Columbia Seligman Premium Technology Growth Fund, Inc.
Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM N-CSR

 

 

CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED

MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES

Investment Company Act file number 811-22328

 

 

Columbia Seligman Premium Technology Growth Fund, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

 

 

225 Franklin Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02110

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

 

 

Scott R. Plummer

5228 Ameriprise Financial Center

Minneapolis, MN 55474

(Name and address of agent for service)

 

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (800) 345-6611

Date of fiscal year end: December 31

Date of reporting period: December 31, 2015

 

 

Form N-CSR is to be used by management investment companies to file reports with the Commission not later than 10 days after the transmission to stockholders of any report that is required to be transmitted to stockholders under Rule 30e-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (17 CFR 270.30e-1). The Commission may use the information provided on Form N-CSR in its regulatory, disclosure review, inspection, and policymaking roles.

A registrant is required to disclose the information specified by Form N-CSR, and the Commission will make this information public. A registrant is not required to respond to the collection of information contained in Form N-CSR unless the Form displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (“OMB”) control number. Please direct comments concerning the accuracy of the information collection burden estimate and any suggestions for reducing the burden to Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20549-0609. The OMB has reviewed this collection of information under the clearance requirements of 44 U.S.C. § 3507.

 

 

 


Table of Contents

Item 1. Reports to Stockholders.


Table of Contents

LOGO

 

ANNUAL REPORT

December 31, 2015

 

LOGO

 

COLUMBIA SELIGMAN PREMIUM TECHNOLOGY GROWTH FUND

 

 

LOGO


Table of Contents
   COLUMBIA SELIGMAN PREMIUM TECHNOLOGY GROWTH FUND   

 

 

Under the Fund’s managed distribution policy and subject to the approval of the Fund’s Board of Directors (the Board), the Fund expects to make quarterly cash distributions (in February, May, August and November) to holders of common stock. The Fund’s most recent distribution (February 23, 2016) amounted to $0.4625 per share, which is equal to a quarterly rate of 2.3125% (9.25% annualized) of the $20.00 offering price in the Fund’s initial public offering in November 2009. This distribution is equal to a quarterly rate of 2.8098% (11.24% annualized) of the Fund’s market price of $16.46 per share as of January 31, 2016. You should not draw any conclusions about the Fund’s investment performance from the amount of the distribution or from the terms of the Fund’s distribution policy. Historically, the Fund has distributed more than its income and net realized capital gains, which has resulted in Fund distributions substantially consisting of return of capital or other capital source. A return of capital may occur, for example, when some or all of the money that you invested in the Fund is paid back to you. A return of capital distribution does not necessarily reflect the Fund’s investment performance and should not be confused with ‘yield’ or ‘income’. As of the payment date of the most recent distribution, all Fund distributions paid in 2016 (as estimated by the Fund based on current information) are from the earnings and profits of the Fund and not a return of capital. This could change during the remainder of the year. The Fund’s Board may determine in the future that the Fund’s managed distribution policy and the amount or timing of the distributions should not be continued in light of changes in the Fund’s portfolio holdings, market or other conditions or factors, including that the distribution rate under such policy may not be dependent upon the amount of the Fund’s earned income or realized capital gains. The Board could also consider amending or terminating the current distribution policy because of potential adverse tax consequences associated with maintaining the policy. In certain situations, returns of capital could be taxable for federal income tax purposes, and all or a portion of the Fund’s capital loss carryforwards from prior years, if any, could effectively be forfeited. The Board may amend or terminate the Fund’s distribution policy at any time without prior notice to Fund stockholders; any such change or termination may have an adverse effect on the market price of the Fund’s shares.

See Notes to Financial Statements for additional information related to the Fund’s managed distribution policy.

 

Annual Report 2015


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   COLUMBIA SELIGMAN PREMIUM TECHNOLOGY GROWTH FUND  

 

LETTER TO THE STOCKHOLDERS

 

Dear Stockholders,

We are pleased to present the annual stockholder report for Columbia Seligman Premium Technology Growth Fund (the Fund). The report includes the Fund’s investment results, a discussion with the Fund’s portfolio managers, the portfolio of investments and financial statements as of December 31, 2015.

The Fund’s common shares (Common Stock) returned 5.05% at market price and 8.40% at net asset value, for the 12 months ended December 31, 2015. The Fund underperformed its benchmark, the S&P North American Technology Sector Index, which returned 9.91% over the same period.

During 2015, the Fund paid four distributions, in accordance with its managed distribution policy, that aggregated to $1.85 per share of Common Stock of the Fund. In October 2010, the Fund received exemptive relief from the Securities and Exchange Commission that permits the Fund to make periodic distributions of long-term capital gains more often than once in any one taxable year. Unless you elected otherwise, distributions were paid in additional shares of the Fund.

On April 18, 2016, the Fund will hold its Sixth Annual Meeting of Stockholders in Minneapolis, MN. The members of the Board have announced their consideration and unanimous nomination of Minor Mickel Shaw to the Fund’s Board, filling a seat to be vacated by Mr. Leroy C. Richie upon his retirement from the Board effective at the conclusion of the Annual Meeting. In addition to her duties as a director, Ms. Shaw will also serve on the Board’s Compliance Committee, Contracts Committee, and Investment Review Committee. Ms. Shaw currently serves on the board of directors/trustees of other Columbia funds.

At the Annual Meeting, Stockholders will be asked to elect Ms. Shaw and to re-elect two other directors to the Board, each to hold office until the 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and until their successors are elected and qualify; to consider the ratification of the Board’s selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm for the 2016 fiscal year; and to consider such other matters as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any postponement or adjournment thereof.

Information about the Fund, including daily pricing, current performance, Fund holdings, stockholder reports, distributions and other information can be found at columbiathreadneedle.com/us under the Closed-End Funds tab.

On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank you for your continued support of Columbia Seligman Premium Technology Growth Fund.

Best Regards,

 

LOGO

William A. Hawkins

Chairman of the Board

For more information, go online to columbiathreadneedle.com/us; or call American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, the Fund’s Stockholder Servicing Agent, at 866.666.1532. Customer Service Representatives are available to answer your questions Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time.

 

Annual Report 2015


Table of Contents
   COLUMBIA SELIGMAN PREMIUM TECHNOLOGY GROWTH FUND  

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Performance Overview     3   
Manager Discussion of Fund Performance     4   
Fund Objectives and Rules-Based Option Strategy     6   
Portfolio of Investments     7   
Statement of Assets and Liabilities     10   
Statement of Operations     11   
Statement of Changes in Net Assets     12   
Financial Highlights     14   
Notes to Financial Statements     15   
Report of Independent Registered
Public Accounting Firm
    27   
Federal Income Tax Information     28   
Directors and Officers     29   
Important Information About This Report     33   

The views expressed in this report reflect the current views of the respective parties. These views are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict, so actual outcomes and results may differ significantly from the views expressed. These views are subject to change at any time based upon economic, market or other conditions and the respective parties disclaim any responsibility to update such views. These views may not be relied on as investment advice and, because investment decisions for a Columbia fund are based on numerous factors, may not be relied on as an indication of trading intent on behalf of any particular Columbia fund. References to specific securities should not be construed as a recommendation or investment advice.

 

 

Annual Report 2015


Table of Contents
   COLUMBIA SELIGMAN PREMIUM TECHNOLOGY GROWTH FUND  

 

PERFORMANCE OVERVIEW

 

Performance Summary

 

n  

Columbia Seligman Premium Technology Growth Fund (the Fund) Common Stock returned 5.05% at market price and 8.40% at net asset value for the 12-month period ended December 31, 2015.

 

n  

The Fund underperformed its benchmark, the S&P North American Technology Sector Index, which returned 9.91% over the same period.

 

n  

An underweight in the internet catalog and retail and the internet software and services industries and stock selection in the software industry generally accounted for the Fund’s shortfall relative to the benchmark as these three industries were the year’s top technology performers.

 

Average Annual Total Returns (%) (for period ended December 31, 2015)

  

       Inception        1 Year           5 Years           Life   

Market Price

     11/24/09        5.05           10.22           9.25   

Net Asset Value

     11/30/09        8.40           7.97           9.45   

S&P North American Technology Sector Index

       9.91           14.26           14.88   

Life total return for market price is based on the initial offering price on November 24, 2009, which was $20.00 per share.

