497K 1 d153940d497k.htm COLUMBIA FUNDS SERIES TRUST I Columbia Funds Series Trust I
 
Summary Prospectus
March 1, 2016
Columbia AMT-Free Intermediate Muni Bond Fund
    
Class   Ticker Symbol
Class A Shares   LITAX
Class B Shares   LITBX
Class C Shares   LITCX
Class R4 Shares   CIMRX
Class R5 Shares   CTMRX
Class T Shares   GIMAX
Class Z Shares   SETMX
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.columbiathreadneedleus.com/forms-literature/mutual-fund-literature. You can also get this information at no cost by calling 800.345.6611 or by sending an email to serviceinquiries@columbiathreadneedle.com. This Summary Prospectus incorporates by reference the Fund’s prospectus, dated March 1, 2016, 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 AMT-Free Intermediate Muni Bond Fund (the Fund) seeks current income exempt from federal income tax, consistent with preservation of principal.
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. (the Distributor). More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial intermediary, and can be found in the Choosing a Share Class section beginning on page 21 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 Class T Classes R4,
R5 and Z
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a % of offering price) 3.00% None None 4.75% None
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) imposed on redemptions (as a % of the lower of the original purchase price or current net asset value) 0.75% (a) 3.00% (b) 1.00% (c) 1.00% (d) 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 R4 Class R5 Class T Class Z
Management fees(e) 0.45% 0.45% 0.45% 0.45% 0.45% 0.45% 0.45%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees 0.20% 0.85% 0.85% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Other expenses(e)(f) 0.22% 0.22% 0.22% 0.22% 0.08% 0.37% 0.22%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.87% 1.52% 1.52% 0.67% 0.53% 0.82% 0.67%
Less: Fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements(g) (0.09%) (0.09%) (0.09%) (0.09%) (0.04%) (0.09%) (0.09%)
Total annual Fund operating expenses after fee waivers and/or reimbursements 0.78% 1.43% 1.43% 0.58% 0.49% 0.73% 0.58%
(a) For purchases made on or after February 19, 2015, this charge is imposed on certain investments of $500,000 or more redeemed within 12 months after purchase, with certain limited exceptions. For purchases made prior to February 19, 2015, this charge is imposed on certain investments of between $1 million and $50 million redeemed within 18 months after purchase, as follows: 1.00% if redeemed within 12 months after 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 12 months after purchase, with certain limited exceptions.
(d) This charge is imposed on certain investments of between $1 million and $50 million redeemed within 18 months after purchase, as follows: 1.00% if redeemed within 12 months after purchase, and 0.50% if redeemed more than 12, but less than 18, months after purchase, with certain limited exceptions.
(e) Management fees reflect the combination of advisory and administrative services fees under one agreement providing for a single management fee. As a result, other expenses do not include administrative services fees. Advisory fees and administrative services fees paid pursuant to separate prior agreements amounted to 0.39% and 0.06% of average daily net assets of the Fund, respectively.
(f) Other expenses for Class A, Class B, Class C, Class R4, Class R5, Class T and Class Z shares have been restated to reflect current transfer agency fees paid by the Fund.
(g) Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC and certain of its affiliates have contractually agreed to waive fees and/or to reimburse expenses (excluding transaction costs and certain other investment related expenses, interest, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses, and extraordinary expenses) until February 28, 2017, unless sooner terminated at the sole discretion of the Fund’s Board of Trustees. Under this agreement, the Fund’s net operating expenses, subject to applicable exclusions, will not exceed the annual rates of 0.78% for Class A, 1.43% for Class B, 1.43% for Class C, 0.58% for Class R4, 0.49% for Class R5, 0.73% for Class T and 0.58% for Class Z.
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.
