Significant fund changes
Important Information
Please read this important information regarding important changes we have made, or are planning to make to our fund range.
For details of significant events shown on Key Investor Information Documents (KIID), please refer to the below documents:
Significant Events related to Columbia Threadneedle (AM) Holdings PLC
Effective 12 December 2024, changes will be made to the investment policies of CT (Lux) Asia Equities and CT (Lux) Asian Equity Income to broaden the permitted regional exposure, beyond Asia, to include investment in companies in the wider Asia Pacific region or which have significant Asia Pacific business operations (excluding Japan).
Further information can be found here.
Effective 12 December 2024, the fund name will change to “CT (Lux) Pan European Focus” and the investment objective and policy will be amended.
While the fund will continue to invest in the shares of companies domiciled in Europe (including the UK), following the changes it will seek to achieve capital appreciation rather than income, through investment in a concentrated portfolio of equity securities.
The fund will also promote environmental and social characteristics by integrating a range of responsible investment measures into the investment decision-making process. The changes will result in the fund being categorised as Article 8 under SFDR.
Further information can be found here.
Funds in scope for the change(s):
- CT (Lux) Responsible Euro Corporate Bond Fund
- CT (Lux) Responsible Global Emerging Markets Equity Fund
- CT (Lux) Responsible Global Equity Fund
- CT (Lux) SDG Engagement Global Equity
- CT (Lux) Sustainable Global Equity Enhanced Income Fund
- CT (Lux) Sustainable Multi-Asset Income Fund
- CT (Lux) Sustainable Opportunities European Equity Fund
Click here to learn more.
And for further information, please refer to the below documents.
CT (Lux) SDG Engagement Global Equity Fund - Investment Policy
CT (Lux) Sustainable Global Equity Enhanced Income Fund - Investment Policy
CT (Lux) Sustainable Multi-Asset Income Fund - Investment Policy
CT (Lux) Sustainable Opportunities European Equity Fund - Investment Policy
Fund(s) in scope for the changes:
• CT (Lux) Responsible Euro Corporate Bond Fund
And for further information, please consult the below document:
Responsible Investment Strategies - Summary Criteria
The Board of Columbia Threadneedle (Lux) I has decided to introduce the possibility to (fully or partially) delegate investment management functions to certain entities of the Group without prior amendment of the Prospectus or notification to shareholders. Further information can be found here.
Effective 2 September 2024, changes will be made to the investment management arrangements applicable to the following Columbia Threadneedle (Lux) I SICAV funds:
- CT (Lux) American Extended Alpha
- CT (Lux) American Select
- CT (Lux) American Smaller Companies
Further information can be found here.
Effective 2 September 2024, changes will be made to the Prospectus definition of “European smaller companies” which applies to the following Columbia Threadneedle (Lux) I SICAV funds:
- CT (Lux) European Smaller Companies
- CT (Lux) Pan European Smaller Companies
- CT (Lux) Pan European Small Cap Opportunities
Further information can be found here.
Effective 2 September 2024, changes will be made to the investment policies and SFDR RTS Annexes (pre-contractual disclosures) of the following Columbia Threadneedle (Lux) I SICAV funds:
- CT (Lux) American
- CT (Lux) American Select
- CT (Lux) American Smaller Companies
- CT (Lux) Asia Equities
- CT (Lux) European Corporate Bond
- CT (Lux) European High Yield Bond
- CT (Lux) European Select
- CT (Lux) Global Corporate Bond
- CT (Lux) Global Equity Income
- CT (Lux) Global Focus
- CT (Lux) Global Select
- CT (Lux) Japan Equities
- CT (Lux) Pan European ESG Equities
- CT (Lux) UK Equities
- CT (Lux) US Contrarian Core Equities
- CT (Lux) European Smaller Companies
- CT (Lux) Pan European Smaller Companies
- CT (Lux) Pan European Small Cap Opportunities
- CT (Lux) Global Smaller Companies
These funds already promote environmental and social characteristics by integrating a range of responsible investment measures into the investment decision-making process, as well as ensuring that the companies in which the funds invest follow good governance practices.
From the Effective Date, the investment manager responsible for the management of the funds will increase the minimum proportion that each fund commits to holding sustainable investments, as further detailed in the SFDR RTS Annexes. For some of the funds, this will be the first time such a commitment is being made. The funds will continue to be categorised as Article 8 under SFDR.