Life total return for net asset value (NAV) is from the opening of business on November 30, 2009 and includes the 4.50% initial sales load. The NAV price per share of the Fund’s Common Stock at inception was $19.10.

Index inception return is calculated from 11/30/2009.

Performance data quoted represents past performance and current performance may be lower or higher. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. The investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that shares, when sold, may be worth more or less than the original cost. For current month-end performance information, please visit columbiathreadneedle.com/us.

Returns reflect changes in market price or net asset value, as applicable, and assume reinvestment of distributions. Returns do not reflect the deduction of taxes that investors may pay on distributions or the sale of shares.

The S&P North American Technology Sector Index is an unmanaged modified capitalization-weighted index based on a universe of technology-related stocks.

Indices are not available for investment, are not professionally managed and do not reflect sales charges, fees, brokerage commissions, taxes or other expenses of investing. Securities in the Fund may not match those in an index.

 

Price Per Share

                   
       December 31, 2015        September 30, 2015           June 30, 2015           March 31, 2015   

Market Price ($)

     17.93        16.34           18.67           19.03   

Net Asset Value ($)

     17.29        16.20           18.43           18.04   

 

Distributions Paid Per Common Share

Payable Date

     Per Share Amount ($)

February 25, 2015

     0.4625

May 26, 2015

     0.4625

August 25, 2015

     0.4625

November 24, 2015

     0.4625

The net asset value of the Fund’s shares may not always correspond to the market price of such shares. Common stock of many closed-end funds frequently trade at a discount from their net asset value. The Fund is subject to stock market risk, which is the risk that stock prices overall will decline over short or long periods, adversely affecting the value of an investment in the Fund.

 

Annual Report 2015     3   


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   COLUMBIA SELIGMAN PREMIUM TECHNOLOGY GROWTH FUND  

 

MANAGER DISCUSSION OF FUND PERFORMANCE

 

Portfolio Management

Paul Wick

Braj Agrawal

Christopher Boova*

Jeetil Patel

 

* Effective February 19, 2016, Mr. Boova was named a Portfolio Manager of the Fund. Clark Westmont no longer serves as a Portfolio Manager of the Fund

Morningstar Style Box™

 

LOGO

The Morningstar Style Box is based on a fund’s portfolio holdings. For equity funds, the vertical axis shows the market capitalization of the stocks owned, and the horizontal axis shows investment style (value, blend, or growth). Information shown is based on the most recent data provided by Morningstar.

© 2016 Morningstar, Inc. All rights reserved. The Morningstar information contained herein: (1) is proprietary to Morningstar and/or its content providers; (2) may not be copied or distributed; and (3) is not warranted to be accurate, complete or timely. Neither Morningstar nor its content providers are responsible for any damages or losses arising from any use of this information.

 

Top Ten Holdings (%)

(at December 31, 2015)

  

  

Lam Research Corp.

    9.2   

Synopsys, Inc.

    7.1   

Teradyne, Inc.

    5.5   

Synaptics, Inc.

    5.4   

Avago Technologies Ltd.

    4.7   

Apple, Inc.

    4.5   

Broadcom Corp., Class A

    4.5   

Qorvo, Inc.

    4.0   

Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.

    3.7   

Visa, Inc., Class A

    3.1   

Percentages indicated are based upon total investments (excluding Money Market Funds).

For further detail about these holdings, please refer to the section entitled “Portfolio of Investments.”

Fund holdings are as of the date given, are subject to change at any time, and are not recommendations to buy or sell any security.

For the 12-month period that ended December 31, 2015, the Fund’s Common Stock returned 5.05% at market price and 8.40% at net asset value. The Fund underperformed its benchmark, the S&P North American Technology Sector Index, which returned 9.91% during the same period. A combination of industry allocation and stock selection accounted for the Fund’s shortfall relative to the benchmark. The Fund was underweight in both the internet catalog and retail and the internet software and services industries, both of which were strong performers for the year. Stock selection in the software industry and the Fund’s call option strategy also detracted from relative results. Stock selection and an overweight position in the semiconductor industry, stock selection and an underweight in the communications equipment industry and an underweight in hardware all contributed to the Fund’s gains.

Mounting Global Pressures Weighed on Markets

Around the world, investors turned cautious as lackluster economic growth, contentious geopolitical conflicts and an expected shift in U.S. monetary policy weighed on confidence in 2015. Subpar global economic growth continued for a fourth straight year, with China’s slowdown heading the list of disappointments. Conflicts in the Middle East and terrorism, both at home and abroad, heightened security fears. Plummeting oil prices and a rising dollar rounded the list of mounting pressures. In the United States, another stormy winter in the Northeast and Midwest whittled away at gross domestic product (GDP) early in 2015. A widening trade deficit also took a significant bite out of growth. The U.S. economy rebounded despite these setbacks and the seven-year expansion remained intact. The labor market recovered as an average of 220,000 new jobs added monthly to the U.S. workforce drove the unemployment rate down to 5.0%. Consumer spending strengthened, supported by strong automobile sales, and solid holiday spending cheered retailers. The housing market inched forward, although sales slipped near the end of the year as new industry regulation led to longer closing periods. Low inventory levels and rising prices continued to keep many first-time home buyers out of the market.

Solid stock market gains in the first half of the 12-month period were all but wiped out in the second half of the year. Large-cap stocks outperformed small-cap stocks, and growth stocks outperformed value stocks. U.S. stocks outperformed stocks of both developed and emerging markets as most foreign stock markets ended the year in the red. Information technology was one of the better performing sectors within the broader market for the year.

In December, the Federal Reserve (Fed) raised the target range of its benchmark interest rate by a quarter of a percentage point, ending a lengthy debate about whether the economy was strong enough to withstand higher borrowing costs. The move was well received by the stock market, which had plenty of notice that it was coming after several delays and the slow-walking of the policy shift by Fed chair Janet Yellen.

 

 

4   Annual Report 2015


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   COLUMBIA SELIGMAN PREMIUM TECHNOLOGY GROWTH FUND  

 

MANAGER DISCUSSION OF FUND PERFORMANCE (continued)

 

Contributors and Detractors

As the semiconductor industry experienced a tremendous wave of consolidation in 2015, the Fund’s overweight and stock selection in the semiconductor industry was the largest positive contributor to performance. Positions in Avago Technology and Broadcom benefited Fund performance as the companies announced that they were merging and investors, who viewed the possible synergies favorably, bid up their shares. A position in Synaptics aided Fund results after the fingerprint technology company posted solid earnings during the year as its technology and sensors were integrated into more electronic devices. An underweight in the communications equipment industry also benefited performance, as we avoided Qualcomm, which was hurt by rapid technological shifts in the industry. The company’s earnings report and forward guidance reflected weakness in its communication chip business. An underweight in Apple helped boost relative returns as the stock was pressured by concerns over growth for the iPhone 6s and by the economic slowdown in China. A decision to avoid owning data storage companies Western Digital, Seagate Technology and SanDisk, also aided relative returns as plunging PC system sales, lower component prices, and weak demand hit all three companies. Late in the year, Western Digital agreed to buy SanDisk. However, the buyout price was viewed as expensive and could not stem the negative sentiment surrounding the market segment.

The Fund’s underweight in the internet catalog and retail industry was the largest detractor from relative performance during the period. Benchmark constituents Amazon and Netflix delivered substantial gains, and lack of exposure to both detracted from results. The Fund’s underweight in the internet software and services industry was another detractor, even though the Fund’s stock selection in the industry was strong. A relative underweight in Alphabet (Google’s newly-formed parent company) and Facebook detracted from relative returns as both companies showed impressive growth, as advertising migrates from traditional to digital format. During the year Google announced plans to transform itself into a holdings company called Alphabet, separating the core Google from other emerging opportunities. Investors took a positive view of the move on the expectation that it would increase transparency and make the company easier to analyze. Within software, an underweight in Microsoft was the largest individual detractor. Microsoft shares rallied on earnings reports showing the company’s commercial cloud strategy continued to gain momentum.