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Since the waivers and/or reimbursements shown in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table above expire as indicated in the preceding table, they are only reflected in the 1 year example and the first year of the other examples. 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) $377 $560 $759 $1,332
Class B (assuming redemption of all shares at the end of the period) $446 $671 $820 $1,629
Class B (assuming no redemption of shares) $146 $471 $820 $1,629
Class C (assuming redemption of all shares at the end of the period) $246 $471 $820 $1,805
Class C (assuming no redemption of shares) $146 $471 $820 $1,805
Class R4 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $ 59 $205 $364 $ 826
Class R5 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $ 50 $166 $292 $ 661
Class T (whether or not shares are redeemed) $546 $716 $900 $1,432
Class Z (whether or not shares are redeemed) $ 59 $205 $364 $ 826
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 15% 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 municipal securities that pay interest exempt from U.S. federal income tax (including the federal alternative minimum tax (AMT)). These securities are issued by or on behalf of states and their political subdivisions, agencies, authorities and instrumentalities, by other qualified issuers and by funds that invest in such securities. Qualified issuers include issuers located in U.S. territories, such as Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets in securities that pay interest subject to taxation. The Fund will not invest in securities that pay interest subject to the federal AMT.
The Fund normally invests at least 80% of its total assets in municipal securities that, at the time of purchase, are rated investment grade or are unrated but determined to be of comparable quality. The Fund may invest up to 10% of its total assets in securities that, at the time of purchase, are rated below investment grade or are unrated but determined to be of comparable quality (commonly referred to as “high-yield securities” or “junk bonds”).
While the Fund may invest in securities of any maturity, under normal circumstances, the Fund’s dollar-weighted average maturity will be between three and ten years.
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 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 and/or strategies.
Changing Distribution Level Risk. The amount of the distributions paid by the Fund will vary and generally depends on the amount of interest income and/or dividends received by the Fund on the securities it holds. The Fund may not be able to pay distributions or may have to reduce its distribution level if the interest income and/or dividends the Fund receives from its investments decline.
Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that the value of fixed-income instruments may decline if the issuer thereof defaults or otherwise becomes unable or unwilling, or is perceived to be unable or unwilling, to honor its financial obligations, such as making payments to the Fund when due. Fixed-income securities backed by an issuer's taxing authority may be subject to legal limits on the issuer's power to increase taxes or otherwise to raise revenue, or may be dependent on legislative appropriation or government aid. Certain fixed-income securities are backed only by revenues derived from a particular project or source, rather than by an issuer's taxing authority, and thus may have a greater risk of default. Rating agencies assign credit ratings to certain fixed-income securities to indicate their credit
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risk. Lower quality or unrated securities held by the Fund may present increased credit risk as compared to higher-rated securities. Non-investment grade fixed-income instruments (commonly called “high-yield” or “junk”) may be subject to greater price fluctuations and are more likely to experience a default than investment grade fixed-income instruments and therefore may expose the Fund to increased credit risk. If the Fund purchases unrated securities, or if the ratings of securities held by the Fund are lowered after purchase, the Fund will depend on analysis of credit risk more heavily than usual.
High-Yield Investments Risk. Securities and other debt instruments held by the Fund that are rated below investment grade (commonly called “high-yield” or “junk” bonds) and unrated debt instruments of comparable quality expose the Fund to a greater risk of loss of principal and income than a fund that invests solely or primarily in investment grade debt instruments. In addition, these investments have greater price fluctuations, are less liquid and are more likely to experience a default than higher-rated debt instruments. High-yield debt instruments are considered to be predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s capacity to pay interest and repay principal.
Interest Rate Risk. Interest rate risk is the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates. In general, if prevailing interest rates rise, the values of fixed-income instruments tend to fall, and if interest rates fall, the values of fixed-income instruments tend to rise. Changes in the value of a fixed-income instrument usually will not affect the amount of income the Fund receives from it but will generally affect the value of the Fund's shares. In general, the longer the maturity or duration of a fixed-income instrument, the greater its sensitivity to changes in interest rates. Interest rate declines also may increase prepayments of debt obligations, which, in turn, would increase prepayment risk. Similarly, a period of rising interest rates may negatively impact the Fund’s performance. Actions by governments and central banking authorities can result in increases in interest rates. Such actions may negatively affect the value of fixed-income instruments held by the Fund, resulting in a negative impact on the Fund's performance and NAV.