For CT (Lux) Global Smaller Companies, additional changes are also being made to highlight Columbia Threadneedle’s commitment to the Net Zero Asset Managers Initiative (NZAMI), which will now include this fund.
Further information can be found in the below. Please refer to the numbered fund list above for the corresponding letter.
Shareholder Letter (Funds 1-15)
Shareholder Letter (Funds 16-18)
Shareholder Letter (Fund 19)
The following funds* (all sub-funds of Columbia Threadneedle (Lux) III) will be closed on 12/06/2024:
- CT (Lux) European Smaller Cap - Shareholder Notice
- CT (Lux) Global Smaller Cap Equity - Shareholder Notice
- CT (Lux) US Smaller Companies - Shareholder Notice
*these three Funds are not to be confused with CT (Lux) Global Smaller Companies, CT (Lux) European Smaller Companies and CT (Lux) American Smaller Companies Funds, which are unimpacted by this announcement.
The following funds (all sub-funds of Columbia Threadneedle Specialist Funds (UK) ICVC) will be closed on 26/01/2024:
CT American Extended Alpha Fund
CT China Opportunities Fund
CT UK Extended Alpha Fund
Please see the Shareholder Notification and Q&A for further details.
CT American Extended Alpha Fund - Shareholder notice of closure
CT China Opportunities Fund - Shareholder notice of closure
Effective 29 December, the benchmark on the CT (Lux) SDG Engagement Global Equity Fund will change from the MSCI ACWI SMID Cap Index to the MSCI ACWI Mid Cap Index.
Further information can be found here.
The Board of Columbia Threadneedle (Lux) III has decided to introduce the possibility to (fully or partially) delegate investment management functions to certain entities of the Group without prior amendment of the Prospectus or notification to shareholders. Further information can be found here.
Effective 20 November, changes will be made to the investment policies and SFDR RTS Annexes (pre-contractual disclosures) of the following Threadneedle (Lux) and Columbia Threadneedle (Lux) sub-funds:
- Threadneedle (Lux) Asia Equities
- Threadneedle (Lux) European Select
- Threadneedle (Lux) European Smaller Companies
- Threadneedle (Lux) Global Equity Income
- Threadneedle (Lux) Global Focus
- Threadneedle (Lux) Global Select
- Threadneedle (Lux) Pan European Smaller Companies
- Threadneedle (Lux) European High Yield Bond
- Threadneedle (Lux) American Smaller Companies
- Threadneedle (Lux) Global Smaller Companies
- Threadneedle (Lux) American
- Threadneedle (Lux) American Select
- Threadneedle (Lux) Pan European Small Cap Opportunities
- Threadneedle (Lux) UK Equities
- Threadneedle (Lux) European Corporate Bond
- Threadneedle (Lux) Global Corporate Bond
- Threadneedle (Lux) US Contrarian Core Equities
- Threadneedle (Lux) Global Emerging Market Equities
- Threadneedle (Lux) Pan European ESG Equities
- Threadneedle (Lux) European Social Bond
- Columbia Threadneedle (Lux) Sustainable Outcomes Global Equity
For Funds 1-10 (as numbered above), the investment policies and SFDR RTS Annexes will be amended to introduce additional measures that support the promotion of environmental and social characteristics. The Funds will continue to be categorised as Article 8 under SFDR. For Funds 1-8, additional changes are also being made to highlight Columbia Threadneedle’s commitment to the Net Zero Asset Managers Initiative (NZAMI), which includes these Funds.
For Funds 11-18 (as numbered above), the investment policies will be amended and new SFDR RTS Annexes included to introduce the promotion of environmental and social characteristics. The changes will result in the Funds being categorised as Article 8 under SFDR. For Funds 11-16, additional changes are also being made to highlight Columbia Threadneedle’s commitment to the Net Zero Asset Managers Initiative (NZAMI), which includes these Funds.
For Threadneedle (Lux) Pan European ESG Equities, the investment policy and SFDR RTS Annex will be amended to provide additional clarity and information on the various responsible investment measures that are embedded into the existing investment decision-making process and to introduce additional measures that support the promotion of environmental and social characteristics. The Fund will continue to be categorised as Article 8 under SFDR. Additional changes are also being made to highlight Columbia Threadneedle’s commitment to the Net Zero Asset Managers Initiative (NZAMI), which includes this Fund.