Call Options Detracted from Returns

In addition to the Fund’s holdings in technology and technology-related companies, we seek to cushion downside volatility and produce current income by writing call options on the NASDAQ 100 on a month-to-month basis, typically ranging from 25% to 90% of the underlying value of the Fund’s holdings of common stock. For the year, the NASDAQ 100 Index, a measure of the 100 largest non-financial companies listed on the NASDAQ, rose approximately 8.58%. In this environment, the Fund’s overwriting strategy detracted from returns.

Portfolio Breakdown (%)
(at December 31, 2015)

   

Common Stocks

    97.2   

Money Market Funds

    2.8   

Total

    100.0   

Percentages indicated are based upon total investments. The Fund’s portfolio composition is subject to change.

 

Equity Sector Breakdown (%)

(at December 31, 2015)

  

  

Consumer Discretionary

    1.8   

Health Care

    0.8   

Information Technology

    97.3   

Telecommunication Services

    0.1   

Total

    100.0   

Percentages indicated are based upon total equity investments. The Fund’s portfolio composition is subject to change.

Investment Risks

The market prices of technology-related stocks tend to exhibit a greater degree of market risk and price volatility than other types of investments. These stocks may fall in and out of favor with investors rapidly, which may cause sudden selling and dramatically lower market prices. These stocks may also be affected adversely by changes in technology, consumer and business purchasing patterns, government regulation and/or obsolete products or services. Technology-related companies are often smaller and less experienced and may be subject to greater risks than larger companies, such as limited product lines, markets and financial and managerial resources. These risks may be heightened for technology companies in foreign markets. The Fund’s use of derivatives introduces risks possibly greater than the risks associated with investing directly in the investments underlying the derivatives. A relatively small price movement in an underlying investment may result in a substantial gain or loss.

 

 

Annual Report 2015     5   


Table of Contents
   COLUMBIA SELIGMAN PREMIUM TECHNOLOGY GROWTH FUND  

 

FUND OBJECTIVES AND RULES-BASED OPTION STRATEGY

(Unaudited)

 

The Fund’s investment objectives are to seek growth of capital and current income. Under normal market conditions, the Fund’s investment program will consist primarily of (i) investing in a portfolio of equity securities of technology and technology-related companies that seeks to exceed the total return, before fees and expenses, of the S&P North American Technology Sector Index and (ii) writing call options on the NASDAQ 100 Index®, an unmanaged index that includes the largest and most active non-financial domestic and international companies listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market, or its exchange-traded fund equivalent (the NASDAQ 100) on a month-to-month basis, with an aggregate notional amount typically ranging from 0% to 90% of the underlying value of the Fund’s holdings of Common Stock. The Fund expects to generate current income from premiums received from writing call options on the NASDAQ 100. The Fund may also buy or write other call and put options on securities, indices, ETFs and market baskets of securities to generate additional income or return or to provide the portfolio with downside protection.

The Fund uses a rules-based call option writing strategy on the NASDAQ 100 Index®, an unmanaged index that includes the largest and most active nonfinancial domestic and international companies listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market, or its exchange-traded fund equivalent (NASDAQ 100) on a month-to-month basis with an aggregate notional amount ranging from 0% to 90% of the underlying value of the Fund’s holdings of Common Stock (the Rules-based Option Strategy). The Fund’s Rules-based Option Strategy with respect to writing call options is as follows:

 

When the VXN Index(a) is:      Aggregate Notional Amount of
Written Call Options as a
Percentage of the Fund’s
Holdings in Common Stocks

17 or less

     25%

Greater than 17, but less than 18

     Increase up to 50%

At least 18, but less than 33

     50%

At least 33, but less than 34

     Increase up to 90%

At least 34, but less than 55

     90%

At 55 or greater

     0% to 90%

 

(a) The VXN Index is a leading barometer of investor sentiment and market volatility relating to the NASDAQ 100 Index.

In addition to the Rules-based Option Strategy, the Fund may write additional calls with aggregate notional amounts of up to 25% of the value of the Fund’s holdings in Common Stock (to a maximum of 90% when aggregated with the call options written pursuant to the Rules-based Option Strategy) when Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (the Investment Manager) believes call premiums are attractive relative to the risk of the price of the NASDAQ 100. The Fund may also close (or buy back) a written call option if the Investment Manager believes that a substantial amount of the premium (typically, 70% or more) to be received by the Fund has been captured before exercise, potentially reducing the call position to 0% of total equity until additional calls are written.

 

6   Annual Report 2015


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   COLUMBIA SELIGMAN PREMIUM TECHNOLOGY GROWTH FUND  

 

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS

December 31, 2015

(Percentages represent value of investments compared to net assets)

 

Common Stocks 98.5%   
Issuer      Shares        Value ($)  

CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY 1.8%

  

Diversified Consumer Services 1.6%

  

LifeLock, Inc.(a)

       297,000           4,261,950   

Media 0.2%

         

Viacom, Inc., Class B

       14,400           592,704   
                       

Total Consumer Discretionary

  

       4,854,654   
         

HEALTH CARE 0.7%

         

Health Care Technology 0.7%

  

Veeva Systems Inc., Class A(a)

       69,400           2,002,190   
                       

Total Health Care

  

       2,002,190   
         

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 95.9%

  

Communications Equipment 5.8%

  

Arista Networks, Inc.(a)(b)

       57,169           4,450,035   

Arris Group, Inc.(a)

       30,300           926,271   

Cisco Systems, Inc.

       183,300           4,977,512   

F5 Networks, Inc.(a)

       34,400           3,335,424   

Palo Alto Networks, Inc.(a)

       9,500           1,673,330   
                       

Total

  

       15,362,572   

Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components 0.1%

  

Cognex Corp.

       9,600           324,192   

Internet Software & Services 7.0%

  

Alphabet, Inc., Class A(a)(b)

       8,200           6,379,682   

Alphabet, Inc., Class C(a)(b)

       10,024           7,607,013   

eBay, Inc.(a)

       27,700           761,196   

Facebook, Inc., Class A(a)

       32,900           3,443,314   

Q2 Holdings, Inc.(a)

       18,721           493,673   
                       

Total

  

       18,684,878   

IT Services 6.8%

         

CSRA, Inc.

       57,700           1,731,000   

Euronet Worldwide, Inc.(a)

       6,465           468,260   

Fidelity National Information Services, Inc.

       32,600           1,975,560   

PayPal Holdings, Inc.(a)

       17,700           640,740   

Sabre Corp.

       42,868           1,199,018   

Travelport Worldwide Ltd.

       245,800           3,170,820   

Vantiv, Inc., Class A(a)

       13,700           649,654   

Visa, Inc., Class A(b)

       104,200           8,080,710   
                       

Total

  

       17,915,762   

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment 49.8%

  

Advanced Energy Industries, Inc.(a)

       167,300           4,722,879   

Atmel Corp.

       102,500           882,525   

Avago Technologies Ltd.

       84,727           12,298,124   
Common Stocks (continued)   
Issuer      Shares        Value ($)  

Broadcom Corp., Class A(b)

       205,214           11,865,473   

Cavium, Inc.(a)

       53,200           3,495,772   

Cypress Semiconductor Corp.

       180,100           1,766,781   

Lam Research Corp.(b)

       302,800           24,048,376   

Lattice Semiconductor Corp.(a)

       709,516           4,590,569   

Mattson Technology, Inc.(a)

       487,194           1,719,795   

Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.(b)

       251,300           9,549,400   

Microsemi Corp.(a)

       188,959           6,158,174   

NXP Semiconductors NV(a)

       31,920           2,689,260   

ON Semiconductor Corp.(a)

       220,300           2,158,940   

Qorvo, Inc.(a)(b)

       203,410           10,353,569   

Skyworks Solutions, Inc.

       97,356           7,479,861   

Synaptics, Inc.(a)(b)

       174,341           14,006,556   

Teradyne, Inc.(b)

       697,400           14,415,258   
                       

Total

  

       132,201,312   

Software 19.7%

         

Activision Blizzard, Inc.

       41,700           1,614,207   

AVG Technologies NV(a)

       120,800           2,422,040   

Check Point Software Technologies Ltd.(a)

       70,200           5,712,876   

Nuance Communications, Inc.(a)

       214,616           4,268,712   

Oracle Corp.

