Objectives and Approach

The Fund aims to provide income combined with prospects for investment growth over the long term. It looks to provide an income yield higher than the S&P 500 Index over rolling 3-year periods, after the deduction of charges. The Fund is actively managed, and invests at least 75% of its assets in the shares of companies domiciled in the United States of America (US), or which have significant US business operations. The Fund selects companies that exhibit above average income generation potential, as well as those considered to offer opportunities more by way of share price or dividend growth. These companies may be chosen from any industry or economic sector, and whilst there is no restriction on size, investment tends to focus on larger companies, such as those included in the S&P 500 Index. The S&P 500 Index is a US stock market index, the constituents of which represent around 500 of the largest companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange or NASDAQ. The income yield of this index (calculated using dividends declared by its constituent companies) provides a suitable target benchmark against which the level of income generated by the Fund will be measured and evaluated over time. The Fund typically invests in fewer than 70 companies, which may include shares of some companies not within the Index. The Fund may also invest in other assets such as cash and deposits, and hold other funds (including funds managed by Columbia Threadneedle companies) when deemed appropriate. The Fund is not permitted to invest in derivatives for investment purposes, but derivatives may be used with the aim of reducing risk or managing the Fund more efficiently. Derivatives are sophisticated investment instruments linked to the rise and fall of the price of other assets.