For Threadneedle (Lux) European Social Bond and Columbia Threadneedle (Lux) Sustainable Outcomes Global Equity, the investment policies and SFDR RTS Annexes will be amended to allow the Funds to be re-categorised from Article 8 to Article 9 under SFDR. Additional changes are also being made to highlight Columbia Threadneedle’s commitment to the Net Zero Asset Managers Initiative (NZAMI), which includes these Funds.
Further information can be found in the below. Please refer to the numbered fund list above for the corresponding letter.
Shareholder Letter (Funds 1-8)
Shareholder Letter (Funds 9-10)
Shareholder Letter (Funds 11-16)
Shareholder Letter (Funds 17-18)
Shareholder Letter (Fund 19)
Shareholder Letter (Fund 20)
Shareholder Letter (Fund 21)
Update
The proposals to change two of our SICAV company umbrella names, as well as their underlying fund names, were passed at Extraordinary General Meetings held on 27th September. These name changes will take effect on 20th November 2023.
In 2021 Columbia Threadneedle Investments acquired BMO’s asset management business in EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa), resulting in the renaming of various funds and entities within the combined business to reflect a unified Columbia Threadneedle Investments brand in July 2022. A reminder of the changes to the names of our UK-domiciled funds can be seen here.
Renaming the Companies
Consistent with these changes, the Boards of Columbia Threadneedle (Lux) and Threadneedle (Lux) propose to amend and restate the Companies’ articles of incorporation (the “Articles”) to change the names of the two Companies as follows:
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Existing Umbrella Name
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New Umbrella Name
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|---|---|
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Columbia Threadneedle (Lux)
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Columbia Threadneedle (Lux) II
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Threadneedle (Lux)
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Columbia Threadneedle (Lux) I
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Renaming the sub funds
In addition to renaming the Companies, the Boards propose to change the name of the underlying funds in these umbrellas by replacing the pre-fix “Columbia Threadneedle (Lux)” with “CT(Lux)” and by replacing the pre-fix “Threadneedle (Lux)” with “CT (Lux)”, with effect from 20 November 2023, as described in Appendix 1 of the letters below. This will better align the fund names with the Columbia Threadneedle Investments brand. The renaming of the funds will not affect the way in which they are managed or their investment objectives and policies.
A draft of the restated Articles showing the relevant changes is available to shareholders free of charge at the Company’s registered office.
Please follow this link to see all the proposed changes.
Effective 18 October, the benchmark on the Threadneedle (Lux) Global Technology sub-fund will change from the MSCI World Information Technology Index to the MSCI World Information Technology 10/40 Index.
Further information can be found below.
From 2 October 2023, changes will be made to the investment policies of the following funds:
- CT American Smaller Companies Fund (US)
- CT Asia Fund
- CT Global Emerging Markets Equity Fund
- CT American Fund
- CT American Select Fund
- CT European Select
- CT European Smaller Companies Fund
- CT Global Equity Income Fund
- CT Global Focus Fund
- CT Global Select Fund
- CT UK Fund
- CT UK Sustainable Equity Fund
In summary, the investment policies of these funds will be amended to integrate certain RI measures into the decision-making process and/or highlight Columbia Threadneedle’s commitment to the Net Zero Asset Managers Initiative (NZAMI).
Further information can be found below:
Investment Policy Changes: ESG-related (Funds 1-3) – Adviser Letter
Investment Policy Changes: ESG-related (Funds 1-3) – Shareholder Letter
Investment Policy Changes: ESG-related and NZAMI (Funds 4-11) – Adviser Letter
Investment Policy Changes: ESG-related and NZAMI (Funds 4-11) – Shareholder Letter
Investment Policy Changes: NZAMI (CT UK Sustainable Equity Fund) – Adviser Letter
Investment Policy Changes: NZAMI (CT UK Sustainable Equity Fund) – Shareholder Letter
The CT Responsible China A-Share Equity Fund (sub-fund of Columbia Threadneedle (Irl) II PLC) closed on 19/10/2022
The CT European Real Estate Securities Fund (sub-fund of Columbia Threadneedle (Irl) III PLC) changed its bench from FTSE EPRA NAREIT Developed Europe Capped Index to FTSE EPRA Nareit Developed Europe UCITS Capped Net Tax Index
The CT Enhanced Income Euro Equity Fund (sub-fund of Columbia Threadneedle (Irl) III PLC) closed on 06/09/2022
In July 2022, we are changing the names of our UK fund umbrella companies and their sub-funds to align them more closely with our global brand name, Columbia Threadneedle Investments.