       32,900           1,201,837   

PTC, Inc.(a)

       18,400           637,192   

Rovi Corp.(a)

       349,400           5,821,004   

Salesforce.com, inc.(a)

       34,600           2,712,640   

ServiceNow, Inc.(a)

       7,700           666,512   

SolarWinds, Inc.(a)(b)

       105,147           6,193,158   

Synopsys, Inc.(a)(b)

       408,053           18,611,298   

Verint Systems, Inc.(a)

       57,900           2,348,424   
                       

Total

  

       52,209,900   

Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals 6.7%

  

Apple, Inc.(b)

       113,000           11,894,380   

CPI Card Group, Inc.(a)

       132,464           1,412,066   

Electronics for Imaging, Inc.(a)

       73,104           3,416,881   

EMC Corp.

       41,000           1,052,880   
                       

Total

  

       17,776,207   
                       

Total Information Technology

  

       254,474,823   
         

TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES 0.1%

  

Diversified Telecommunication Services 0.1%

  

Ooma, Inc.(a)

       41,900           266,065   
                       

Total Telecommunication Services

  

       266,065   
                       

Total Common Stocks

         

(Cost: $212,070,287)

  

       261,597,732   
 

 

The accompanying Notes to Financial Statements are an integral part of this statement.

 

Annual Report 2015     7   


Table of Contents
   COLUMBIA SELIGMAN PREMIUM TECHNOLOGY GROWTH FUND  

 

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

December 31, 2015

 

Money Market Funds 2.9%   
       Shares        Value ($)  

Columbia Short-Term Cash Fund, 0.284%(c)(d)

       7,598,373           7,598,373   
                       

Total Money Market Funds

         

(Cost: $7,598,373)

  

       7,598,373   
                       

Total Investments

         

(Cost: $219,668,660)

  

       269,196,105   
                       

Other Assets & Liabilities, Net

  

       (3,770,481
                       

Net Assets

  

       265,425,624   
                       
 

At December 31, 2015, securities totaling $129,999,690 were pledged as collateral.

Investments in Derivatives

Open Options Contracts Written at December 31, 2015

 

Issuer   Puts/Calls     Number of
Contracts
    Exercise
Price ($)
    Premium
Received ($)
    Expiration
Date
    Value ($)  

NASDAQ 100 Index

    Call        270        4,735.00        569,854        01/2016        221,400   
                                                 

Notes to Portfolio of Investments

 

(a) Non-income producing investment.

 

(b) This security or a portion of this security has been pledged as collateral in connection with derivative contracts.

 

(c) The rate shown is the seven-day current annualized yield at December 31, 2015.

 

(d) As defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, an affiliated company is one in which the Fund owns 5% or more of the company’s outstanding voting securities, or a company which is under common ownership or control with the Fund. Holdings and transactions in these affiliated companies during the year ended December 31, 2015 are as follows:

 

Issuer   Beginning
Cost ($)
    Purchase
Cost ($)
    Proceeds
From Sales ($)
    Ending
Cost ($)
    Dividends —
Affiliated
Issuers ($)
    Value ($)  

Columbia Short-Term Cash Fund

    2,370,399        89,226,025        (83,998,051     7,598,373        8,869        7,598,373   

Fair Value Measurements

The Fund categorizes its fair value measurements according to a three-level hierarchy that maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs by prioritizing that the most observable input be used when available. Observable inputs are those that market participants would use in pricing an investment based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity. Unobservable inputs are those that reflect the Fund’s assumptions about the information market participants would use in pricing an investment. An investment’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input that is deemed significant to the asset’s or liability’s fair value measurement. The input levels are not necessarily an indication of the risk or liquidity associated with investments at that level. For example, certain U.S. government securities are generally high quality and liquid, however, they are reflected as Level 2 because the inputs used to determine fair value may not always be quoted prices in an active market.

Fair value inputs are summarized in the three broad levels listed below:

 

n  

Level 1 — Valuations based on quoted prices for investments in active markets that the Fund has the ability to access at the measurement date (including NAV for open-end mutual funds). Valuation adjustments are not applied to Level 1 investments.

 

n  

Level 2 — Valuations based on other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risks, etc.).

 

n  

Level 3 — Valuations based on significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions and judgment in determining the fair value of investments).

Inputs that are used in determining fair value of an investment may include price information, credit data, volatility statistics, and other factors. These inputs can be either observable or unobservable. The availability of observable inputs can vary between investments, and is affected by various factors such as the type of investment, and the volume and level of activity for that investment or similar investments in the marketplace. The inputs will be considered by the Investment Manager, along with any other relevant factors in the calculation of an investment’s fair value. The Fund uses prices and inputs that are current as of the measurement date, which may include periods of market dislocations. During these periods, the availability of prices and inputs may be reduced for many investments. This condition could cause an investment to be reclassified between the various levels within the hierarchy.

 

The accompanying Notes to Financial Statements are an integral part of this statement.

 

8   Annual Report 2015


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   COLUMBIA SELIGMAN PREMIUM TECHNOLOGY GROWTH FUND  

 

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

December 31, 2015

 

Fair Value Measurements (continued)

 

Investments falling into the Level 3 category are primarily supported by quoted prices from brokers and dealers participating in the market for those investments. However, these may be classified as Level 3 investments due to lack of market transparency and corroboration to support these quoted prices. Additionally, valuation models may be used as the pricing source for any remaining investments classified as Level 3. These models may rely on one or more significant unobservable inputs and/or significant assumptions by the Investment Manager. Inputs used in valuations may include, but are not limited to, financial statement analysis, capital account balances, discount rates and estimated cash flows, and comparable company data.

Under the direction of the Fund’s Board of Directors (the Board), the Investment Manager’s Valuation Committee (the Committee) is responsible for overseeing the valuation procedures approved by the Board. The Committee consists of voting and non-voting members from various groups within the Investment Manager’s organization, including operations and accounting, trading and investments, compliance, risk management and legal.

The Committee meets at least monthly to review and approve valuation matters, which may include a description of specific valuation determinations, data regarding pricing information received from approved pricing vendors and brokers and the results of Board-approved valuation control policies and procedures (the Policies). The Policies address, among other things, instances when market quotations are or are not readily available, including recommendations of third party pricing vendors and a determination of appropriate pricing methodologies; events that require specific valuation determinations and assessment of fair value techniques; securities with a potential for stale pricing, including those that are illiquid, restricted, or in default; and the effectiveness of third party pricing vendors, including periodic reviews of vendors. The Committee meets more frequently, as needed, to discuss additional valuation matters, which may include the need to review back-testing results, review time-sensitive information or approve related valuation actions. The Committee reports to the Board, with members of the Committee meeting with the Board at each of its regularly scheduled meetings to discuss valuation matters and actions during the period, similar to those described earlier.

For investments categorized as Level 3, the Committee monitors information similar to that described above, which may include: (i) data specific to the issuer or comparable issuers, (ii) general market or specific sector news and (iii) quoted prices and specific or similar security transactions. The Committee considers this data and any changes from prior periods in order to assess the reasonableness of observable and unobservable inputs, any assumptions or internal models used to value those securities and changes in fair value. This data is also used to corroborate, when available, information received from approved pricing vendors and brokers. Various factors impact the frequency of monitoring this information (which may occur as often as daily). However, the Committee may determine that changes to inputs, assumptions and models are not required as a result of the monitoring procedures performed.

The following table is a summary of the inputs used to value the Fund’s investments at December 31, 2015:

 

    

Level 1

Quoted Prices in Active
Markets for Identical
Assets ($)

   

Level 2

Other Significant
Observable Inputs ($)

   

Level 3

Significant
Unobservable Inputs ($)

    Total ($)  

Investments

       

Common Stocks

       

Consumer Discretionary

    4,854,654                      4,854,654   

Health Care

    2,002,190                      2,002,190   

Information Technology

    254,474,823                      254,474,823   

Telecommunication Services

    266,065                      266,065   
                                 

Total Common Stocks

    261,597,732                      261,597,732   
                                 

Money Market Funds

           7,598,373               7,598,373   
                                 

Total Investments

    261,597,732        7,598,373               269,196,105   
                                 

Derivatives

       

Liabilities

       

Options Contracts Written

    (221,400                   (221,400
                                 

Total

    261,376,332        7,598,373               268,974,705   
                                 

See the Portfolio of Investments for all investment classifications not indicated in the table.

