| Fund | Prospectus and Summary Prospectus Dated |
| Columbia Emerging Markets Fund |
| ■ | Greater China. 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. These economies can be significantly affected by currency fluctuations and increasing competition from other emerging economies. 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 NAV and losses. Markets in the Greater China region can experience significant volatility due to social, economic, regulatory and political uncertainties. Many Chinese companies to which the Fund seeks investment exposure use a structure known as a variable interest entity (a VIE) to address Chinese restrictions on direct foreign investment in Chinese companies operating in certain sectors. The Fund’s investment exposure to VIEs may pose additional risks because the Fund’s investment is in a holding company domiciled outside of China (a Holding Company) whose interests in the business of the underlying Chinese operating company (the VIE) are established through contracts rather than equity ownership. The VIE structure is a longstanding practice in China but, until recently, was not acknowledged by the Chinese government, creating uncertainty over the possibility that the Chinese government might cease to tolerate VIE structures at any time or impose new restrictions on the structure. In such a scenario, the Chinese operating company could be subject to penalties, including revocation of its business and operating license, or the Holding Company could forfeit its interest in the business of the Chinese operating company. Further, in case of a dispute, the remedies and rights of the Fund may be limited, and legal uncertainty may be exploited against the interests of the Fund. Control over a VIE may also be jeopardized if a natural person who holds the equity interest in the VIE breaches the terms of the contractual arrangements, is subject to legal proceedings, or if any physical instruments or property of the VIE, such as seals, business registration certificates, financial data and licensing arrangements (sometimes referred to as “chops”), are used without authorization. In the event of such an occurrence, the Fund, as a foreign investor, may have little or no legal recourse. In addition to the risk of government intervention, investments through a VIE structure are subject to the risk that the China-based company (or its officers, directors, or Chinese equity owners) may breach the contractual arrangements, that Chinese law changes in a way that adversely affects the enforceability of the arrangements, that the contracts are otherwise not enforceable under Chinese law, in which case a Fund may suffer significant losses on its investments through a VIE structure with little or no recourse available. Further, the Fund is not a VIE owner/shareholder and cannot exert influence through proxy voting or other means. Foreign companies listed on stock exchanges in the United States, including companies using the VIE structure, could also face delisting or other ramifications for failure to meet the expectations and/or requirements of U.S. regulators. Recently, however, China has proposed the adoption of rules which would affirm that VIEs are legally permissible, though there remains significant uncertainty over how these rules will operate. Any of these risks could reduce the liquidity and value of the Fund’s investments in Holding Companies or render them valueless. |
| ■ | Greater China. 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. The Hong Kong, Taiwanese, and Chinese economies are dependent on the economies of other countries and can be significantly affected by currency fluctuations and increasing competition from other emerging economies in Asia with lower costs. 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 NAV and losses. Markets in the Greater China region can experience significant volatility due to social, economic, regulatory and political uncertainties. Changes in Chinese government policy and economic growth rates could significantly affect local markets and the entire Greater China region. China has yet to develop comprehensive securities, corporate, or commercial laws, its market is relatively new and less developed, and its economy is experiencing a |
| relative slowdown. Export growth continues to be a major driver of China’s economic growth. As a result, a reduction in spending on Chinese products and services, the institution of additional tariffs or other trade barriers, including as a result of heightened trade tensions between China and the United States, or a downturn in any of the economies of China’s key trading partners may have an adverse impact on the Chinese economy. Many Chinese companies to which the Fund seeks investment exposure use a structure known as a variable interest entity (a VIE) to address Chinese restrictions on direct foreign investment in Chinese companies operating in certain sectors. The Fund’s investment exposure to VIEs may pose additional risks because the Fund’s investment is not made directly in the VIE (the actual Chinese operating company), but rather in a holding company domiciled outside of China (a Holding Company) whose interests in the business of the underlying Chinese operating company (the VIE) are established through contracts rather than through equity ownership. The VIE (which the Fund is restricted from owning under Chinese law) is generally owned by Chinese nationals, and the Holding Company (in which the Fund invests) holds only contractual rights (rather than equity ownership) relating to the VIE, typically including a contractual claim on the VIE's profits. Shares of the Holding Company, in turn, are traded on exchanges outside of China and are available to non-Chinese investors such as the Fund. The VIE structure is a longstanding practice in China but, until recently, was not acknowledged by the Chinese government, creating uncertainty over the possibility that the Chinese government might cease to tolerate VIE structures at any time or impose new restrictions on the structure. In such a scenario, the Chinese operating company could be subject to penalties, including revocation of its business and operating license, or the Holding Company could forfeit its interest in the business of the Chinese operating company. Further, in case of a dispute, the remedies and rights of the Fund may be limited, and such legal uncertainty may be exploited against the interests of the Fund. The Fund will typically have little or no ability to influence the VIE through proxy voting or other means because it is not a VIE owner/shareholder. Foreign companies listed on stock exchanges in the United States, including companies using the VIE structure, could also face delisting or other ramifications for failure to meet the expectations and/or requirements of the SEC, the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, or other U.S. regulators. Recently, however, China has proposed the adoption of rules which would affirm that VIEs are legally permissible, though there remains significant uncertainty over how these rules will operate. Any of these risks could reduce the liquidity and value of the Fund’s investments in Holding Companies or render them valueless. |