Following the UK’s departure from the European Union (EU), our UK domiciled funds are no longer marketed in EU countries. As a result, Columbia Threadneedle Investments will no longer provide translations into EU languages of fund documents and marketing materials for sub-funds of Threadneedle Investment Funds ICVC and Threadneedle Specialist Investment funds ICVC (the “Funds”) and they will be withdrawn from our EU websites. These documents include Key Investor Information Documents (KIIDs), factsheets and prospectuses. The changes are effective from 4 July 2022.
Columbia Threadneedle Investments is proposing to merge the Threadneedle UK Select Fund into the Threadneedle UK Fund. Both are sub-funds of Threadneedle Investment Funds ICVC, an open-ended investment company (OEIC), managed by us. All shareholders in this fund will have the opportunity to vote on the proposed merger. Please see the below documents for further details.
We have recently reviewed the information available to investors about our UK-based OEIC (open-ended investment company) funds and, as a result, we’re updating a number of our fund investment objectives and policies. This will provide investors with additional information regarding our investment approach. These updates will take effect from 7 August 2019.
From 31 August 2019, we are making changes to the name and investment objective and policy of the Threadneedle UK Corporate Bond Fund. The changes include:
- Changing its name to Threadneedle Sterling Corporate Bond Fund
- Broadening and clarifying the wording used to describe the investment objective and policy
From the 1 July 2019, we are making changes to the name and the investment objective and policy of the UK Overseas Earnings Fund. The changes include:
- Changing its name to UK Equity Opportunities Fund
- Broadening and clarifying the wording used to describe the investment objective and policy and includes the addition of the performance benchmark for the purposes of performance comparison.
We would like to inform you that due to a ten-day ‘Golden Week’ holiday period in Japan this year, non-dealing days will be declared on the Threadneedle Japan Fund from Friday 26 April until Monday 6 May 2019 inclusive. This means that investors will be unable to buy, sell, or switch shares in the Fund during this period until it reopens for dealing on Tuesday 7 May 2019. Further information can be found below.
From the 21 May 2019, we are making changes to the TIF Asia Fund, TSIF China Opportunities Fund and TSIF Global Emerging Markets Equity Fund.
The Funds are currently managed by Threadneedle Asset Management Limited (TAML), the investment manager of the Funds. The changes are as follows:
- Threadneedle Asia Fund and Threadneedle China Opportunities Fund (co-management)
TAML will delegate some of its investment decisions to Threadneedle Investments Singapore (Pte.) Limited (TIS) for the Threadneedle Asia Fund and Threadneedle China Opportunities Fund. This will allow both co-managers and deputy managers from the Singapore office for these funds working in collaboration with TAML appointed fund managers. - Threadneedle Global Emerging Markets Equity Fund
Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (CMIA) will become the investment manager for the Threadneedle Global Emerging Markets Equity Fund. TAML will no longer be the investment manager but will continue to provide investment advice and recommendations in relation to the Fund. This change will allow both lead and deputy managers from the US offices for this Fund.
We are providing an update on our Brexit preparations and the continuity of investment management services following the UK’s departure from the European Union.
When the UK leaves the EU, we expect that OEIC funds will lose their UCITS2 status. As far as we are aware there is currently nothing prohibiting EU and non-UK investors from remaining in an OEIC fund.
While uncertainty remains regarding the UK’s departure from the EU, Columbia Threadneedle Investments has a comprehensive contingency planning programme in place to prepare for any potential impacts.
1 OEIC stands for open-ended investment company.
2 UCITS stands for Undertakings for Collective Investment in Transferable Securities. UCITS provides a harmonised regulatory regime for the management and sale of mutual funds within the European Union.