Liquidity Risk. Liquidity risk is the risk associated with any event, circumstance, or characteristic of an investment or market that negatively impacts the Fund’s ability to sell, or realize the proceeds from the sale of, an investment at a desirable time or price. The municipal securities market is an over-the-counter market, which means that the Fund purchases and sells investments through municipal bond dealers. The Fund’s ability to sell investments held in its portfolio is dependent on the willingness and ability of market participants to provide bids that, in the portfolio manager’s view, reflect current market prices. Adverse market conditions could result in a lack of liquidity by reducing the number of ready buyers. Decreases in the number of financial institutions, including banks and broker-dealers, willing to make markets (match up sellers and buyers) in the Fund’s investments or decreases in their capacity or willingness to trade such investments may increase the Fund’s exposure to this risk. As a result, the Fund, when seeking to sell its portfolio investments, could find that selling is more difficult than anticipated, especially during times of high market volatility. Market participants attempting to sell the same or a similar instrument at the same time as the Fund could exacerbate the Fund’s exposure to liquidity risk. The Fund may have to accept a lower selling price for the holding, sell other investments that it might otherwise prefer to hold, or forego another more appealing investment opportunity. Certain investments that were liquid when purchased by the Fund may later become illiquid, particularly in times of overall economic distress. Changing regulatory, market or other conditions or environments (for example, the interest rate or credit environments) may also adversely affect the liquidity and the price of the Fund's investments. Certain types of investments, such as lower-rated securities or those that are purchased and sold in over-the-counter markets, may be especially subject to liquidity risk. Judgment plays a larger role in valuing illiquid or less liquid investments as compared to valuing liquid or more liquid investments. Price volatility may be higher for illiquid or less liquid investments as a result of, for example, the relatively less frequent pricing of such securities (as compared to liquid or more liquid investments). Generally, the less liquid the market at the time the Fund sells a portfolio investment, the greater the risk of loss or decline of value to the Fund. Overall market liquidity and other factors can lead to an increase in Fund redemptions, which may negatively impact Fund performance and NAV, including, for example, if the Fund is forced to sell investments in a down market.
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. Under certain market conditions, debt instruments may have greater price volatility than equity securities. An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods.
Municipal Securities Risk. Municipal securities are debt obligations generally issued to obtain funds for various public purposes, including general financing for state and local governments, or financing for a specific project or public facility, and include obligations of the governments of the U.S. territories, commonwealths and possessions such as Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands to the extent such obligations are exempt from state and federal income taxes. Municipal securities may be fully or partially backed by the taxing authority of the local government, by the credit of a private issuer, by the current or anticipated revenues from a specific project or specific assets or by domestic or foreign entities providing credit support, such as letters of credit, guarantees or insurance,
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and are generally classified into general obligation bonds and special revenue obligations. General obligation bonds are backed by an issuer's taxing authority and may be vulnerable to limits on a government's power or ability to raise revenue or increase taxes. They may also depend for payment on legislative appropriation and/or funding or other support from other governmental bodies. Revenue obligations are payable from revenues generated by a particular project or other revenue source, and are typically subject to greater risk of default than general obligation bonds because investors can look only to the revenue generated by the project or other revenue source backing the project, rather than to the general taxing authority of the state or local government issuer of the obligations. Because many municipal securities are issued to finance projects in sectors such as education, health care, transportation and utilities, conditions in those sectors can affect the overall municipal market.
Certain of the municipalities or territories in which the Fund may invest have recently experienced significant financial difficulties. A credit rating downgrade relating to default by, or insolvency or bankruptcy of, one or several municipal security issuers of a state, territory, commonwealth or possession in which the Fund invests could affect the market values and marketability of many or all municipal obligations of such state, territory, commonwealth or possession. The value of the Fund’s shares will be negatively impacted to the extent it invests in such securities. The Fund’s annual and semiannual reports show the Fund’s investment exposures at a point in time. The risk of investing in the Fund is directly correlated to the Fund’s investment exposures.
Securities issued by a particular state and its instrumentalities are subject to the risk of unfavorable developments in such state. A municipal security can be significantly affected by adverse tax, legislative, regulatory, demographic or political changes as well as changes in a particular state's (state and its instrumentalities) financial, economic or other condition and prospects.
