Objectives and Approach

The Fund aims to provide income with the prospect of some investment growth over the long term. It looks to outperform the J.P. Morgan Emerging Market Bond Index Global (EMBI Global) over rolling 3-year periods, after the deduction of charges. The Fund is actively managed, and invests at least two thirds of its assets in bonds issued by governments (or quasi-government entities) of Emerging Market countries and companies which are domiciled or have significant business operations in such countries. The selected bonds may be of any credit quality, including those rated below investment grade or unrated, and are typically denominated in US dollars. Due to the perceived higher risk of investing in bonds issued by emerging market borrowers, these bonds typically offer higher yields than those of more stable bonds issued in developed countries. The Fund considers Emerging Market countries to be those characterised as developing or emerging by the World Bank, the United Nations, or the EMBI Global. 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. The EMBI Global is regarded as an appropriate performance measure of US dollar-denominated emerging market bonds issued by government and quasi-government entities. It provides a suitable target benchmark against which Fund performance will be measured and evaluated over time.