stainless wire rope |
163,600
|
6,176,895
|
Azbil
Corp. Provides measurement and control technologies |
57,000
|
2,480,149
|
cocokara
fine, Inc. Drug chain stores |
98,700
|
6,068,516
|
Daiseki
Co., Ltd. Waste Disposal & Recycling |
175,100
|
5,133,688
|
Fuji
Oil Holdings, Inc. Specialty vegetable oils and fats |
203,400
|
7,311,791
|
Glory
Ltd. Vending machines, coin-operated lockers, money handling machines, and data processing terminals |
153,700
|
4,294,509
|
Istyle,
Inc. Cosmetics Review Portal & Retailer |
270,800
|
2,971,524
|
KH
Neochem Co., Ltd. Manufactures and sells petroleum chemical products |
3,500
|
105,899
|
LIXIL
VIVA Corp. Operates home center chain stores and retails home improvement products |
161,000
|
2,496,582
|
Mandom
Corp. Cosmetic products for men and women |
170,600
|
5,305,849
|
Milbon
Co., Ltd. Hair Products for Salons |
68,400
|
3,063,036
|
Miura
Co., Ltd. Industrial boilers and related equipment |
135,300
|
3,283,035
|
MonotaRO
Co., Ltd Machine tools, engine parts, and factory consumable goods |
69,800
|
3,083,460
|
Nabtesco
Corp. Aircraft and hydraulic products |
80,200
|
2,464,137
|
Nakanishi,
Inc. Dental Tools & Machinery |
275,200
|
6,242,430
|
OSG
Corp. Manufactures machine tool equipment |
151,600
|
3,118,205
|
Otsuka
Corp. Computer information system and software |
63,000
|
2,466,283
|
The accompanying Notes to Financial Statements are an integral part
of this statement.
Wanger
International | Semiannual Report 2018 |
9
|
Portfolio of Investments (continued)
June 30, 2018 (Unaudited)
Common
Stocks (continued) |
Issuer
|
Shares
|
Value
($) |
Persol
Holdings Co., Ltd. Human resource solutions |
115,300
|
2,567,777
|
Seiren
Co., Ltd. Advertising services |
383,000
|
5,958,732
|
Seria
Co., Ltd. Operates 100 yen chain stores |
152,900
|
7,327,652
|
Sohgo
Security Services Co., Ltd. Around the clock security services |
73,000
|
3,434,480
|
TechnoPro
Holdings, Inc. Medical & electronic design and IT & software development |
73,100
|
4,488,702
|
Ushio,
Inc. Lamps and optical equipment |
476,100
|
6,046,325
|
Total
|
114,666,910
|
Malta
1.7% |
Unibet
Group PLC Online gambling services |
715,872
|
8,968,276
|
Mexico
0.5% |
Grupo
Aeroportuario del Sureste SAB de CV, ADR(b) Operates airports in Mexico |
17,015
|
2,708,107
|
Netherlands
1.2% |
Aalberts
Industries NV Industrial services and flow control systems |
139,338
|
6,656,242
|
New
Zealand 1.4% |
Restaurant
Brands New Zealand Ltd. Fast food restaurant chains |
1,370,685
|
7,239,340
|
Norway
2.0% |
Atea
ASA Nordic and Baltic supplier of IT infrastructure |
546,167
|
7,865,359
|
XXL
ASA(b) Multi-sports retail store |
332,894
|
2,690,981
|
Total
|
10,556,340
|
Poland
0.5% |
KRUK
SA Debt collection services |
45,550
|
2,427,439
|
Russian
Federation 0.8% |
TCS
Group Holding PLC, GDR Online retail financial services |
197,259
|
4,083,261
|
Singapore
0.9% |
Mapletree
Commercial Trust Singapore-focused real estate investment trust |
4,219,407
|
4,862,045
|
Common
Stocks (continued) |
Issuer
|
Shares
|
Value
($) |
South
Africa 1.9% |
Clicks
Group Ltd. Owns and operates chains of retail stores |
179,746
|
2,566,488
|
Famous
Brands Ltd.(a) Food and beverage company |
433,255
|
3,581,762
|
PSG
Group Ltd. Diversified financial services |
272,568
|
4,287,569
|
Total
|
10,435,819
|
South
Korea 4.3% |
CJ
Logistics Corp.(a) Logistics services |
32,958
|
4,970,459
|
GS
Retail Co., Ltd. Chain of retail stores |
83,291
|
3,286,809
|
Koh
Young Technology, Inc. 3D measurement and inspection equipment for testing various machineries |
71,532
|
6,539,432
|
Korea
Investment Holdings Co., Ltd. Financial holding company |
58,220
|
4,389,765
|
Modetour
Network, Inc. Travel services |
161,582
|
3,940,841
|
Total
|
23,127,306
|
Spain
0.8% |
Prosegur
Cia de Seguridad SA, Registered Shares Security and transportation services |
685,661
|
4,466,566
|
Sweden
3.1% |
AddTech
AB, Class B High-tech industrial components and systems |
120,400
|
2,654,624
|
Byggmax
Group AB Discount provider of building materials |
652,246
|
2,835,072
|
NetEnt
AB Develops and markets computer gaming software |
784,997
|
4,169,608
|
Sweco
AB, Class B Consulting company specializing in engineering, environmental technology, and architecture |
307,991
|
7,251,027
|
Total
|
16,910,331
|
The accompanying Notes to Financial Statements are an integral part
of this statement.