The Fund’s assets assigned to the Level 2 input category are valued based upon utilizing observable market inputs, in which a security’s value is determined through reference to prices and information from market transactions for similar or identical assets and/or fund per share market values which are not considered publicly available.

Financial assets were transferred from Level 1 to Level 2 as the market for these assets is not considered publicly available. Fund per share market values were obtained using observable market inputs.

The following table shows transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy:

 

Transfers In   Transfers Out    
Level 1 ($)   Level 2 ($)   Level 1 ($)   Level 2 ($)

  2,370,399   2,370,399  

             

Transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 are determined based on the fair value at the beginning of the period for security positions held throughout the period.

There were no transfers of financial assets between Levels 2 and 3 during the period.

 

The accompanying Notes to Financial Statements are an integral part of this statement.

 

Annual Report 2015     9   


Table of Contents
   COLUMBIA SELIGMAN PREMIUM TECHNOLOGY GROWTH FUND  

 

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

December 31, 2015

 

Assets

    

Investments, at value

    

Unaffiliated issuers (identified cost $212,070,287)

       $261,597,732   

Affiliated issuers (identified cost $7,598,373)

       7,598,373   

 

 

Total investments (identified cost $219,668,660)

       269,196,105   

Receivable for:

    

Dividends

       127,091   

Prepaid expenses

       40,752   

 

 

Total assets

       269,363,948   

 

 

Liabilities

    

Option contracts written, at value (premiums received $569,854)

       221,400   

Payable for:

    

Investments purchased

       3,346,754   

Investment management fees

       226,068   

Stockholder servicing and transfer agent fees

       1,247   

Administration fees

       13,564   

Compensation of board members

       47,986   

Stockholders’ meeting fees

       4,812   

Other expenses

       76,493   

 

 

Total liabilities

       3,938,324   

 

 

Net assets applicable to outstanding Common Stock

       $265,425,624   

 

 

Represented by

    

Paid-in capital

       $207,312,938   

Excess of distributions over net investment income

       (40,708

Accumulated net realized gain

       8,277,495   

Unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:

    

Investments

       49,527,445   

Options contracts written

       348,454   

 

 

Total — representing net assets applicable to outstanding Common Stock

       $265,425,624   

 

 

Shares outstanding applicable to Common Stock

       15,355,625   

 

 

Net asset value per share of outstanding Common Stock

       $17.29   

 

 

Market price per share of Common Stock

       $17.93   

 

 

 

The accompanying Notes to Financial Statements are an integral part of this statement.

 

10   Annual Report 2015


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   COLUMBIA SELIGMAN PREMIUM TECHNOLOGY GROWTH FUND  

 

STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

Year Ended December 31, 2015

 

Net investment income

    

Income:

    

Dividends — unaffiliated issuers

       $2,535,252   

Dividends — affiliated issuers

       8,869   

Foreign taxes withheld

       (6,171

 

 

Total income

       2,537,950   

 

 

Expenses:

    

Investment management fees

       2,723,994   

Stockholder account and transfer agent fees

       15,165   

Administration fees

       163,436   

Compensation of board members

       27,519   

Stockholders’ meeting fees

       37,769   

Custodian fees

       11,146   

Printing and postage fees

       50,016   

Audit fees

       30,484   

Legal fees

       9,129   

Other

       116,680   

 

 

Total expenses

       3,185,338   

 

 

Net investment loss

       (647,388

 

 

Realized and unrealized gain (loss) — net

    

Net realized gain (loss) on:

    

Investments

       34,916,077   

Options contracts written

       (1,098,243

 

 

Net realized gain

       33,817,834   

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:

    

Investments

       (10,904,533

Options contracts written

       (18,000

 

 

Net change in unrealized depreciation

       (10,922,533

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gain

       22,895,301   

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

       $22,247,913   

 

 

 

The accompanying Notes to Financial Statements are an integral part of this statement.

 

Annual Report 2015     11   


Table of Contents
   COLUMBIA SELIGMAN PREMIUM TECHNOLOGY GROWTH FUND  

 

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

 

        Year Ended
December 31, 2015
       Year Ended
December 31, 2014
 

Operations

         

Net investment loss

       $(647,388        $(1,072,098

Net realized gain

       33,817,834           33,753,658   

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

       (10,922,533        18,834,587   

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

       22,247,913           51,516,147   

 

 

Distributions to Stockholders

         

Net realized gains

       (28,390,455        (28,351,176

 

 

Total distributions to Stockholders

       (28,390,455        (28,351,176

 

 

Increase in net assets from capital stock activity

       267,777           435,383   

 

 

Total increase (decrease) in net assets

       (5,874,765        23,600,354   

Net assets at beginning of year

       271,300,389           247,700,035   

 

 

Net assets at end of year

       $265,425,624           $271,300,389   

 

 

Excess of distributions over net investment income

       $(40,708        $(31,871

 

 

 

The accompanying Notes to Financial Statements are an integral part of this statement.

 

12   Annual Report 2015


Table of Contents
   COLUMBIA SELIGMAN PREMIUM TECHNOLOGY GROWTH FUND  

 

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS (continued)

 

        Year Ended
December 31, 2015
       Year Ended
December 31, 2014
 
        Shares        Dollars ($)        Shares        Dollars ($)  

Capital stock activity

                   

Distributions reinvested

       15,183           267,777           26,951           435,383   

 

 

Total net increase

       15,183           267,777           26,951           435,383   

 

 

 

The accompanying Notes to Financial Statements are an integral part of this statement.

 

Annual Report 2015     13   


Table of Contents
   COLUMBIA SELIGMAN PREMIUM TECHNOLOGY GROWTH FUND  

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

 

The Fund’s financial highlights are presented below. Per share operating performance data is designed to allow investors to trace the operating performance, on a per Common Stock share basis, from the beginning net asset value to the ending net asset value, so that investors can understand what effect the individual items have on their investment, assuming it was held throughout the period. Generally, the per share amounts are derived by converting the actual dollar amounts incurred for each item, as disclosed in the financial statements, to their equivalent per Common Stock share amounts, using average Common shares outstanding during the period.

Total return measures the Fund’s performance assuming that investors purchased Fund shares at market price or net asset value as of the beginning of the period, reinvested all their distributions, and then sold their shares at the closing market price or net asset value on the last day of the period. The computations do not reflect taxes or any sales commissions investors may incur on distributions or on the sale of Fund shares. Total returns and portfolio turnover are not annualized for periods of less than one year. The portfolio turnover rate is calculated without regard to purchase and sales transactions of short-term instruments and certain derivatives, if any. If such transactions were included, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate may be higher.

 

     Year Ended December 31,   
     2015        2014        2013        2012        2011   

Per share data

          

Net asset value, beginning of period

     $17.69        $16.18        $15.36        $17.13        $20.45   
                                          

Income from investment operations:

          

Net investment loss

     (0.04     (0.07     (0.07     (0.08     (0.07
                                          

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

     1.49        3.43        2.74        0.16        (1.40
                                          

Increase from payment by affiliate

                                 (0.00 )(a) 
                                          

Total from investment operations

     1.45        3.36        2.67        0.08        (1.47
                                          

Less distributions to Stockholders:

          

Net realized gains

     (1.85     (1.85     (0.42            (0.54
                                          

Tax return of capital

                   (1.43     (1.85     (1.31
                                          

Total distributions to Stockholders

     (1.85     (1.85     (1.85     (1.85     (1.85
                                          

Net asset value, end of period

     $17.29        $17.69        $16.18        $15.36        $17.13   
                                          

Market price, end of period

     $17.93        $18.93        $14.39        $14.51        $15.66   
                                          

Total return based upon net asset value

     8.40     22.32     19.02     0.36     (7.37 %)(b) 
                                          

Total return based upon market price

     5.05     47.17     12.05     3.71     (9.48 %) 
                                          

Ratios to average net assets(c)

          

Total gross expenses

     1.17     1.17     1.17     1.15     1.10
                                          

Net investment loss

     (0.24 %)      (0.41 %)      (0.46 %)      (0.46 %)      (0.39 %) 
                                          

Supplemental data

          

Net assets, end of period (in thousands)

     $265,426        $271,300        $247,700        $234,613        $260,822   
                                          

Portfolio turnover

     61     60     57     73     71
                                          

Notes to Financial Highlights

 

(a) Rounds to less than $0.01.

