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 Company:
BMO Funds, Inc.
(SEC File No. 811-58433)
COLUMBIA THREADNEEDLE INVESTMENTS: BMO-RELATED MERGERS AND FUND LAUNCH UPDATE
December mergers and associated fund launch
We are writing to provide an update concerning the reorganization of Bank of Montreal’s (BMO) U.S. mutual funds into existing and new Columbia funds (see August 17, October 8 and November 12 bulletins). A BMO Funds shareholder meeting was held on November 23, 2021. At the meeting, merger proposals were approved for several funds, including the funds listed below, which are scheduled to occur at the close of business on December 10, 2021.
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| Merging fund | | Share class | | Ticker | | CUSIP | | Acquiring fund | | Share class | | Ticker | | CUSIP |
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| | A | | BATCX | | 09658W725 | | | | A | | LIBAX | | 19765N492 |
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BMO Core Plus Bond Fund | | Y | | MCYBX | | 09658L877 | | Columbia Total Return Bond Fund | | A | | LIBAX | | 19765N492 |
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| | I | | MCBIX | | 09658L885 | | | | Advisor | | CBNRX | | 19766M774 |
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| | A | | BITAX | | 09658W766 | | Columbia Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund | | A | | LITAX | | 19765L686 |
BMO Intermediate Tax-Free Fund | | Y | | MITFX | | 09658L760 | | A | | LITAX | | 19765L686 |
| | I | | MIITX | | 09658L778 | | Advisor | | CIMRX | | 19766M428 |
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BMO LGM Emerging Markets Equity Fund | | A | | BAEMX | | 09658W824 | | Columbia Emerging Markets Fund | | A | | EEMAX | | 19765Y878 |
| | | | | | | |
| | I | | MIEMX | | 09658L489 | | | | Advisor | | CEMHX | | 19766M469 |
BMO Pyrford International Stock Fund | | A | | BPIAX | | 09658W840 | | Columbia Pyrford International Stock Fund | | A | | PISDX | | 19766Q825 |
| | I | | MISNX | | 09658L513 | | Advisor | | PISKX | | 19766Q783 |
| | R-6 | | BISGX | | 09658V362 | | Inst 3 | | PISQX | | 19766Q759 |
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BMO Short Tax-Free Fund | | A | | BASFX | | 09658W782 | | Columbia Short Term Municipal Bond Fund | | A | | NSMMX | | 19765J350 |
| | I | | MTFIX | | 09658L646 | | Advisor | | CSMTX | | 19766B182 |
| | | | | | | |
BMO Short-Term Income Fund | | A | | BTMAX | | 09658W774 | | Columbia Short Term Bond Fund | | A | | NSTRX | | 19765H396 |
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| | I | | MSIFX | | 09658L570 | | | | Advisor | | CMDRX | | 19766B315 |
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BMO Strategic Income Fund | | A | | BMTAX | | 09658W758 | | Columbia Strategic Income Fund | | A | | COSIX | | 19765L801 |
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| | Y | | MRGIX | | 09658L810 | | | | A | | COSIX | | 19765L801 |
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| | I | | MGIIX | | 09658L828 | | | | Advisor | | CMNRX | | 19766M576 |
We have also announced our intent to launch new Columbia funds into which several BMO funds will merge (see November 12 bulletin). The fund merger and launch noted below will proceed as scheduled in December. Additionally, we expect to file final prospectuses for the five anticipated new funds on December 7 and December 13, at which time they will be accessible via the SEC’s EDGAR database.
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| Merging fund | | Acquiring new fund | | Anticipated merger date* | | New funds available
for sale* |
| | | |
BMO Pyrford International Stock Fund | | Columbia Pyrford International Stock Fund | | 12/10/21 | | 12/13/21 |
The acquiring fund name shown above represents a new Columbia fund that will not be publicly offered until its registration is effective with the SEC and the applicable merging fund is reorganized into it. *The merger is planned for the close of business on the date indicated with the new fund’s merging share classes available for sale at the start of the next business day. Share classes involved in the merger are available for sale ahead of any additional share classes.
For institutional and broker/dealer use only. This material has not been filed with FINRA and may not be shown, quoted to, or used with, members of the general public.
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© 2021 Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC. All rights reserved. Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. columbiathreadneedle.com/us 800.426.3750 | | 3931542 (11/21) |
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| November 24, 2021 | |  |
Rescheduled mergers and launch
The following mergers and the associated fund launch of Columbia Ultra Short Municipal Bond Fund, which were originally scheduled for December, will be rescheduled. A shareholder meeting has been scheduled for January 7, 2022 and we will provide an update at that time.
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| | | Merging fund | | Share
class | | Ticker | | CUSIP | | Acquiring
fund | | Share
class | | Ticker | | CUSIP | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | A | | BATIX | | 09658W733 | | | | A | | LIIAX | | 19765N542 | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | BMO Corporate Income Fund | | Y | | MCIYX | | 09658L851 | | Columbia Corporate Income Fund | | A | | LIIAX | | 19765N542 | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | I | | MCIIX | | 09658L869 | | | | Advisor | | CIFRX | | 19766M808 | | |
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| | BMO Ultra Short Tax-Free Fund | | A | | BAUSX | | 09658W790 | | Columbia Ultra Short Municipal Bond Fund | | A | | USMBX | | 19766J235 | | |
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| | | | I | | MUISX | | 09658L539 | | | | Advisor | | USMDX | | 19766J227 | | |
As previously noted, the closing of each merger is subject to the satisfaction of closing conditions set forth in the applicable agreement and plan of reorganization, including shareholder approvals. As always, your relationship manager or dedicated service team can assist with any questions regarding this information.
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Institutional Dealers | | Broker Dealers | | Registered Investment Advisors | | Independent
Advisors | | Investment-Only
Distribution (DC/
VA) | | ETF Sales Team |
| | | | | | |
866.548.9501 | | 800.215.5005 | | 866.444.5435 | | 800.446.4008 | | 877.894.3592 | | 888.800.4347 |
Please have your clients read and consider investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. Remind them to contact you or visit columbiathreadneedleus.com for a prospectus or summary prospectus, which contains this and other important information about the fund.
Investors should also review the Combined Proxy Statement/Prospectus relating to their fund for more information about the reorganizations and acquiring funds.
The foregoing is not an offer to sell, nor a solicitation of an offer to buy, shares of any fund. For information regarding an acquiring fund or the proposed mergers, please refer to the applicable combined proxy statement/prospectus. The combined proxy statement/prospectus contains important information about fund objectives, strategies, fees, expenses and risk considerations. Each combined proxy statement/prospectus and proxy statement is available for free on the website of the Securities and Exchange Commission (www.sec.gov). Copies are also available at no charge by contacting BMO Funds’ proxy solicitor toll free at 888-991-1289. Please read the applicable combined proxy statement/prospectus carefully before making any decision to invest or when considering a proposal.
Columbia Threadneedle Investments (Columbia Threadneedle) is the global brand name of the Columbia and Threadneedle group of companies.
Columbia funds are distributed by Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc., member FINRA. Columbia funds are managed by Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (CMIA).
For institutional and broker/dealer use only. This material has not been filed with FINRA and may not be shown, quoted to, or used with, members of the general public.