Prepayment and Extension Risk. Prepayment and extension risk is the risk that a bond or other security or investment might, in the case of prepayment risk, be called or otherwise converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity and, in the case of extension risk, the investment might not be called as expected. In the case of prepayment risk, if the investment is converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity, the portfolio managers may not be able to invest the proceeds in other investments providing as high a level of income, resulting in a reduced yield to the Fund. In the case of mortgage- or asset-backed securities, as interest rates decrease or spreads narrow, the likelihood of prepayment increases. Conversely, extension risk is the risk that an unexpected rise in interest rates will extend the life of a mortgage- or asset-backed security beyond the prepayment time. If the Fund’s investments are locked in at a lower interest rate for a longer period of time, the portfolio managers may be unable to capitalize on securities with higher interest rates or wider spreads.
Reinvestment Risk. Reinvestment risk is the risk that the Fund will not be able to reinvest income or principal at the same return it is currently earning.
Tax Risk. Municipal securities generally pay interest that, in the opinion of bond counsel, is free from U.S. federal income tax (and in some cases, the federal alternative minimum tax). Income from tax-exempt municipal obligations could be declared taxable, possibly retroactively, because of unfavorable changes in tax laws, adverse interpretations by the Internal Revenue Service, the non-compliant conduct of a bond issuer or under other circumstances. In such event, then the value of the security would likely fall and, as a shareholder of the Fund, you may be required to file an amended tax return and pay additional taxes as a result.
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. The table below the bar chart compares the Fund’s returns (after applicable sales charges shown in the Shareholder Fees table in this prospectus) for the periods shown with a broad measure of market 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 Z shares (adjusted to reflect the higher class-related operating expenses of such classes, where applicable) for periods prior to its inception date. 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 Average Annual Total Returns 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-advantaged accounts such as 401(k) plans or Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs). The after-tax returns are shown only for Class A
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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.
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 columbiathreadneedle.com/us.
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 3rd Quarter 2009 6.15%
Worst

 4th Quarter 2010 -3.39%
Average Annual Total Returns After Applicable Sales Charges (for periods ended December 31, 2015)
  Share Class
Inception Date 		1 Year 5 Years 10 Years
Class A 11/25/2002      
returns before taxes   -0.49% 3.76% 3.58%
returns after taxes on distributions   -0.49% 3.76% 3.58%
returns after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares   1.07% 3.67% 3.55%
Class B returns before taxes 11/25/2002 -1.00% 3.73% 3.22%
Class C returns before taxes 11/25/2002 0.90% 4.02% 3.60%
Class R4 returns before taxes 03/19/2013 2.76% 4.59% 4.09%
Class R5 returns before taxes 11/08/2012 2.86% 4.66% 4.12%
Class T returns before taxes 06/26/2000 -2.19% 3.44% 3.44%
Class Z returns before taxes 06/14/1993 2.76% 4.60% 4.09%
Barclays 3-15 Year Blend Municipal Bond Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)   3.06% 4.65% 4.66%
  
Fund Management
Investment Manager: Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Brian McGreevy   Senior Portfolio Manager   Co-manager   2009
Paul Fuchs, CFA   Portfolio Manager   Co-manager   2012
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
columbiathreadneedle.com/us   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, sell or exchange shares of the Fund through your account with the intermediary.
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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
& T** 		All accounts other than IRAs $2,000 $100
IRAs $1,000 $100
Class R4 All eligible accounts None N/A
Class R5 Combined underlying accounts of eligible registered investment advisers $100,000 N/A
Omnibus retirement plans None N/A
Class Z All eligible accounts $0, $1,000 or $2,000
depending upon the category
of eligible investor 		$100
  
* Class B shares are generally closed to new and existing shareholders.
** Class T shares are generally closed to new investors.
There is no minimum additional investment for any share class.
Tax Information
Generally, a substantial portion of the Fund’s distributions consists of exempt-interest dividends, which are generally not taxable to you for federal income tax purposes or for purposes of the federal alternative minimum tax. A portion of the Fund’s distributions may not qualify as exempt-interest dividends; such distributions will generally be 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.
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Columbia Threadneedle Investments 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
© 2016 Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC.
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