 

(b) The Fund received a payment from an affiliate. Had the Fund not received this payment, the total return would have been lower by 0.01%.

 

(c) In addition to the fees and expenses that the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of any other funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the Fund’s reported expense ratios.

 

The accompanying Notes to Financial Statements are an integral part of this statement.

 

14   Annual Report 2015


Table of Contents
   COLUMBIA SELIGMAN PREMIUM TECHNOLOGY GROWTH FUND  

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

December 31, 2015

 

Note 1. Organization

Columbia Seligman Premium Technology Growth Fund (the Fund) is a non-diversified fund. The Fund is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act), as a closed-end management investment company.

The Fund was incorporated under the laws of the State of Maryland on September 3, 2009, and commenced investment operations on November 30, 2009. The Fund had no investment operations prior to November 30, 2009 other than those relating to organizational matters and the sale to Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (the Investment Manager), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ameriprise Financial, Inc. (Ameriprise Financial), of 5,250 Common Stock at a cost of $100,275 on October 14, 2009. As of December 31, 2009, the Fund issued 14,300,000 shares of Common Stock, including 13,100,000 shares of Common Stock in its initial public offering and 1,200,000 shares of Common Stock purchased by the Fund’s underwriters pursuant to an over-allotment option granted to the underwriters in connection with the initial public offering. On January 13, 2010, the Fund’s underwriters purchased an additional 545,000 shares of Common Stock pursuant to the over-allotment option, resulting in a total of 14,845,000 shares of Common Stock issued by the Fund in its initial public offering, including shares purchased by the underwriters pursuant to the over-allotment option. With this closing of this additional purchase of Common Stock, the Fund’s total raise-up in its initial public offering was an aggregate of $296.9 million. The Fund has one billion authorized shares of Common Stock. The issued and outstanding Common Stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the symbol “STK”.

The Fund currently has outstanding Common Stock. Each outstanding share of Common Stock entitles the holder thereof to one vote on all matters submitted to a vote of the Common Stockholders, including the election of directors. Because the Fund has no other classes or series of stock outstanding, Common Stock possesses exclusive voting power. All of the Fund’s shares of Common Stock have equal dividend, liquidation, voting and other rights. The Fund’s Common Stockholders have no preference, conversion, redemption, exchange, sinking fund, or appraisal rights and have no preemptive rights to subscribe for any of the Fund’s securities.

Although the Fund has no current intention to do so, the Fund is authorized and reserves the flexibility to use

leverage to increase its investments or for other management activities through the issuance of Preferred Stock and/or borrowings. The costs of issuing Preferred Stock and/or a borrowing program would be borne by Common Stockholders and consequently would result in a reduction of net asset value of Common Stock.

Note 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Preparation

The Fund is an investment company that applies the accounting and reporting guidance in the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946, Financial Services — Investment Companies (ASC 946). The financial statements are prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), which requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Fund in the preparation of its financial statements.

Security Valuation

All equity securities are valued at the close of business of the NYSE. Equity securities are valued at the last quoted sales price on the principal exchange or market on which they trade, except for securities traded on the NASDAQ Stock Market, which are valued at the NASDAQ official close price. Unlisted securities or listed securities for which there were no sales during the day are valued at the mean of the latest quoted bid and ask prices on such exchanges or markets.

Foreign equity securities are valued based on the closing price on the foreign exchange in which such securities are primarily traded. If any foreign equity security closing prices are not readily available, the securities are valued at the mean of the latest quoted bid and ask prices on such exchanges or markets. Foreign currency exchange rates are generally determined at 4:00 p.m. Eastern (U.S.) time. Many securities markets and exchanges outside the U.S. close prior to the close of the NYSE; therefore, the closing prices for securities in such markets or on such exchanges may not fully reflect

 

 

Annual Report 2015     15   


Table of Contents
   COLUMBIA SELIGMAN PREMIUM TECHNOLOGY GROWTH FUND  

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

December 31, 2015

 

events that occur after such close but before the close of the NYSE. In those situations, foreign securities will be fair valued pursuant to a policy adopted by the Board of Directors (the Board), including, if available, utilizing a third party pricing service to determine these fair values. The third party pricing service takes into account multiple factors, including, but not limited to, movements in the U.S. securities markets, certain depositary receipts, futures contracts and foreign exchange rates that have occurred subsequent to the close of the foreign exchange or market, to determine a good faith estimate that reasonably reflects the current market conditions as of the close of the NYSE. The fair value of a security is likely to be different from the quoted or published price, if available.

Investments in open-end investment companies, including money market funds, are valued at their latest net asset value.

Option contracts are valued at the mean of the latest quoted bid and ask prices on their primary exchanges. Option contracts, including over-the-counter option contracts, with no readily available market quotations are valued using quotes obtained from independent brokers as of the close of the NYSE.

Investments for which market quotations are not readily available, or that have quotations which management believes are not reflective of market value or reliable, are valued at fair value as determined in good faith under procedures approved by and under the general supervision of the Board. If a security or class of securities (such as foreign securities) is valued at fair value, such value is likely to be different from the quoted or published price for the security.

The determination of fair value often requires significant judgment. To determine fair value, management may use assumptions including but not limited to future cash flows and estimated risk premiums. Multiple inputs from various sources may be used to determine fair value.

GAAP requires disclosure regarding the inputs and valuation techniques used to measure fair value and any changes in valuation inputs or techniques. In addition, investments shall be disclosed by major category. This information is disclosed following the Fund’s Portfolio of Investments.

Derivative Instruments

The Fund may invest in certain derivative instruments, which are transactions whose values depend on or are derived from (in whole or in part) the value of one or

more other assets, such as securities, currencies, commodities or indices. The Fund uses a rules-based call option writing strategy on the NASDAQ 100 Index®, an unmanaged index that includes the largest and most active nonfinancial domestic and international companies listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market, or its exchange-traded fund equivalent (NASDAQ 100) on a month-to-month basis.

The Fund may also seek to provide downside protection by purchasing puts on the NASDAQ 100 when premiums on these options are considered by the Investment Manager to be low and, therefore, attractive relative to the downside protection provided.

The Fund may also buy or write other call and put options on securities, indices, ETFs and market baskets of securities to generate additional income or return or to provide the portfolio with downside protection. In this regard, options may include writing “in-” or “out-of-the-money” put options or buying or selling options in connection with closing out positions prior to expiration of any options. However, the Fund does not intend to write “naked” call options on individual stocks (i.e., selling a call option on an individual security not owned by the Fund) other than in connection with implementing the options strategies with respect to the NASDAQ 100. The put and call options purchased, sold or written by the Fund may be exchange-listed or over-the-counter.

The notional amounts of derivative instruments, if applicable, are not recorded in the financial statements. A derivative instrument may suffer a mark to market loss if the value of the contract decreases due to an unfavorable change in the market rates or values of the underlying instrument. Losses can also occur if the counterparty does not perform under the contract. Options written by the Fund do not typically give rise to counterparty credit risk, as options written generally obligate the Fund and not the counterparty to perform. With exchange-traded purchased options, there is minimal counterparty credit risk to the Fund since the exchange’s clearinghouse, as counterparty to such instruments, guarantees against a possible default. The clearinghouse stands between the buyer and the seller of the contract; therefore, the counterparty credit risk is limited to failure of the clearinghouse. However, credit risk still exists in exchange traded option contracts with respect to any collateral that is held in a broker’s customer accounts. While brokers are required to segregate customer collateral from their own assets, in the event that a broker becomes insolvent or goes into bankruptcy and at that time there is a shortfall in the

 

 

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NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

December 31, 2015

 

aggregate amount of collateral held by the broker for all its clients, U.S. bankruptcy laws will typically allocate that shortfall on a pro-rata basis across all the broker’s customers, potentially resulting in losses to the Fund.