10
|
Wanger International
| Semiannual Report 2018 |
Portfolio of Investments (continued)
June 30, 2018 (Unaudited)
Common
Stocks (continued) |
Issuer
|
Shares
|
Value
($) |
Switzerland
2.9% |
Belimo
Holding AG, Registered Shares Manufactures heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment |
572
|
2,489,468
|
Bossard
Holding AG, Class A, Registered Shares Fastening devices, industrial adhesives & tools |
27,727
|
5,139,989
|
Inficon
Holding AG Vacuum instruments used to monitor and control production processes |
9,840
|
5,001,775
|
Kardex
AG Storage, warehouse and materials handling systems |
21,293
|
2,946,453
|
Total
|
15,577,685
|
Taiwan
3.1% |
Basso
Industry Corp. Pneumatic nailers and staplers |
1,862,000
|
3,969,884
|
Silergy
Corp. High performance analog integrated circuits |
229,000
|
5,564,546
|
Sinbon
Electronics Co., Ltd. Cable, connectors & modems |
981,000
|
2,677,240
|
Voltronic
Power Technology Corp. Uninterruptible power supply products, inverters, multiple surface mounted devices and other power products |
260,395
|
4,446,274
|
Total
|
16,657,944
|
Thailand
1.3% |
Beauty
Community PCL Cosmetic and beauty products |
6,344,000
|
2,332,794
|
Muangthai
Leasing PCL, Foreign Registered Shares Commercial lending company |
1,299,500
|
1,295,031
|
Tisco
Financial Group PCL Bank holding company |
1,305,600
|
3,307,159
|
Total
|
6,934,984
|
Turkey
0.4% |
Logo
Yazilim Sanayi Ve Ticaret AS(a) Enterprise resource planning software |
217,994
|
1,995,892
|
United
Kingdom 12.9% |
Ascential
PLC Media and consultancy services |
1,286,925
|
7,660,928
|
Assura
PLC Primary healthcare property group |
6,121,522
|
4,649,501
|
Big
Yellow Group PLC Self-storage company |
266,407
|
3,339,578
|
Domino’s
Pizza Group PLC Pizza delivery stores |
859,955
|
3,924,775
|
Common
Stocks (continued) |
Issuer
|
Shares
|
Value
($) |
Halma
PLC Products that detect hazards and protect assets and people in public and commercial buildings |
371,552
|
6,690,279
|
Hastings
Group Holdings PLC General insurance services to the automobile and home insurance products |
2,324,929
|
7,790,946
|
Intermediate
Capital Group PLC Private equity firm |
374,073
|
5,419,161
|
Polypipe
Group PLC Plastic piping systems |
1,086,763
|
5,506,705
|
Rightmove
PLC Website that lists properties across Britain |
120,649
|
8,433,664
|
Spirax-Sarco
Engineering PLC Consultation, service and products for the control and efficient management of steam and industrial fluids |
82,749
|
7,096,026
|
WH
Smith PLC Retails books, magazines, newspapers, and periodicals |
334,071
|
8,793,442
|
Total
|
69,305,005
|
United
States 1.1% |
Ultragenyx
Pharmaceutical, Inc.(a) Therapeutics and sialic acid for treating metabolic, body myopathy, glucuronidase, and rare
genetic diseases |
78,887
|
6,064,044
|
Total
Common Stocks (Cost: $409,510,310) |
528,309,271
|
|
Securities
Lending Collateral 0.6% |
|
Shares
|
Value
($) |
Dreyfus
Government Cash Management Fund, Institutional Shares, 1.810%(c),(d) |
2,839,250
|
2,839,250
|
Total
Securities Lending Collateral (Cost: $2,839,250) |
2,839,250
|
|
The accompanying Notes to Financial Statements are an integral part
of this statement.
Wanger
International | Semiannual Report 2018 |
11
|
Portfolio of Investments (continued)
June 30, 2018 (Unaudited)
Money
Market Funds 1.5% |
|
Shares
|
Value
($) |
JPMorgan
U.S. Government Money Market Fund, Agency Shares, 1.713%(c) |
142,916
|
142,916
|
JPMorgan
U.S. Government Money Market Fund, IM Shares, 1.819%(c) |
7,975,018
|
7,975,018
|
Total
Money Market Funds (Cost: $8,117,934) |
8,117,934
|
Total
Investments in Securities (Cost: $420,467,494) |
539,266,455
|
Obligation
to Return Collateral for Securities Loaned |
|
(2,839,250)
|
Other
Assets & Liabilities, Net |
|
863,428
|
Net
Assets |
$537,290,633
|
Notes to Portfolio of Investments
(a)
|
Non-income
producing security. |
(b)
|
All or a
portion of this security was on loan at June 30, 2018. The total market value of securities on loan at June 30, 2018 was $2,770,527. |
(c)
|
The rate
shown is the seven-day current annualized yield at June 30, 2018. |
(d)
|
Investment made
with cash collateral received from securities lending activity. |
Abbreviation Legend
ADR
|
American
Depositary Receipt |
GDR
|
Global
Depositary Receipt |
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 net asset values 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 Columbia Wanger Asset Management’s Valuation Committee (the Committee) 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.
The Committee is responsible for applying the Wanger Advisors
Trust Portfolio Pricing Policy and the Columbia Wanger Asset Management pricing procedures (the Policies), which are approved by and subject to the oversight of the Board of Trustees.
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 Columbia Wanger Asset Management believes that available market quotations are unreliable. The Committee also reviews the
continuing appropriateness of the Policies. In circumstances where a security has been fair valued, the Committee will also review the continuing appropriateness of the current value of the security. 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; circumstances under which
securities will be deemed to pose a potential for stale pricing, including when securities are illiquid, restricted, or in default; and certain delegations of authority to determine fair values to the Fund’s investment manager. 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.
The accompanying
Notes to Financial Statements are an integral part of this statement.