From the 15 April 2019, we are making changes to the investment objective and policy of the Threadneedle American Select Fund. The new wording will make clear that at least 75% of the Fund will be invested in companies based specifically in the United States (US), or with significant US business operations. At the same time, the management team will be able to invest up to 25% of the Fund in companies outside the US.
We recently informed you that we will transfer the assets of certain share classes of the below listed UK-based funds into an equivalent fund within our established Luxembourg fund range. Please note these changes do not impact GBP share classes.
- American Extended Alpha Fund
- Asia Fund
- Global Extended Alpha Fund
- Global Select Fund
- UK Absolute Alpha Fund
We are pleased to confirm that the transfers have now been successfully completed. Further information can be found below.
We recently informed you of our proposal to transfer the assets of certain share classes of the below listed UK-based funds into an equivalent fund within our established Luxembourg fund range. Following the shareholder vote at the extraordinary general meetings held on 12 December 2018, we can confirm that the proposed transfers have now been approved.
- American Extended Alpha Fund
- Asia Fund
- Global Extended Alpha Fund
- Global Select Fund
- UK Absolute Alpha Fund
We recently informed you that we will transfer the assets of certain share classes of the below listed UK-based funds into an equivalent fund within our established Luxembourg fund range. Please note these changes do not impact GBP share classes.
- American Smaller Companies Fund (US)
- European Smaller Companies Fund
- Global Emerging Markets Equity Fund
- Global Equity Income Fund
We are pleased to confirm that the transfers have now been successfully completed. Further information can be found below.
We recently informed you that we will transfer the assets of certain share classes of the below listed UK-based funds into an equivalent fund within our established Luxembourg fund range. Please note these changes do not impact GBP share classes.
- American Fund
- American Select Fund
- European Select Fund
- UK Equity Income Fund
- UK Fund
We are pleased to confirm that the transfers have now been successfully completed. Further information can be found below.
We have written to investors about a proposed change to the following funds.
- American Extended Alpha Fund
- Asia Fund
- Global Extended Alpha Fund
- Global Select Fund
- UK Absolute Alpha Fund
We are planning to transfer the assets of investors in certain share classes of each fund listed above into an equivalent share class within our established Luxembourg fund range. The transfers will be made by a process called a scheme of arrangement.
We recently informed you of our proposal to transfer the assets of certain share classes of the below listed UK-based funds into an equivalent fund within our established Luxembourg fund range.
- American Smaller Companies Fund (US)
- European Smaller Companies Fund
- Global Emerging Markets Equity Fund
- Global Equity Income Fund
Following the shareholder vote at the extraordinary general meetings, the results of the vote are detailed in the investor letter below.
We recently informed you that we will transfer the assets of the Threadneedle Credit Opportunities Fund into Threadneedle (Lux) – Credit Opportunities, an equivalent fund within our established Luxembourg fund range. We are pleased to confirm that the transfer was successfully completed on 20 October 2018. Further information can be found below.
We recently informed you of our proposal to transfer the assets of certain share classes of the below listed UK-based funds into an equivalent fund within our established Luxembourg fund range. Following the shareholder vote at the extraordinary general meetings held on 10 October 2018, we can confirm that the proposed transfers have now been approved.
- American Fund
- American Select Fund
- European Select Fund
- UK Equity Income Fund
- UK Fund
We will be communicating with all impacted clients and outlining the options available to them ahead of the merger date.
We recently informed you that we will transfer the assets of the below listed UK-based funds into an equivalent fund within our established Luxembourg fund range (the “Lux Funds”). We are pleased to confirm that the transfers have now been successfully completed.
- European Corporate Bond Fund
- European High Yield Bond Fund
- Pan European Fund
- Pan European Smaller Companies Fund
- Pan European Equity Dividend Fund
Further information can be found below.
We have written to investors about a proposed change to the following funds.
- American Smaller Companies Fund (US)
- European Smaller Companies Fund
- Global Emerging Markets Equity Fund
- Global Equity Income Fund
We are planning to transfer the assets of investors in certain share classes of each fund listed above into an equivalent share class within our established Luxembourg fund range. The transfers will be made by a process called a scheme of arrangement.
We have written to investors about a proposed change to the following funds.
- American Fund
- American Select Fund
- European Select Fund
- UK Equity Income Fund
- UK Fund
We are planning to transfer the assets of investors in certain share classes of each fund listed above into an equivalent share class within our established Luxembourg fund range. The transfers will be made by a process called a scheme of arrangement.
