497K 1 d641087d497k.htm COLUMBIA FUNDS SERIES TRUST I Columbia Funds Series Trust I
Summary Prospectus
January 1, 2014
Columbia Greater China Fund
    
Class   Ticker Symbol
Class A Shares   NGCAX
Class B Shares   NGCBX
Class C Shares   NGCCX
Class I Shares   CCINX
Class R4 Shares   CGCHX
Class R5 Shares   CGCRX
Class W Shares   CGCWX
Class Z Shares   LNGZX
Before you invest, you may want to review the fund’s prospectus, which contains more information about the fund and its risks. You can find the fund’s prospectus, statement of additional information and other information about the fund online at https://www.columbiamanagement.com/web/columbia/forms-literature/fund-literature. You can also get this information at no cost by calling 800.345.6611 or by sending an email to serviceinquiries@columbiamanagement.com. This Summary Prospectus incorporates by reference the fund’s prospectus, dated January 1, 2014, and current Statement of Additional Information.
As with all mutual funds, the Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved these securities or passed upon the adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

Investment Objective
Columbia Greater China Fund (the Fund) seeks long-term capital appreciation.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and members of your immediate family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in certain classes of shares of eligible funds distributed by Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial intermediary, in the Choosing a Share Class section beginning on page 19 of the Fund’s prospectus and in Appendix S to the Statement of Additional Information (SAI) under Sales Charge Waivers beginning on page S-1.
    
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)
  Class A Class B Class C Classes I,
R4, R5,
W and Z
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a % of offering price) 5.75% None None None
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) imposed on redemptions (as a % of the lower of the original purchase price or current net asset value) 1.00% (a) 5.00% (b) 1.00% (c) None
    
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
  Class A Class B Class C Class I Class R4 Class R5 Class W Class Z
Management fees 0.87% 0.87% 0.87% 0.87% 0.87% 0.87% 0.87% 0.87%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees 0.25% 1.00% 1.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.25% 0.00%
Other expenses(d) 0.42% 0.42% 0.42% 0.22% 0.42% 0.27% 0.42% 0.42%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 1.54% 2.29% 2.29% 1.09% 1.29% 1.14% 1.54% 1.29%
(a) This charge is imposed on certain investments of between $1 million and $50 million redeemed within 18 months of purchase, as follows: 1.00% if redeemed within 12 months of purchase, and 0.50% if redeemed more than 12, but less than 18, months after purchase, with certain limited exceptions.
(b) This charge decreases over time.
(c) This charge applies to redemptions within one year of purchase, with certain limited exceptions.
(d) Other expenses for Class A, Class B, Class C, Class R5, Class W and Class Z have been restated to reflect contractual changes to certain fees paid by the Fund and other expenses for Class R4 are based on estimated amounts for the Fund’s current fiscal year.
1 Columbia Greater China Fund

Example
The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over the time periods indicated, and assumes that:
you invest $10,000 in the applicable class of Fund shares for the periods indicated,
your investment has a 5% return each year, and
the Fund’s total annual operating expenses remain the same as shown in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table above.
Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on the assumptions listed above, your costs would be:
    
  1 year 3 years 5 years 10 years
Class A (whether or not shares are redeemed) $723 $1,033 $1,366 $2,304
Class B (assuming redemption of all shares at the end of the period) $732 $1,015 $1,425 $2,438
Class B (assuming no redemption of shares) $232 $ 715 $1,225 $2,438
Class C (assuming redemption of all shares at the end of the period) $332 $ 715 $1,225 $2,626
Class C (assuming no redemption of shares) $232 $ 715 $1,225 $2,626
Class I (whether or not shares are redeemed) $111 $ 347 $ 601 $1,329
Class R4 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $131 $ 409 $ 708 $1,556
Class R5 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $116 $ 362 $ 628 $1,386
Class W (whether or not shares are redeemed) $157 $ 486 $ 839 $1,834
Class Z (whether or not shares are redeemed) $131 $ 409 $ 708 $1,556
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund may pay transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 39% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities of companies whose principal activities are located in the Greater China region. The Greater China region includes Hong Kong, The People’s Republic of China, Taiwan and certain other countries. The Fund’s investments include securities of emerging market issuers. The investment manager determines if a company’s principal activities are located in the Greater China region by considering the company’s country of organization, its primary stock exchange listing, the source of its revenues, the location of its assets and other factors.
The Fund may invest in companies that have market capitalizations of any size believed to be undervalued or have the potential for long-term growth.
The Fund is non-diversified, which means that it can invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of fewer issuers than can a diversified fund.
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money. The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and Fund share price may go down.
Active Management Risk. Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives. The Fund may fail to achieve its investment objective and you may lose money.
Emerging Market Securities Risk. Securities issued by foreign governments or companies in emerging market countries are more likely to have greater exposure to the risks of investing in foreign securities that are described in Foreign Securities Risk. In addition, emerging market countries are more likely to experience instability resulting, for example, from rapid changes or developments in social, political and economic conditions. Their economies are usually less mature and their securities markets are typically less developed with more limited trading activity (i.e., lower trading volumes and less liquidity) than more developed countries. Emerging market securities tend to be more volatile than securities in more developed markets. Many emerging market countries are heavily dependent on international trade and have fewer trading partners, which makes them more sensitive to world commodity prices and economic downturns in other countries, and some have a higher risk of currency devaluations.
Columbia Greater China Fund 2

Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to foreign securities involve certain risks not associated with investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. Foreign securities subject the Fund to the risks associated with investing in the particular country, including the political, regulatory, economic, social, diplomatic and other conditions or events occurring in the country or region, as well as risks associated with less developed custody and settlement practices. Foreign securities may be more volatile and less liquid than investments in securities of U.S. companies. The performance of the Fund may be negatively impacted by foreign currency strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar, particularly where the Fund invests a significant percentage of its assets in foreign securities or other assets denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar.
Greater China Regional Risk. The Greater China region consists of Hong Kong, The People's Republic of China and Taiwan, among other countries, and the Fund's investments in the region are particularly susceptible to risks in that region. Adverse events in any one country within the region may impact the other countries in the region or Asia as a whole. As a result, adverse events in the region will generally have a greater effect on the Fund than if the Fund were more geographically diversified, which could result in greater volatility in the Fund’s net asset value and losses. Markets in the Greater China region can experience significant volatility due to social, economic, regulatory and political uncertainties.
Growth Securities Risk. Growth securities typically trade at a higher multiple of earnings than other types of equity securities. Accordingly, the market values of growth securities may be more sensitive to adverse economic or other circumstances or changes in current or expected earnings than the market values of other types of securities. In addition, growth securities, at times, may not perform as well as value securities or the stock market in general, and may be out of favor with investors for varying periods of time.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or even long periods. In general, equity securities tend to have greater price volatility than debt securities.
Non-Diversified Fund Risk. The Fund is non-diversified, which generally means that it will invest a greater percentage of its total assets in the securities of fewer issuers than a “diversified” fund. This increases the risk that a change in the value of any one investment held by the Fund could affect the overall value of the Fund more than it would affect that of a diversified fund holding a greater number of investments. Accordingly, the Fund's value will likely be more volatile than the value of a more diversified fund.
Small- and Mid-Cap Company Securities Risk. Investments in small- and mid-capitalization companies (small- and mid-cap companies) often involve greater risks than investments in larger, more established companies (larger companies) because small- and mid-cap companies tend to have less predictable earnings and may lack the management experience, financial resources, product diversification and competitive strengths of larger companies, and securities of small- and mid-cap companies may be less liquid and more volatile than the securities of larger companies.
Value Securities Risk. Value securities are securities of companies that may have experienced, for example, adverse business, industry or other developments or may be subject to special risks that have caused the securities to be out of favor and, in turn, potentially undervalued. The market value of a portfolio security may not meet the portfolio manager's perceived value assessment of that security, or may decline in price, even though the portfolio manager(s) believe(s) the securities are already undervalued. There is also a risk that it may take longer than expected for the value of these investments to rise to the portfolio manager’s perceived value. In addition, value securities, at times, may not perform as well as growth securities or the stock market in general, and may be out of favor with investors for varying periods of time.
3 Columbia Greater China Fund

Performance Information
The following bar chart and table show you how the Fund has performed in the past, and can help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the Fund’s Class A share performance (without sales charges) has varied for each full calendar year shown. If the sales charges were reflected, returns shown would be lower. Class A share performance (without sales charges) is shown in the bar chart because Class A shares have at least ten calendar years of performance and Class A shares are the most common share class across the Columbia Funds complex that are available for investment by the general public. The table below the bar chart compares the Fund’s returns (after applicable sales charges) for the periods shown with benchmark performance.
The performance of one or more share classes shown in the table below begins before the indicated inception date for such share class. The returns shown for each such share class include the returns of the Fund’s Class A shares (without applicable sales charges and adjusted to reflect the higher class-related operating expenses of such classes, where applicable) for periods prior to its inception date. Class R4 shares of the Fund commenced operations after the periods ended shown in the table below and, therefore, performance is not yet available. Any share class that does not have available performance would have annual returns substantially similar to those of Class A shares. Except for differences in annual returns resulting from differences in expenses and sales charges (where applicable), the share classes of the Fund would have substantially similar annual returns because all share classes of the Fund invest in the same portfolio of securities.
The after-tax returns shown in the table below are calculated using the highest historical individual U.S. federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state, local or foreign taxes. Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your personal tax situation and may differ from those shown in the table. In addition, the after-tax returns shown in the table do not apply to shares held in tax-deferred accounts such as 401(k) plans or Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs). The after-tax returns are shown only for Class A shares and will vary for other share classes. Returns after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares are higher than before-tax returns for certain periods shown because they reflect the tax benefit of capital losses realized on the redemption of Fund shares. After-tax returns are shown for Class A shares because Class A shares have at least ten calendar years of performance and Class A shares are the most common share class across the Columbia Funds complex that are available for investment by the general public.
The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is no guarantee of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information can be obtained by calling toll-free 800.345.6611 or visiting columbiamanagement.com.
    