12
|
Wanger International
| Semiannual Report 2018 |
Portfolio of Investments (continued)
June 30, 2018 (Unaudited)
Fair value
measurements (continued)
For investments categorized as Level 3, the significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement of the Fund’s 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 is a summary of the inputs used to value the
Fund’s investments at June 30, 2018:
|
Level
1 quoted prices in active markets for identical assets ($) |
Level
2 other significant observable inputs ($) |
Level
3 significant unobservable inputs ($) |
Total
($) |
Investments
in Securities |
|
|
|
|
Common
Stocks |
|
|
|
|
Australia
|
—
|
10,949,321
|
—
|
10,949,321
|
Belgium
|
—
|
3,649,649
|
—
|
3,649,649
|
Brazil
|
3,191,909
|
—
|
—
|
3,191,909
|
Cambodia
|
—
|
8,269,550
|
—
|
8,269,550
|
Canada
|
23,101,329
|
—
|
—
|
23,101,329
|
Cayman
Islands |
4,086,757
|
12,634,103
|
—
|
16,720,860
|
China
|
1,855,648
|
2,324,486
|
—
|
4,180,134
|
Denmark
|
—
|
14,579,964
|
—
|
14,579,964
|
Finland
|
—
|
4,042,475
|
—
|
4,042,475
|
France
|
—
|
7,046,796
|
—
|
7,046,796
|
Germany
|
—
|
47,107,352
|
—
|
47,107,352
|
Hong
Kong |
—
|
14,175,152
|
—
|
14,175,152
|
India
|
—
|
10,652,934
|
—
|
10,652,934
|
Indonesia
|
—
|
5,308,813
|
—
|
5,308,813
|
Ireland
|
—
|
6,018,548
|
—
|
6,018,548
|
Italy
|
—
|
15,670,949
|
—
|
15,670,949
|
Japan
|
—
|
114,666,910
|
—
|
114,666,910
|
Malta
|
—
|
8,968,276
|
—
|
8,968,276
|
Mexico
|
2,708,107
|
—
|
—
|
2,708,107
|
Netherlands
|
—
|
6,656,242
|
—
|
6,656,242
|
New
Zealand |
—
|
7,239,340
|
—
|
7,239,340
|
Norway
|
—
|
10,556,340
|
—
|
10,556,340
|
Poland
|
—
|
2,427,439
|
—
|
2,427,439
|
Russian
Federation |
—
|
4,083,261
|
—
|
4,083,261
|
Singapore
|
—
|
4,862,045
|
—
|
4,862,045
|
South
Africa |
—
|
10,435,819
|
—
|
10,435,819
|
South
Korea |
—
|
23,127,306
|
—
|
23,127,306
|
Spain
|
—
|
4,466,566
|
—
|
4,466,566
|
Sweden
|
—
|
16,910,331
|
—
|
16,910,331
|
Switzerland
|
—
|
15,577,685
|
—
|
15,577,685
|
Taiwan
|
—
|
16,657,944
|
—
|
16,657,944
|
Thailand
|
—
|
6,934,984
|
—
|
6,934,984
|
Turkey
|
—
|
1,995,892
|
—
|
1,995,892
|
United
Kingdom |
—
|
69,305,005
|
—
|
69,305,005
|
United
States |
6,064,044
|
—
|
—
|
6,064,044
|
Total
Common Stocks |
41,007,794
|
487,301,477
|
—
|
528,309,271
|
Securities
Lending Collateral |
2,839,250
|
—
|
—
|
2,839,250
|
Money
Market Funds |
8,117,934
|
—
|
—
|
8,117,934
|
Total
Investments in Securities |
51,964,978
|
487,301,477
|
—
|
539,266,455
|
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 of Trustees, 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.
There were no transfers of financial assets between levels
during the period.
The accompanying Notes to Financial Statements are an integral part of this
statement.
Wanger
International | Semiannual Report 2018 |
13
|
Statement of Assets and Liabilities
June 30, 2018 (Unaudited)
Assets
|
|
Investments
in securities, at value* |
|
Unaffiliated
issuers (cost $420,467,494) |
$539,266,455
|
Foreign
currency (cost $155,359) |
155,381
|
Receivable
for: |
|
Investments
sold |
415,550
|
Capital
shares sold |
137,386
|
Dividends
|
683,411
|
Securities
lending income |
9,923
|
Foreign
tax reclaims |
514,093
|
Prepaid
expenses |
4,253
|
Trustees’
deferred compensation plan |
234,740
|
Total
assets |
541,421,192
|
Liabilities
|
|
Due
to custodian |
92,589
|
Due
upon return of securities on loan |
2,839,250
|
Payable
for: |
|
Investments
purchased |
553,149
|
Capital
shares purchased |
220,495
|
Investment
advisory fee |
13,773
|
Administration
fees |
728
|
Trustees’
fees |
239
|
Other
expenses |
175,596
|
Trustees’
deferred compensation plan |
234,740
|
Total
liabilities |
4,130,559
|
Net
assets applicable to outstanding capital stock |
$537,290,633
|
Represented
by |
|
Paid
in capital |
394,014,128
|
Excess
of distributions over net investment income |
(2,655,293)
|
Accumulated
net realized gain |
27,129,396
|
Unrealized
appreciation (depreciation) on: |
|
Investments
- unaffiliated issuers |
118,798,961
|
Foreign
currency translations |
3,441
|
Total
- representing net assets applicable to outstanding capital stock |
$537,290,633
|
Shares
outstanding |
20,152,326
|
Net
asset value per share |
26.66
|
*
Value of securities on loan |
2,770,527
|
The accompanying Notes to Financial Statements are an integral part of this
statement.
14
|
Wanger International
| Semiannual Report 2018 |
Statement of Operations
Six Months Ended June 30, 2018 (Unaudited)
Net
investment income |
|
Income:
|
|
Dividends
— unaffiliated issuers |
$8,304,428
|
Interest
|
677
|
Income
from securities lending — net |
145,075
|
Foreign
taxes withheld |
(711,869)
|
Total
income |
7,738,311
|
Expenses:
|
|
Investment
advisory fee |
2,677,210
|
Service
fees |
208,123
|
Administration
fees |
143,174
|
Trustees’
fees |
28,420
|
Custodian
fees |
105,261
|
Printing
and postage fees |
101,164
|
Audit
fees |
52,177
|
Legal
fees |
45,030
|
Compensation
of chief compliance officer |
907
|
Other
|
20,000
|
Total
expenses |
3,381,466
|
Fees
waived by transfer agent |
(208,123)
|
Total
net expenses |
3,173,343
|
Net
investment income |
4,564,968
|
Realized
and unrealized gain (loss) — net |
|
Net
realized gain (loss) on: |
|
Investments
— unaffiliated issuers |
28,500,769
|
Foreign
currency translations |
(151,563)
|
Net
realized gain |
28,349,206
|
Net
change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on: |
|
Investments
— unaffiliated issuers |
(39,372,877)
|
Foreign
currency translations |
(11,777)
|
Net
change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) |
(39,384,654)
|
Net
realized and unrealized loss |
(11,035,448)
|
Net
decrease in net assets resulting from operations |
$(6,470,480)
|
The accompanying Notes to Financial Statements are an
integral part of this statement.