We recently informed investors of our proposal to transfer the assets of each fund listed below (the “Existing Funds”) into an equivalent fund within our established Luxembourg fund range (the “Lux Funds”). Following the shareholder vote at the extraordinary general meetings (EGMs) held on 24 August 2018, we can confirm that the transfers have been approved for all the affected funds.
- European Corporate Bond Fund
- European High Yield Bond Fund
- Pan European Fund
- Pan European Smaller Companies Fund
- Pan European Equity Dividend Fund
- Credit Opportunities Fund
We will be communicating with all impacted clients and outlining the options available to them ahead of the merger date.
We have written to investors about a proposed change to the following funds.
- European Corporate Bond Fund
- European High Yield Bond Fund
- Pan European Fund
- Pan European Smaller Companies Fund
- Pan European Equity Dividend Fund
- Credit Opportunities Fund
We are planning to transfer the assets of each fund listed above into an equivalent fund within our established Luxembourg fund range. The transfer will be made by a process called a 'cross-border merger'.
We will be applying compulsory conversion to some of our Funds with effect from 16 June 2018. We have written to investors in the funds impacted by the change.
More information and the list of funds and share classes can be found here.
On 9 May we announced plans to transfer EU customer assets from our UK OEIC fund range to equivalent funds in our established Luxembourg SICAV range, to best serve European clients after the UK departs from the European Union.
When the UK leaves the EU (and at the end of any transition period), it’s highly likely that UK-based OEIC funds will lose their UCITS status. By transferring assets to our Luxembourg fund range, we can provide certainty for our EU-based investors and ensure they remain in a UCITS-compliant fund, regardless of the final agreement between the UK and the EU.
A total of 20 funds from the Threadneedle OEIC range will be impacted. The transfers are subject to shareholder approval.
For further information please refer to the press release and Q&A.
From 14 May 2018, the funds listed below will be able to invest through Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect and Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect (together, Stock Connect) in mainland Chinese shares, called China A Shares.
Which funds are affected by the changes?
The following funds are affected by the changes:
- Threadneedle Asia Fund
- Threadneedle China Opportunities Fund
- Threadneedle Global Emerging Markets Equity Fund
- Threadneedle Global Select Fund
- Threadneedle Global Extended Alpha Fund
- Threadneedle Global Equity Income Fund
In our latest review of fees and charges, we identified opportunities to reduce charges on a number of our funds and in certain share classes. These changes will reduce the ongoing charges figures (OCF) and improve value for money for investors. The new fees and charges come into effect from 1 February 2018 and will:
- Reduce registrar fees on a number of our UK regulated funds and in certain share classes
- Reduce operating expenses on a number of our Luxembourg regulated funds and in certain share classes
- Reduce the annual management charge (AMC) on a range of funds and share classes.
From 1 February 2018 we will be updating our prospectuses to include the ability for us to convert investors’ shares in a fund from one share class of the fund to another share class of that same fund. This is known as compulsory conversion.
We will only apply compulsory conversions if it is in the best interests of investors to do so. Ahead of any compulsory conversions we will write to investors in the Fund to explain what is happening, the reasons for it and to give notice of the date that the change will be taking place and we will explain what you can do if you disagree with the changes we plan to make.
For full details please read the Prospectus update section in the Investor Update.
On 1 November 2017 we will be making changes to the way the Threadneedle Japan Fund is managed.
Threadneedle Asset Management Limited (TAML), the investment manager of the Fund, will be able to delegate investment decisions for the Fund to Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (CMIA), which is a US-based investment manager in the Columbia Threadneedle group of companies.
This means that the Fund will benefit from the additional research capability from a large US-based team to complement our strong research base in the UK and US-based fund managers can be involved in making investment decisions for the Fund.
The Threadneedle UK Growth & Income Fund is altering its investment policy to remove the reference to “blue chip large capitalised UK companies” and replacing it with “larger capitalised UK companies”.
Please note that on 1 January 2016, the following changes will take place within Citibank, which acts as the depositary/custodian/trustee for some of our funds:
We will be expanding the definition of smaller companies within the investment policy of the Fund.
From 1 June 2015 Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (Columbia) will be formally appointed as an investment adviser to the US equities funds