In order to better define its contractual rights and to secure rights that will help the Fund mitigate its counterparty risk, the Fund may enter into an International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. Master Agreement (ISDA Master Agreement) or similar agreement with its derivative contract counterparties. An ISDA Master Agreement is a bilateral agreement between a Fund and a counterparty that governs OTC derivatives and foreign exchange contracts and typically contains, among other things, collateral posting terms and netting provisions in the event of a default and/or termination event. Under an ISDA Master Agreement, the Fund may, under certain circumstances, offset with the counterparty certain derivative financial instrument’s payables and/or receivables with collateral held and/or posted and create one single net payment. The provisions of the ISDA Master Agreement typically permit a single net payment in the event of default (close-out netting) including the bankruptcy or insolvency of the counterparty. Note, however, that bankruptcy or insolvency laws of a particular jurisdiction may impose restrictions on or prohibitions against the right of offset in bankruptcy, insolvency or other events. Collateral (margin) requirements differ by type of derivative. Margin requirements are established by the exchange for exchange traded options. Brokers can ask for margin in excess of the minimum in certain circumstances. To the extent amounts due to the Fund from its counterparties are not fully collateralized, contractually or otherwise, the Fund bears the risk of loss from counterparty nonperformance. The Fund attempts to mitigate counterparty risk by only entering into agreements with counterparties that it believes have the financial resources to honor their obligations and by monitoring the financial stability of those counterparties.

Investments in derivative instruments may expose the Fund to certain additional risks, including those detailed below.

Options Contracts

Options are contracts which entitle the holder to purchase or sell securities or other identified assets at a specified price, or in the case of index option contracts, to receive or pay the difference between the index value and the strike price of the index option contract. Option contracts can be either exchange-traded or over-the-counter. The Fund purchased and wrote option contracts

to decrease the Fund’s exposure to equity market risk and to increase return on investments. These instruments may be used for other purposes in future periods. Completion of transactions for option contracts traded in the over-the-counter market depends upon the performance of the other party. Cash collateral may be collected or posted by the Fund to secure certain over-the-counter option contract trades. Cash collateral held or posted by the Fund for such option contract trades must be returned to the counterparty or the Fund upon closure, exercise or expiration of the contract.

Options contracts purchased are recorded as investments. When the Fund writes an options contract, the premium received is recorded as an asset and an amount equivalent to the premium is recorded as a liability in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities and is subsequently adjusted to reflect the current fair value of the option written. Changes in the fair value of the written option are recorded as unrealized appreciation or depreciation until the contract is exercised or has expired. The Fund will realize a gain or loss when the option contract is closed or expires. When option contracts are exercised, the proceeds on sales for a written call or purchased put option contract, or the purchase cost for a written put or purchased call option contract, is adjusted by the amount of premium received or paid.

For over-the-counter options purchased, the Fund bears the risk of loss of the amount of the premiums paid plus the positive change in market values net of any collateral held by the Fund should the counterparty fail to perform under the contracts. Option contracts written by the Fund do not typically give rise to counterparty credit risk, as options written generally obligate the Fund and not the counterparty to perform. The risk in writing a call option contract is that the Fund gives up the opportunity for profit if the market price of the security increases above the strike price and the option contract is exercised. The risk in writing a put option contract is that the Fund may incur a loss if the market price of the security decreases below the strike price and the option contract is exercised. Exercise of a written option could result in the Fund purchasing or selling a security or foreign currency when it otherwise would not, or at a price different from the current market value. In purchasing and writing options, the Fund bears the risk of an unfavorable change in the value of the underlying instrument or the risk that the Fund may not be able to enter into a closing transaction due to an illiquid market.

 

 

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NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

December 31, 2015

 

Contracts and premiums associated with options contracts written for the year ended December 31, 2015 are as follows:

 

      Calls        Puts   
      Contracts        Premiums ($)        Contracts        Premiums ($)   

Balance at December 31, 2014

    150        179,649        574        231,342   

Opened

    2,447        4,358,406                 

Closed

    (2,034     (3,610,918              

Expired

    (293     (357,283     (574     (231,342
                                 

Balance at December 31, 2015

    270        569,854                 
                                 

Effects of Derivative Transactions in the Financial Statements

The following tables are intended to provide additional information about the effect of derivatives on the financial statements of the Fund, including: the fair value of derivatives by risk category and the location of those fair values in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities; and the impact of derivative transactions over the period in the Statement of Operations, including realized and unrealized gains (losses). The derivative instrument schedules following the Portfolio of Investments present additional information regarding derivative instruments outstanding at the end of the period, if any.

The following table is a summary of the fair value of derivative instruments (not considered to be hedging instruments for accounting disclosure purposes) at December 31, 2015:

 

    Liability Derivatives   

Risk Exposure

Category

 

Statement of Assets

and Liabilities Location

    Fair Value ($)   

Equity risk

 

Options contracts written, at value

    221,400   

 

* Includes cumulative appreciation (depreciation) as reported in the tables following the Portfolio of Investments. Only the current day’s variation margin is reported in receivables or payables in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

The following table indicates the effect of derivative instruments (not considered to be hedging instruments for accounting disclosure purposes) in the Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2015:

 

Amount of Realized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Recognized in
Income
 
Risk Exposure Category   Options Contracts Written ($)  

Equity risk

    (1,098,243
Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on Derivatives
Recognized in Income
 
Risk Exposure Category   Options Contracts Written ($)  

Equity risk

    (18,000

The following table provides a summary of the average outstanding volume by derivative instrument for the year ended December 31, 2015:

 

         
Derivative Instrument   Average Market
Value ($)*
 

Options contracts — Written

    (157,448

 

* Based on the ending quarterly outstanding amounts for the year ended December 31, 2015.

Offsetting of Assets and Liabilities

The following table presents the Fund’s gross and net amount of assets and liabilities available for offset under netting arrangements as well as any related collateral received or pledged by the Fund as of December 31, 2015:

 

     JPMorgan ($)  

Liabilities

       

Options contracts written

    221,400   

Total Liabilities

    221,400   

Total Financial and Derivative Net Assets

    (221,400

Total collateral received (pledged)(a)

    (221,400

Net Amount(b)

    —     

 

(a) In some instances, the actual collateral received and/or pledged may be more than the amount shown due to overcollateralization.

 

(b) Represents the net amount due from/(to) counterparties in the event of default.

Security Transactions

Security transactions are accounted for on the trade date. Cost is determined and gains (losses) are based upon the specific identification method for both financial statement and federal income tax purposes.

Income Recognition

Corporate actions and dividend income are generally recorded net of any non-reclaimable tax withholdings, on the ex-dividend date or upon receipt of ex-dividend notification in the case of certain foreign securities.

The Fund may receive distributions from holdings in equity securities, business development companies (BDCs), exchange-traded funds, other regulated investment companies (RICs), and real estate investment trusts (REITs), which report information on the tax character of their distributions annually. These distributions are

 

 

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NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

December 31, 2015

 

allocated to dividend income, capital gain and return of capital based on actual information reported. Return of capital is recorded as a reduction of the cost basis of securities held. If the Fund no longer owns the applicable securities, return of capital is recorded as a realized gain. With respect to REITs, to the extent actual information has not yet been reported, estimates for return of capital are made by the Fund’s management. Management’s estimates are subsequently adjusted when the actual character of the distributions is disclosed by the REITs, which could result in a proportionate change in return of capital to stockholders.

Awards from class action litigation are recorded as a reduction of cost basis if the Fund still owns the applicable securities on the payment date. If the Fund no longer owns the applicable securities, the proceeds are recorded as realized gains.

Federal Income Tax Status

The Fund intends to qualify each year as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended, and will distribute substantially all of its taxable income (including net short-term capital gains), if any, for its tax year, and as such will not be subject to federal income taxes. In addition, the Fund intends to distribute in each calendar year substantially all of its net investment income, capital gains and certain other amounts, if any, such that the Fund should not be subject to federal excise tax. Therefore, no federal income or excise tax provision is recorded.

Foreign Taxes

The Fund may be subject to foreign taxes on income, gains on investments or currency repatriation, a portion of which may be recoverable. The Fund will accrue such taxes and recoveries, as applicable, based upon its current interpretation of tax rules and regulations that exist in the markets in which it invests.