Wanger
International | Semiannual Report 2018 |
15
|
Statement of Changes in Net Assets
|
Six
Months Ended June 30, 2018 (Unaudited) |
Year
Ended December 31, 2017 |
Operations
|
|
|
Net
investment income |
$4,564,968
|
$5,060,397
|
Net
realized gain |
28,349,206
|
64,149,569
|
Net
change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) |
(39,384,654)
|
85,449,197
|
Net
increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations |
(6,470,480)
|
154,659,163
|
Distributions
to shareholders |
|
|
Net
investment income |
(10,078,520)
|
(6,572,360)
|
Net
realized gains |
(60,271,441)
|
(4,004,590)
|
Total
distributions to shareholders |
(70,349,961)
|
(10,576,950)
|
Increase
(decrease) in net assets from capital stock activity |
36,023,268
|
(60,789,221)
|
Total
increase (decrease) in net assets |
(40,797,173)
|
83,292,992
|
Net
assets at beginning of period |
578,087,806
|
494,794,814
|
Net
assets at end of period |
$537,290,633
|
$578,087,806
|
Undistributed
(excess of distributions over) net investment income |
$(2,655,293)
|
$2,858,259
|
|
Six
Months Ended |
Year
Ended |
|
June
30, 2018 (Unaudited) |
December
31, 2017 |
|
Shares
|
Dollars
($) |
Shares
|
Dollars
($) |
Capital
stock activity |
|
|
|
|
|
Subscriptions
|
145,271
|
4,478,960
|
501,656
|
13,324,413
|
Distributions
reinvested |
2,508,020
|
70,349,961
|
366,553
|
10,576,950
|
Redemptions
|
(1,242,819)
|
(38,805,653)
|
(3,058,127)
|
(84,690,584)
|
Total
net increase (decrease) |
1,410,472
|
36,023,268
|
(2,189,918)
|
(60,789,221)
|
The accompanying Notes to Financial Statements are an integral part of this
statement.
16
|
Wanger International
| Semiannual Report 2018 |
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, if any. Total return does not reflect payment of the expenses that apply to the variable accounts or contract charges, if
any. Total return and portfolio turnover are not annualized for periods of less than one year. The portfolio turnover rate is calculated without regard to purchase and sales transactions of short-term instruments and certain derivatives, if any. If
such transactions were included, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate may be higher.
|
Six
Months Ended June 30, 2018 (Unaudited) |
Year
Ended December 31, |
2017
|
2016
|
2015
|
2014
|
2013
|
Per
share data |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
asset value, beginning of period |
$30.84
|
$23.64
|
$26.32
|
$29.07
|
$34.55
|
$31.19
|
Income
from investment operations: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
investment income |
0.25
|
0.25
|
0.31
|
0.31
|
0.36
|
0.39
|
Net
realized and unrealized gain (loss) |
(0.46)
|
7.49
|
(0.56)
|
(0.09)
|
(1.56)
|
6.18
|
Total
from investment operations |
(0.21)
|
7.74
|
(0.25)
|
0.22
|
(1.20)
|
6.57
|
Less
distributions to shareholders from: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
investment income |
(0.57)
|
(0.34)
|
(0.29)
|
(0.41)
|
(0.48)
|
(0.88)
|
Net
realized gains |
(3.40)
|
(0.20)
|
(2.14)
|
(2.57)
|
(3.80)
|
(2.33)
|
Total
distributions to shareholders |
(3.97)
|
(0.54)
|
(2.43)
|
(2.98)
|
(4.28)
|
(3.21)
|
Proceeds
from regulatory settlements |
—
|
—
|
—
|
0.01
|
—
|
—
|
Net
asset value, end of period |
$26.66
|
$30.84
|
$23.64
|
$26.32
|
$29.07
|
$34.55
|
Total
return |
(1.33)%
(a) |
32.91%
(a) |
(1.41)%
|
0.10%
(b) |
(4.40)%
|
22.37%
|
Ratios
to average net assets |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
gross expenses(c) |
1.18%
(d) |
1.16%
|
1.08%
(e) |
1.12%
|
1.05%
|
1.07%
|
Total
net expenses(c) |
1.11%
(d) |
1.12%
|
1.08%
(e) |
1.12%
|
1.05%
|
1.07%
|
Net
investment income |
1.59%
(d) |
0.92%
|
1.23%
|
1.11%
|
1.10%
|
1.19%
|
Supplemental
data |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Portfolio
turnover |
22%
|
55%
|
56%
|
53%
|
28%
|
44%
|
Net
assets, end of period (in thousands) |
$537,291
|
$578,088
|
$494,795
|
$586,629
|
$667,023
|
$784,977
|
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)
|
The Fund
received proceeds from regulatory settlements. Had the Fund not received these proceeds, the total return would have been lower by 0.02%. |
(c)
|
In
addition to the fees and expenses that the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of any other funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the Fund’s reported expense
ratios. |
(d)
|
Annualized.
|
(e)
|
Expenses
have been reduced due to a reimbursement of expenses overbilled by a third party. If the reimbursement had been excluded, the expense ratios would have been higher by 0.05%. All fee waivers and expense reimbursements by the Investment Manager and
its affiliates were applied before giving effect to this third party reimbursement. |
The accompanying Notes to Financial Statements are an integral part of this
statement.
Wanger
International | Semiannual Report 2018 |
17
|
Notes to Financial Statements
June 30, 2018 (Unaudited)
Note 1. Organization
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.
Note 2. Summary of significant accounting
policies
Basis of preparation
The Fund is an investment company that applies the accounting
and reporting guidance in the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946, Financial Services - Investment Companies (ASC 946). The financial statements are prepared
in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), which 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 income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
The following is a summary of significant accounting policies
followed by the Fund in the preparation of its financial statements.
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. 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. Exchange-traded funds are valued at their closing net asset value as reported on the applicable exchange. A
security for which there is no reported sale on the valuation date is valued by comparison of the mean of the latest bid and ask quotations.
Foreign equity securities are generally valued based on the
closing price on the foreign exchange in which such securities are primarily traded. If any foreign equity security closing prices are not readily available, the securities are valued at the mean of the latest quoted bid and ask prices on such
exchanges or markets. Foreign currency exchange rates are generally determined at 4:00 p.m. Eastern (U.S.) time. Many securities markets and exchanges outside the U.S. close prior to the close of the New York Stock Exchange; therefore, the closing
prices for securities in such markets or on such exchanges may not fully reflect events that occur after such close but before the close of the New York Stock Exchange. In situations where foreign markets are closed, where a significant event has
occurred after the foreign exchange closes but before the time at which the Fund’s share price is calculated, and in the event of significant movement in the trigger index for the statistical fair valuation process established by the Board of
Trustees, foreign securities will be fair valued pursuant to a policy adopted by the Board of Trustees. 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.
Short-term investments maturing in 60 days or less are valued
at amortized cost, which approximates market value.
18
|
Wanger International
| Semiannual Report 2018 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
June 30, 2018 (Unaudited)
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 on each day the New York Stock 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.
GAAP requires disclosure regarding the inputs and valuation
techniques used to measure fair value and any changes in valuation inputs or techniques. In addition, investments shall be disclosed by major category. This information is disclosed following the Fund’s Portfolio of Investments.