Year by Year Total Return (%)
as of December 31 Each Year*
Best and Worst Quarterly Returns
During the Period Shown in the Bar Chart



Best 2nd Quarter 2009 36.52%
Worst 3rd Quarter 2011 -28.02%
* Year to Date return as of September 30, 2013: 4.82%
Columbia Greater China Fund 4

Average Annual Total Returns After Applicable Sales Charges (for periods ended December 31, 2012)
  Share Class
Inception Date
1 Year 5 Years 10 Years
Class A 05/16/1997      
returns before taxes   14.17% -4.56% 15.23%
returns after taxes on distributions   14.19% -4.80% 14.99%
returns after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares   9.65% -3.77% 13.83%
Class B returns before taxes 05/16/1997 15.20% -4.49% 15.05%
Class C returns before taxes 05/16/1997 19.23% -4.14% 15.04%
Class I returns before taxes 08/02/2011 21.68% -3.29% 15.98%
Class R5 returns before taxes 11/08/2012 21.19% -3.41% 15.91%
Class W returns before taxes 06/18/2012 21.19% -3.41% 15.91%
Class Z returns before taxes 05/16/1997 21.47% -3.17% 16.52%
MSCI China Index (Net) (reflects reinvested dividends net of withholding taxes, but reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or other taxes)   22.75% -3.51% 19.26%
Hang Seng Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)   23.15% -3.90% 9.35%
  
Fund Management
Investment Manager: Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Jasmine (Weili) Huang, CFA, CPA
(U.S. and China), CFM
  Portfolio Manager   Manager   2005
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
You may purchase or redeem shares of the Fund on any business day by contacting the Fund in the ways described below:
    
Online   Regular Mail   Express Mail   By Telephone
columbiamanagement.com   Columbia Funds,
c/o Columbia Management
Investment Services Corp.
P.O. Box 8081
Boston, MA 02266-8081
  Columbia Funds,
c/o Columbia Management
Investment Services Corp.
30 Dan Road, Suite 8081
Canton, MA 02021-2809
  800.422.3737
You may purchase shares and receive redemption proceeds by electronic funds transfer, by check or by wire. If you maintain your account with a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary, you must contact that financial intermediary to buy, exchange or sell shares of the Fund in or from your account with the intermediary.
5 Columbia Greater China Fund

The minimum initial investment amounts for the share classes offered by the Fund are shown below:
Minimum Initial Investment
    
Class Category of eligible account For accounts other than
systematic investment
plan accounts
For systematic investment
plan accounts
Classes A, B* & C Nonqualified accounts $2,000 $100
Individual retirement accounts $1,000 $100
Class I & R4 All eligible accounts None None
Class R5 Combined underlying accounts of eligible registered investment advisers $100,000 N/A
Omnibus retirement plans None N/A
Class W All eligible accounts $500 N/A
Class Z All eligible accounts $0, $1,000 or $2,000
depending upon the category
of eligible investor.
$100
  
* This class of shares is generally closed to new and existing shareholders.
There is no minimum additional investment for any share class.
Tax Information
The Fund normally distributes net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any, to shareholders. These distributions are generally taxable to you as ordinary income or capital gains, unless you are investing through a tax-advantaged account, such as a 401(k) plan or an IRA. If you are investing through a tax-advantaged account, you may be taxed upon withdrawals from that account.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies — including Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (the Investment Manager), Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. (the Distributor) and Columbia Management Investment Services Corp. (the Transfer Agent) — may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your financial advisor to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your financial advisor or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
Columbia Greater China Fund 6

225 Franklin Street, Boston, MA 02110
800.345.6611 columbiamanagement.com
© 2014 Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. SUM158_08_D01_(01/14)