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 FTSE All-Share Index over rolling 3-year periods, after the deduction of charges. The Fund is actively managed, and invests at least 90% of its assets in shares of companies listed on the London Stock Exchange; predominantly UK companies. 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. The Alpha Income investment approach is a highly focused management style, allowing the flexibility for significant share and sector positions to be taken. As a result, investment is usually concentrated in fewer than 35 companies. These companies may be of any size, but investment tends to focus on larger companies included in the FTSE All-Share Index. The FTSE All-Share Index is regarded as an appropriate performance measure of the UK stock market, with over 600 companies currently included. The income yield of this index provides a suitable target benchmark against which the level of income generated by the Fund will be measured and evaluated over time. 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.