Foreign currency transactions and 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.
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 the economic equivalent 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. The income earned from the securities lending program 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 (the Investment Manager or 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, 2018, is included in the Statement of Operations.
The following table indicates the total amount of securities
loaned by type, reconciled to gross liability payable upon return of the securities loaned by the Fund as of June 30, 2018:
|
Overnight
and continuous |
Up
to 30 days |
30-90
days |
Greater
than 90 days |
Total
|
Wanger
International |
|
|
|
|
|
Securities
lending transactions |
|
|
|
|
|
Equity
securities |
$2,770,527
|
$—
|
$—
|
$—
|
$2,770,527
|
Gross
amount of recognized liabilities for securities lending (collateral received) |
|
|
|
|
2,839,250
|
Amounts
due to counterparty in the event of default |
|
|
|
|
$68,723
|
Wanger
International | Semiannual Report 2018 |
19
|
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
June 30, 2018 (Unaudited)
Offsetting of assets and liabilities
The following table presents the Fund’s gross and net
amount of assets and liabilities available for offset under netting arrangements as well as any related collateral received or pledged by the Fund as of June 30, 2018:
|
Goldman
Sachs ($) |
Liabilities
|
|
Collateral
on Securities loaned |
2,839,250
|
Total
Liabilities |
2,839,250
|
Total
Financial and Derivative Net Assets |
(2,839,250)
|
Financial
Instruments |
2,770,527
|
Net
Amount (a) |
(68,723)
|
(a)
|
Represents
the net amount due from/(to) counterparties in the event of default. |
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.
Income recognition
Corporate actions and dividend income are generally recorded
net of any non-reclaimable tax withholdings, on the ex-dividend date or upon receipt of ex-dividend notification in the case of certain foreign securities.
The Fund may receive distributions from holdings in equity
securities, exchange traded funds (ETFs), limited partnerships (LPs), other regulated investment companies (RICs), and real estate investment trusts (REITs), which report information on the tax character of their distributions annually. These
distributions are allocated to dividend income, capital gain and return of capital based on actual information reported. Return of capital is recorded as a reduction of the cost basis of securities held. If the Fund no longer owns the applicable
securities, return of capital is recorded as a realized gain. With respect to REITs, to the extent actual information has not yet been reported, estimates for return of capital may be made by the Fund’s management. Management’s estimates
are subsequently adjusted when the actual character of the distributions is disclosed by the REITs, which could result in a proportionate change in return of capital to shareholders.
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.
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.
Federal income tax status
The Fund intends to comply with the provisions of the Internal
Revenue Code available to regulated investment companies and, in the manner provided therein, intends to distribute 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. The Fund meets the exception under Internal Revenue Code Section 4982(f) and the Fund expects not to be
subject to federal excise tax.
20
|
Wanger International
| Semiannual Report 2018 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
June 30, 2018 (Unaudited)
Foreign 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.
Guarantees and 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.
Recent accounting pronouncement
Accounting Standards Update 2017-08 Premium Amortization on
Purchased Callable Debt Securities
In March 2017, the
Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2017-08 Premium Amortization on Purchased Callable Debt Securities. ASU No. 2017-08 updates the accounting standards to shorten the amortization period for certain
purchased callable debt securities, held at a premium, to be amortized to the earliest call date. The update applies to securities with explicit, noncontingent call features that are callable at fixed prices and on preset dates. The standard is
effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018 and interim periods within those fiscal years. At this time, management is evaluating the implication of this guidance and the impact it will have on the financial statement amounts and
footnote disclosures, if any.
Note 3. Fees and
other transactions with affiliates
Management services
fees
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
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 $1 billion |
0.80%
|
$1
billion and over |
0.72%
|
For the six months ended June 30,
2018, the annualized effective investment advisory fee rate was 0.93% of the Fund’s average daily net assets.
Wanger
International | Semiannual Report 2018 |
21
|
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
June 30, 2018 (Unaudited)
Administration fees
CWAM provides administrative services and receives an
administration fee from the Fund at the following annual rates:
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,
2018, the annualized effective administration fee rate was 0.05% of the Fund’s average daily net assets. CWAM has delegated to Columbia Management responsibility to provide certain sub-administrative services to the Fund.
Compensation of board members
Certain officers and trustees of the Trust are also officers
of CWAM or Columbia Management. The Trust makes no direct payments to its officers and trustees who are affiliated with CWAM or Columbia Management. 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 Institutional Class 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.
Compensation of Chief Compliance Officer
The Board of Trustees has appointed a Chief Compliance Officer
to the Fund in accordance with federal securities regulations. As disclosed in the Statement of Operations, a portion of the Chief Compliance Officer’s total compensation is allocated to the Fund, along with other allocations to affiliated
funds governed by the Board of Trustees, based on relative net assets.
Transactions with affiliates
For the six months ended June 30, 2018, the Fund engaged in
purchase and/or sale transactions with affiliates and/or accounts 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 1940 Act and were $2,042,880 and $0, respectively.
Service fees
Pursuant to the Transfer, Dividend Disbursing and Shareholder
Servicing Agreement between the Fund and Columbia Management Investment Services Corp. (the Transfer Agent), an affiliate of the Investment Manager and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ameriprise Financial, the Fund bears a service fee paid to the
Transfer Agent to compensate it for amounts paid to Participating Insurance Companies and other financial intermediaries (together, Participating Organizations) for various sub-transfer agency and other shareholder services each Participating
Organization provides to its clients, customers and participants that are invested directly or indirectly in the Fund, up to a cap approved by the Board of Trustees from time to time.
The Transfer Agent may retain as compensation for its services
revenues from fees for wire, telephone and redemption orders, account transcripts due the Transfer Agent from Fund shareholders and interest (net of bank charges) earned with respect to balances in accounts the Transfer Agent maintains in connection
with its services to the Fund.
22
|
Wanger International
| Semiannual Report 2018 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
June 30, 2018 (Unaudited)
Effective July 1, 2018 through June 30, 2019, the Transfer
Agent has contractually agreed to waive a portion of the service fee payable by the Fund such that the annual service fee paid by the Fund does not exceed 0.03% of the Fund’s average daily net assets, unless sooner terminated at the sole
discretion of the Board of Trustees. Prior to July 1, 2018, the Transfer Agent had contractually agreed to waive a portion of the service fee payable by the Fund such that the annual service fee paid by the Fund did not exceed 0.00% of the
Fund’s average daily net assets.
