Filing by Columbia Funds Series Trust I pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act of 1933,
and deemed filed under Rule 14a-12(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Subject Companies:
Columbia Funds Series Trust
(SEC File No. 811-09645)
Fund merger news and proxy proposals |
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| Merger Resources | ||||||
Merger Questions & Answers (PDF) | ||||||
Shortly after proxy materials were filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, we began a period of proxy mailings and shareholder vote solicitations that for most funds concluded at our shareholder meeting on April 15, 2016. We are now pleased to announce that shareholders have approved many fund mergers as well as proposals relating to Columbia AMT-Free Tax-Exempt Bond Fund. There are also some important dates and pieces of information we would like to remind you of. |
Potential lower fund operating expenses (PDF)
See the “How to vote” section below for voting instructions. |
Fund merger approvals
As approved by shareholders, the following acquired funds are anticipated to merge into their corresponding acquiring fund on the date provided in the table below. All mergers are expected to be completed at the close of business on the anticipated merger date. Please remember, acquired funds are expected to remain open to additional purchases through the close of business on the day of the merger.
Acquired fund
| Acquiring fund
| Anticipated merger date (close of business)
| ||
Columbia International Opportunities Fund
| Columbia Select International Equity Fund
| May 20, 2016
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Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund IV
| Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund
| May 20, 2016
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Columbia Multi-Advisor Small Cap Value Fund
| Columbia Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund
| May 20, 2016
| ||
Acquired variable portfolio
| Acquiring variable portfolio
| Anticipated merger date (close of business)
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Columbia Variable Portfolio - International Opportunities Fund
| Columbia Variable Portfolio - Select International Equity Fund
| April 29, 2016
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Columbia Variable Portfolio - Large Cap Growth Fund II Columbia Variable Portfolio - Large Cap Growth Fund III
| Columbia Variable Portfolio - Large Cap Growth Fund
| April 29, 2016
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Variable Portfolio - Loomis Sayles Growth Fund II | Variable Portfolio - Loomis Sayles Growth Fund
| April 29, 2016
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Approved proxy proposal for Columbia AMT-Free Tax-Exempt Bond Fund (now known as Columbia Strategic Municipal Income Fund)
Shareholders of Columbia AMT-Free Tax-Exempt Bond Fund approved changes to the fund’s investment objective and 80% investment policy to permit, among other things, investing, without limit, in AMT-generating securities, which became effective April 18, 2016. These and associated strategy changes are intended to provide Columbia Threadneedle with greater flexibility to invest the fund’s assets in a broader universe of fixed income securities and will enhance the fund’s investment flexibility to adjust to changing economic environments in an effort to more effectively manage risk and enhance performance.
Adjournments
At the same shareholder meeting mentioned above, it was decided to adjourn the following funds until June 13, 2016 to allow further time to solicit additional votes.
Acquired fund
| Acquiring fund
| |
Columbia International Value Fund
| Columbia Overseas Value Fund
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Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund II Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund III Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund V
| Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund
| |
Columbia Value and Restructuring Fund
| Columbia Contrarian Core Fund
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How to vote
Shareholders should use the voting instructions listed on their proxy card(s). Shareholders are encouraged to vote as early as possible to reduce fund expenses and unnecessary calls from the funds’ proxy solicitor. Shareholder voting options include:
By telephone:
| ¡ | Beneficial shareholders should refer to their proxy card for specific phone numbers. |
| ¡ | Direct-at-fund shareholders should call: |
o Mutual funds: 800.337.3503
By internet:
| ¡ | Beneficial shareholders should go to: proxyvote.com. |
| ¡ | Direct-at-fund shareholders should go to: proxy-direct.com. |
By mail, using the postage prepaid envelope provided.
In person, at the shareholder meeting scheduled to occur at 225 Franklin Street, Boston, MA (31st Floor, Room 3100) on June 13, 2016.
Not sure if you’re a beneficial or direct-at-fund shareholder?
Beneficial shareholdershold shares through a broker/dealer or financial intermediary and receive account statements from that financial firm.
Direct-at-fund shareholders hold shares directly with the fund and receive account statements from Columbia Threadneedle.
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Proxy materials
For additional details, the proxy materials can be found online at:
| • | Mutual fund mergers: proxy-direct.com/col-27405 |
Proxy-related questions
If you have questions about any of the proxy proposals or about voting procedures, please call the funds’ proxy solicitor, Computershare Fund Services, toll free at800.708.7953.
Restrictions and policies
Certificates of shares
If you currently hold any shares of an acquired fund in certificate form, those shares will be considered null and void upon completion of the fund merger. Shares will be held in book entry form in the corresponding acquiring fund.
New accounts
New account applications for the purchase of shares of an acquired fund, received in good order, will be accepted through the close of business on that acquired fund’s merger date. After that, any account application for shares of an acquired fund will be rejected.
Purchases, exchanges and redemptions of shares of an acquired fund
Purchases, exchanges and redemptions of an acquired fund will be accepted through the close of business on the acquired fund’s merger date. In addition, requests to purchase, exchange or redeem shares of an acquired fund received in good order within 30 days after the merger date, will automatically be treated as a purchase, exchange or redemption of the corresponding acquiring fund. After this 30-day period, any such requests will be rejected.
Systematic investment plan and systematic withdrawal plan transactions
If you are currently participating in the systematic investment plan or systematic withdrawal plan with an acquired fund, your current systematic transactions will be carried over to its corresponding acquiring fund.
Additional information about existing accounts, share transfer, taxes, services and distributions
Existing accounts
Account numbers will be carried over whenever possible. But, if an account number in an acquiring fund is already being used by another shareholder, a new account number will be created. We will also target existing accounts for the same shareholder in the acquiring funds whenever possible.
Share transfer
The full value of your account in an acquired fund will be exchanged for shares of the acquiring fund on the date of the mergers. While the number of shares may differ based on each fund’s net asset value, the value of your account will not change as a direct result of the merger transaction. If your shares are currently subject to a CDSC, the CDSC will carry over with the merger transaction. Any applicable CDSC will be assessed on redemptions based on the CDSC schedule applicable to shares of the acquired funds.
Taxes
Each retail mutual fund merger is intended to be a tax-free reorganization for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Shareholders of the funds are not expected to realize any gains or losses as a direct result of the mergers.
Services
Account-level features and options such as dividend distributions, dividend diversification, automatic investment plans, systematic withdrawals and dollar cost averaging will automatically carry over during the merger transaction. If a shareholder of an acquired fund also owns a pre-existing account in an acquiring fund, the account level features do not carry over.
Distributions
Prior to each acquired fund’s merger event, ordinary income and capital gains, if any, will be distributed to shareholders of record in the acquired funds and possibly in the acquiring funds.
The foregoing is not an offer to sell, nor a solicitation of an offer to buy, shares of any Acquiring Fund. For information regarding an Acquiring Fund, or to receive a free copy of a prospectus/proxy statement relating to a proposed merger, please call the proxy solicitor or visit its website. The telephone number and website for the proxy solicitor is 800-708-7953 and proxy-direct.com/col-27405. The prospectus/proxy statement contains important information about fund objectives, strategies, fees, expenses and risk considerations. The prospectus/proxy statement is also available for free on the website of the Securities and Exchange Commission (www.sec.gov). Please read the prospectus/proxy statement carefully before making any decision to invest or when considering a merger proposal.
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