Distributor
Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc., a wholly
owned subsidiary of Ameriprise Financial, serves as the Fund’s distributor and principal underwriter.
Note 4. 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 because of temporary or permanent book to tax differences.
At June 30, 2018, the approximate cost of all investments for
federal income tax purposes and the aggregate gross approximate unrealized appreciation and depreciation based on that cost was:
Federal
tax cost ($) |
Gross
unrealized appreciation ($) |
Gross
unrealized (depreciation) ($) |
Net
unrealized appreciation ($) |
420,467,000
|
141,062,000
|
(22,263,000)
|
118,799,000
|
Tax cost of investments and
unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) may also include timing differences that do not constitute adjustments to tax basis.
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 in the Fund 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.
Note 5. Portfolio information
The aggregate cost of purchases and proceeds from sales
other than short-term obligations for the six months ended June 30, 2018, were $123,915,144 and $154,214,002, respectively. The amount of purchase and sales activity impacts the portfolio turnover rate reported in the Financial Highlights.
Note 6. Line of credit
The Fund has access to a revolving credit facility with a
syndicate of banks led by Citibank, N.A., HSBC Bank USA, N.A. and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. whereby the Fund may borrow for the temporary funding of shareholder redemptions or for other temporary or emergency purposes. The credit facility, which is
a collective agreement between the Fund and certain other funds managed by the Investment Manager, severally and not jointly, permits collective borrowings up to $1 billion. Interest is charged to each participating fund based on its borrowings at a
rate equal to the higher of (i) the overnight federal funds rate plus 1.00% or (ii) the one-month LIBOR rate plus 1.00%. Each borrowing under the credit facility matures no later than 60 days after the date of borrowing. The Fund also pays a
commitment fee equal to its pro rata share of the amount of the credit facility at a rate of 0.15% per annum. The commitment fee is included in other expenses in the Statement of Operations.
The Fund had no borrowings during the six months ended June
30, 2018.
Wanger
International | Semiannual Report 2018 |
23
|
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
June 30, 2018 (Unaudited)
Note 7. Significant risks
Consumer discretionary sector risk
The Fund may be more susceptible to the particular risks that
may affect companies in the consumer discretionary sector than if it were invested in a wider variety of companies in unrelated sectors. Companies in the consumer discretionary sector are subject to certain risks, including fluctuations in the
performance of the overall domestic and international economy, interest rate changes, increased competition and consumer confidence. Performance of such companies may be affected by factors including reduced disposable household income, reduced
consumer spending, changing demographics and consumer tastes.
Foreign securities and emerging market countries risk
Investing in foreign securities may include certain risks and
considerations not typically associated with investing in U.S. securities, such as fluctuating currency values and changing local and regional economic, political and social conditions, which may result in greater market volatility. In addition,
certain foreign securities may not be as liquid as U.S. securities. Investing in emerging markets may accentuate these risks. These countries are also more likely to experience high levels of inflation, deflation or currency devaluation which could
hurt their economies and securities markets. To the extent that the Fund concentrates its investment exposure to any one or a few specific countries, the Fund will be particularly susceptible to the various conditions, events or other factors
impacting those countries and may, therefore, have a greater risk than that of a fund which is more geographically diversified.
Industrial sector risk
The Fund may be more susceptible to the particular risks that
may affect companies in the industrials sector than if it were invested in a wider variety of companies in unrelated sectors. Companies in the industrials sector are subject to certain risks, including changes in supply and demand for their specific
product or service and for industrial sector products in general, including decline in demand for such products due to rapid technological developments and frequent new product introduction. Performance of such companies may be affected by factors
including government regulation, world events and economic conditions and risks for environmental damage and product liability claims.
Shareholder concentration risk
At June 30, 2018, one unaffiliated shareholder of record owned
18.7% of the outstanding shares of the Fund in one or more accounts. The Fund has no knowledge about whether any portion of those shares was owned beneficially. Affiliated shareholders of record owned 60.6% of the outstanding shares of the Fund in
one or more accounts. Subscription and redemption activity by concentrated accounts may have a significant effect on the operations of the Fund. In the case of a large redemption, the Fund may be forced to sell investments at inopportune times,
including its liquid positions, which may result in Fund losses and the Fund holding a higher percentage of less liquid positions. Large redemptions could result in decreased economies of scale and increased operating expenses for non-redeeming Fund
shareholders.
Technology and technology-related investment
risk
The Fund may be more susceptible to the particular
risks that may affect companies in the information technology sector, as well as other technology-related sectors (collectively, the technology sectors) than if it were invested in a wider variety of companies in unrelated sectors. Companies in the
technology sectors are subject to certain risks, including the risk that new services, equipment or technologies will not be accepted by consumers and businesses or will become rapidly obsolete. Performance of such companies may be affected by
factors including obtaining and protecting patents (or the failure to do so) and significant competitive pressures, including aggressive pricing of their products or services, new market entrants, competition for market share and short product
cycles due to an accelerated rate of technological developments. Such competitive pressures may lead to limited earnings and/or falling profit margins. As a result, the value of their securities may fall or fail to rise. In addition, many technology
sector companies have limited operating histories and prices of these companies’ securities historically have been more volatile than other securities, especially over the short term.
24
|
Wanger International
| Semiannual Report 2018 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
June 30, 2018 (Unaudited)
Note 8. 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.
Note 9. 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 Fund is not currently the subject of, and that neither Ameriprise Financial nor any of its affiliates are the subject of, any pending legal, arbitration or regulatory proceedings that are
likely to have a material adverse effect on the Fund or the ability of Ameriprise Financial or its affiliates to perform under their contracts with the Fund. Ameriprise Financial is required to make quarterly (10-Q), annual (10-K) and, as necessary,
8-K filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on legal and regulatory matters that relate to Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates. Copies of these filings may be obtained by accessing the SEC website at 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 Fund. Further, although we believe proceedings are not likely to have a material adverse effect on the
Fund or the ability of Ameriprise Financial or its affiliates to perform under their contracts with the Fund, 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.
Wanger
International | Semiannual Report 2018 |
25
|
Board Consideration and Approval of Advisory
Agreement
Wanger
Advisors Trust (the "Trust") has an investment advisory agreement (the "Advisory Agreement") with Columbia Wanger Asset Management, LLC ("CWAM") under which CWAM 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 "Contract 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 Contract 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 CWAM investment personnel (as does
the Board’s Investment Performance Analysis Committee (the "Performance Committee")), and receives monthly reports from CWAM on the performance of the Fund.
In connection with their most recent consideration of the
Advisory Agreement for the Fund, the Contract Committee and all Trustees received and reviewed a substantial amount of information provided by CWAM, Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC ("Columbia Management") and the parent of CWAM and
Columbia Management, Ameriprise Financial, Inc. ("Ameriprise") in response to written requests from the Independent Trustees and their independent legal counsel. Throughout the process, the Trustees had numerous opportunities to ask questions of and
request additional materials from CWAM, Columbia Management and Ameriprise.
During each meeting at which the Contract Committee or the
Independent Trustees considered the Advisory Agreement, they met in at least one executive session with their independent legal counsel. The Contract Committee also met with representatives of CWAM, Columbia Management and Ameriprise on several
occasions. In all, the Contract Committee convened formally on five 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 Contract
Committee’s status reports, receive presentations from CWAM, Columbia Management and Ameriprise representatives, and/or to discuss outstanding issues. In addition, the Performance Committee, also comprised exclusively of Independent Trustees,
reviewed the performance of the Fund, met in joint meetings with the Contract Committee, and reported to the Board and/or the Contract Committee throughout the year. The chair of the Compliance Committee of the Board (the "Compliance Committee")
made available relevant information with respect to matters within the realm of its oversight responsibilities.
The materials reviewed by the Contract Committee and the
Trustees included, among other items: (i) information on the investment performance of the Fund relative to an independently selected peer group of funds and the Fund’s performance benchmark over various time periods, as presented and analyzed
by an independent consultant; (ii) information on the Fund’s advisory fees and other expenses, including information comparing the Fund’s fees and expenses to those of a peer group 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 CWAM and Ameriprise, as well as potential "fall-out" or ancillary benefits that CWAM and its affiliates may receive as
a result of their relationships with the Fund. The Contract Committee and the Board also considered other information such as: (i) CWAM’s financial condition; (ii) the Fund’s investment objective and strategy; (iii) the size, education,
experience and resources of CWAM’s investment staff and its use of technology, external research and trading cost measurement tools and level of resources devoted to the Fund; (iv) turnover of investment management personnel; (v) the portfolio
manager compensation framework; (vi) the allocation of the Fund’s brokerage, and the use of "soft" commission dollars to pay for research products and services; (vii) CWAM’s risk management program; (viii) 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 and procedures; and (ix) CWAM’s and its affiliates’ conflicts of
interest.
At a meeting held on June 12, 2018, the Board
considered and 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.
26
|
Wanger International
| Semiannual Report 2018 |
Board Consideration and Approval of Advisory
Agreement (continued)
Nature, quality and extent of services
The Trustees reviewed the nature, quality and extent of the
services provided by CWAM 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 CWAM and its affiliates, especially those providing investment management services to the Fund. The Trustees also considered other
services provided to the Fund by CWAM 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; 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 also noted the quality of CWAM’s compliance record.
The Trustees took into account the changes made by CWAM in the
past year to improve Fund performance. This included but was not limited to: changes to the Fund’s portfolio composition, which began in 2015; the continued addition of more risk-based analyses into the portfolio management and construction
process; an investment emphasis on more liquid stocks with more growth potential; and changes to the Fund’s portfolio managers and analyst.
The Trustees concluded that the nature, quality and extent of
the services provided by CWAM 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 CWAM. They also concluded that CWAM
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. The Trustees also considered that
Ameriprise had previously committed to the Board that CWAM would have sufficient investment management resources to continue to improve performance, including but not limited to resources to continue hiring additional analysts and other investment
and operational personnel. The Trustees therefore believed that CWAM would have sufficient resources to attract and retain personnel as necessary to improve performance.
Performance of the Fund
The Trustees reviewed information comparing the Fund’s
performance with that of its benchmarks and with the performance of the universe of comparable funds as identified by independent consultant Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (“Broadridge”). It was noted that Broadridge could not
provide a peer group for the Fund because there were limited peer funds available. The Trustees therefore considered the universe performance and peer group information provided by Broadridge for Columbia Acorn International, which CWAM manages
similarly to the Fund. The Trustees evaluated the performance and risk characteristics of the Fund over various time periods, including the one-, three- and five-year periods ended December 31, 2017, which showed that the Fund had outperformed the
Broadridge universe and its primary benchmark for the one-year period but had underperformed for the three- and five-year periods. The Trustees also considered more recent Fund performance as of April 2018 in order to evaluate CWAM’s progress
in improving Fund performance, which indicated that both universe and benchmark performance was satisfactory.
The Trustees concluded that CWAM had taken and continued to
take a number of corrective steps to improve the Fund’s performance, although it would take some time to determine their effectiveness, and that the Performance Committee was monitoring the Fund’s performance closely. In addition, the
Trustees considered that CWAM’s Chief Investment Officer and Director of International Research had each reported to them at numerous Contract Committee, Performance Committee and Board meetings on the corrective steps being taken to improve
the Fund’s performance.
Costs of services and
profits realized by CWAM
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 Broadridge. The Trustees noted that the Fund’s net expenses and actual advisory fees
were higher than its Broadridge peer group median. The Trustees also considered that the Fund’s advisory fees were generally comparable to Columbia Acorn International’s advisory fees at the same asset levels.
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Board Consideration and Approval of Advisory
Agreement (continued)
The Trustees also reviewed the advisory fee rates charged by
CWAM for managing other investment companies as a sub-adviser, and other institutional separate accounts that had investment strategies similar to the Fund, as detailed in materials provided to the Contract Committee by CWAM. The Trustees determined
that the Fund’s advisory fees were somewhat higher than CWAM’s sub-advisory and institutional separate account fees. The Trustees considered the information provided by CWAM regarding its performance of significant additional services
for the Fund that it did not provide to sub-advisory and non-mutual fund clients, including administrative and fund accounting services, oversight of the Fund’s other service providers, Trustee support, regulatory compliance and numerous other
services, and that, in servicing the Fund, CWAM assumed many legal and business risks that it did not assume in servicing many of its non-fund clients.
The Trustees reviewed the analysis of CWAM’s
profitability in serving as the Fund’s investment manager and of CWAM and its affiliates in their other service provider relationships with the Fund. The Contract Committee and the Board 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 reviewed the methodology used by CWAM
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 a third-party consultant, Strategic Insight,
which compared CWAM’s profitability to other similar investment managers in the mutual fund industry. 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. The Trustees evaluated CWAM’s profitability in light of the resources that had been, and would continue to be, provided to the Fund by
Ameriprise to assist in improving Fund performance.
Economies of scale
At various Committee and Board meetings and other informal
meetings, the Trustees considered information about the extent to which CWAM realized economies of scale in connection with an increase in Fund assets. The Trustees noted that the advisory fee schedule for the Fund included breakpoints in the rate
of fees at various asset levels. The Trustees concluded that the fee structure of the Advisory Agreement for the Fund reflected a sharing of economies of scale between CWAM and the Fund.
Other benefits to CWAM
The Trustees also reviewed benefits that accrued to CWAM and
its affiliates from their relationships with the Fund, based upon information provided to them by Ameriprise. They noted that the Fund’s transfer agency services were performed by Columbia Management Investment Services Corp., an affiliate of
Ameriprise, which received compensation from the Fund for its transfer agent services. They considered that another affiliate of Ameriprise, Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc., served as the Fund’s distributor under an
underwriting agreement but received no fees for its services to the Fund. In addition, they considered that Columbia Management provided sub-administration services to the Fund. The Contract Committee and the Board received information regarding the
profitability of these Fund agreements to the CWAM affiliates and also reviewed information about and discussed the capabilities of each affiliated entity in performing its respective duties.
The Trustees considered other ways that the Fund and CWAM
might potentially benefit from their relationship with each other. For example, the Trustees considered CWAM’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 CWAM. They noted that the Compliance Committee reviewed CWAM’s annual "soft dollar" report during the year and met with representatives from CWAM to review CWAM’s soft dollar spending. The Trustees also
considered that the Compliance Committee regularly reviewed third-party prepared reports that evaluated the quality of CWAM’s execution of the Fund’s portfolio transactions. The Trustees determined that CWAM’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 CWAM benefitted 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 CWAM’s receipt of those products and services as well as research products and services acquired through commissions paid by other
clients of CWAM.
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Board Consideration and Approval of Advisory
Agreement (continued)
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 advisory fees were reasonable and that the continuation of the Advisory Agreement was in
the best interest of the Fund. At the Board meeting held on June 12, 2018, the Trustees approved continuation of the Advisory Agreement for the Fund through July 31, 2019.
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Proxy
voting policies and procedures
The policy of the Board
of Trustees is to vote the proxies of the companies in which the Fund holds investments consistent with the procedures as stated in the Statement of Additional Information (SAI). You may obtain a copy of the SAI without charge by calling
800.345.6611; contacting your financial intermediary or searching the website of the SEC at sec.gov. Information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities is filed with the SEC by August 31st for the most recent 12-month
period ending June 30th of that year, and is available without charge by visiting columbiathreadneedleus.com/investor/, or searching the website of the SEC at sec.gov.
Quarterly schedule of investments
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 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 Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling 800.SEC.0330. The Fund’s complete schedule of portfolio holdings, as filed on Form N-Q, can also be obtained without charge, upon request, by calling
800.345.6611.
Additional Fund information
Fund investment manager
Columbia Wanger Asset Management, LLC
227 West Monroe, Suite 3000
Chicago, IL 60606
888.4.WANGER
(888.492.6437)
Fund distributor
Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc.
225 Franklin Street
Boston, MA 02110
Fund transfer agent
Columbia Management Investment Services Corp.
P.O. Box 8081
Boston, MA 02266-8081
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Additional information (continued)
Trustees
Laura M. Born, Chair of the
Board
David J. Rudis, Vice
Chair of the Board
Maureen M. Culhane
P. Zachary Egan
Margaret M. Eisen
Eric A. Feldstein
John C. Heaton
Charles R. Phillips
Ralph Wanger (Trustee Emeritus)
Officers
P. Zachary Egan, President
Alan G. Berkshire, Vice
President
Michael G. Clarke,
Assistant Treasurer
David L.
Frank, Vice President
Paul B.
Goucher, Assistant Secretary
Tae Han (Simon) Kim, Vice
President
John M. Kunka, Vice
President, Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer
Stephen Kusmierczak, Vice
President
Joseph C. LaPalm,
Vice President
Ryan C.
Larrenaga, Assistant Secretary
Matthew A. Litfin, Vice
President
Satoshi Matsunaga,
Vice President
Thomas P.
McGuire, Chief Compliance Officer
Louis J. Mendes, Vice President
Julian Quero, Assistant
Treasurer
Martha A. Skinner,
Assistant Treasurer
Richard Watson, Vice President
Linda K.
Roth-Wiszowaty, Secretary
Charles Young, Vice President
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Wanger International
Through October 31, 2018:
P.O. Box 8081
Boston, MA 02266-8081
Effective November 1, 2018:
P.O. Box 219104
Kansas City, MO 64121-9104
Please read and consider the investment objectives, risks,
charges and expenses for any fund carefully before investing. For variable fund and variable contract prospectuses, which contain this and other important information, including the fees and expenses imposed under your contract, investors should
contact their financial advisor or insurance representative. Read the prospectus for the Fund and your variable contract carefully before investing. Columbia Wanger Funds are distributed by Columbia Management
Investment Distributors, Inc., member FINRA, and are managed by Columbia Wanger Asset Management, LLC.
Columbia Threadneedle Investments (Columbia Threadneedle) is
the global brand name of the Columbia and Threadneedle group of companies. All rights reserved. Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc., 225 Franklin Street, Boston, MA 02110-2804
© 2018 Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC.
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
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(a) |
The registrants 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. |
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 registrants
board of directors.
Item 11. Controls and Procedures.
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(a) |
The registrants principal executive officer and principal financial officers, based on their evaluation
of the registrants 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 registrants management, including the principal executive officer and principal financial officer, or persons performing
similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. |
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(b) |
There was no change in the registrants internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the
registrants second fiscal quarter of the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrants internal control over financial reporting. |
Item 12. Disclosure of Securities Lending Activities for Closed-End Management Investment Companies
Not applicable.
Item 13. 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.
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Wanger Advisors Trust |
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By (Signature and Title) |
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/s/ Alan Berkshire |
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Alan Berkshire, President and Principal Executive Officer |
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.
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By (Signature and Title) |
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/s/ Alan Berkshire |
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Alan Berkshire, President and Principal Executive Officer |
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By (Signature and Title) |
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/s/ John M. Kunka |
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John M. Kunka, Treasurer and Principal Accounting and Financial Officer |