Realized gains in certain countries may be subject to foreign taxes at the Fund level, based on statutory rates. The Fund accrues for such foreign taxes on realized and unrealized gains at the appropriate rate for each jurisdiction, as applicable. The amount, if any, is disclosed as a liability on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

Dividends to Stockholders

In November 2010, the Fund paid its first dividend under the Fund’s new, managed distribution policy adopted by

the Fund’s Board. Prior to the managed distribution policy, the Fund paid distributions pursuant to a level rate distribution policy. Under its former distribution policy and consistent with the 1940 Act, as amended, the Fund could not distribute long-term capital gains, as defined in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, more often than once in any one taxable year. In October 2010, the Fund received exemptive relief from the Securities and Exchange Commission that permits the Fund to distribute long-term capital gains more often than once in any one taxable year. After consideration by the Fund’s Board, the Fund adopted the current managed distribution policy which allows the Fund to make periodic distributions of long-term capital gains. Under its managed distribution policy, the Fund intends to make quarterly distributions to Common Stockholders at a rate that reflects the past and projected performance of the Fund. The Fund expects to receive all or some of its current income and gains from the following sources: (i) dividends received by the Fund that are paid on the equity and equity-related securities in its portfolio; and (ii) capital gains (short-term and long-term) from option premiums and the sale of portfolio securities. It is possible that the Fund’s distributions will at times exceed the earnings and profits of the Fund and therefore all or a portion of such distributions may constitute a return of capital as described below. A return of capital is a return of a portion of an investor’s original investment. A return of capital is not taxable, but it reduces a Stockholder’s tax basis in his or her shares, thus reducing any loss or increasing any gain on a subsequent taxable disposition by the Stockholder of his or her shares. Distributions may vary, and the Fund’s distribution rate will depend on a number of factors, including the net earnings on the Fund’s portfolio investments and the rate at which such net earnings change as a result of changes in the timing of, and rates at which, the Fund receives income from the sources described above. The net investment income of the Fund consists of all income (other than net short-term and long-term capital gains) less all expenses of the Fund.

The Board may change the Fund’s distribution policy and the amount or timing of the distributions, based on a number of factors, including, but not limited to, as the Fund’s portfolio and market conditions change, the amount of the Fund’s undistributed net investment income and net short- and long-term capital gains and historical and projected net investment income and net short- and long-term capital gains. Over time, the Fund will distribute all of its net investment income and net short-term capital gains. In addition, at least annually,

 

 

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NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

December 31, 2015

 

the Fund intends to distribute any net capital gain (which is the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss) or, alternatively, to retain all or a portion of the year’s net capital gain and pay federal income tax on the retained gain.

Dividends and other distributions to Common Stockholders are recorded on ex-dividend dates.

Guarantees and Indemnifications

Under the Fund’s organizational documents and, in some cases, by contract, its officers and directors are indemnified against certain liabilities arising out of the performance of their duties to the Fund. In addition, certain of the Fund’s contracts with its service providers contain general indemnification clauses. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown since the amount of any future claims that may be made against the Fund cannot be determined, and the Fund has no historical basis for predicting the likelihood of any such claims.

Recent Accounting Pronouncement

Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820), Disclosure for Investments in Certain Entities That Calculate Net Asset Value per Share (or Its Equivalent)

In May 2015, FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2015-07, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820), Disclosure for Investments in Certain Entities That Calculate Net Asset Value per Share (or Its Equivalent). ASU No. 2015-07 changes the disclosure requirements for investments for which fair value is measured using the net asset value per share practical expedient. The disclosure requirements are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015 and interim periods within those fiscal years. At this time, management is evaluating the implications of this guidance and the impact it will have on the financial statement amounts and footnote disclosures, if any.

Note 3. Fees and Other Transactions with Affiliates

Investment Management Fees

Under an Investment Management Services Agreement, the Investment Manager determines which securities will be purchased, held or sold. The investment management fee is an annual fee that is equal to 1.00% of the Fund’s average daily Managed Assets. “Managed Assets” means the net asset value of the Fund’s outstanding Common Stock plus the liquidation preference of any

issued and outstanding Preferred Stock of the Fund and the principal amount of any borrowings used for leverage.

Administration Fees

Under an Administrative Services Agreement, the Investment Manager also serves as the Fund Administrator. The Fund pays the Fund Administrator an annual fee for administration and accounting services equal to 0.06% of the Fund’s average daily Managed Assets.

Other Expenses

Other expenses are for, among other things, miscellaneous expenses of the Fund or the Board, including payments to Board Services Corp., a company providing limited administrative services to the Fund and the Board. That company’s expenses include boardroom and office expense, employee compensation, employee health and retirement benefits, and certain other expenses. For the year ended December 31, 2015, other expenses paid by the Fund to this company were $1,583.

Compensation of Board Members

Board members, who are not officers or employees of the Investment Manager or Ameriprise Financial, are compensated for their services to the Fund as disclosed in the Statement of Operations. Under a Deferred Compensation Plan (the Plan), these Board members may elect to defer payment of up to 100% of their compensation. Deferred amounts are treated as though equivalent dollar amounts had been invested in shares of certain funds managed by the Investment Manager. The Fund’s liability for these amounts is adjusted for market value changes and remains in the Fund until distributed in accordance with the Plan. All amounts payable under the Plan constitute a general unsecured obligation of the Fund.

Note 4. Federal Tax Information

The timing and character of income and capital gain distributions are determined in accordance with income tax regulations, which may differ from GAAP because of temporary or permanent book to tax differences.

At December 31, 2015, these differences are primarily due to differing treatment for deferral/reversal of wash sale losses, Directors’ deferred compensation, net operating loss reclassification and derivative investments. To the extent these differences are permanent, reclassifications are made among the

 

 

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   COLUMBIA SELIGMAN PREMIUM TECHNOLOGY GROWTH FUND  

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

December 31, 2015

 

components of the Fund’s net assets in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Temporary differences do not require reclassifications. In the Statement of Assets and Liabilities the following reclassifications were made:

 

Excess of distributions over net investment income

    $638,551   

Accumulated net realized gain

    (638,551

Net investment income (loss) and net realized gains (losses), as disclosed in the Statement of Operations, and net assets were not affected by this reclassification.

The tax character of distributions paid during the years indicated was as follows:

 

    

Year Ended
December 31,

2015 ($)

   

Year Ended
December 31,

2014 ($)

 

Ordinary income

    3,630,678        6,815,325   

Long-term capital gains

    24,759,777        21,535,851   

Total

    28,390,455        28,351,176   

Short-term capital gain distributions, if any, are considered ordinary income distributions for tax purposes.

At December 31, 2015, the components of distributable earnings on a tax basis were as follows:

 

         

Undistributed ordinary income

    $383,066   

Undistributed long-term capital gains

    8,457,621   

Net unrealized appreciation

    49,312,707   

At December 31, 2015, the cost of investments for federal income tax purposes was $219,883,398 and the aggregate gross unrealized appreciation and depreciation based on that cost was:

 

Unrealized appreciation

       $53,778,995   

Unrealized depreciation

       (4,466,288

Net unrealized appreciation

       49,312,707   

Management of the Fund has concluded that there are no significant uncertain tax positions in the Fund that would require recognition in the financial statements. However, management’s conclusion may be subject to review and adjustment at a later date based on factors including, but not limited to, new tax laws, regulations, and administrative interpretations (including relevant court decisions). Generally, the Fund’s federal tax returns for the prior three fiscal years remain subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service.

Note 5. Portfolio Information

The cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of securities, excluding short-term investments and derivatives, if any, aggregated to $162,097,964 and $189,580,218, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2015. The amount of purchase and sale activity impacts the portfolio turnover rate reported in the Financial Highlights.

Note 6. Dividend Investment Plan and Stock Repurchase Program

The Fund, in connection with its Dividend Investment Plan (the Plan), issues shares of its own Common Stock, as needed, to satisfy Plan requirements. A total of 15,183 shares were issued to Plan participants during the year ended December 31, 2015 for proceeds of $267,777, a weighted average premium of 0.16% from the net asset value of those shares.

Pursuant to the Plan, unless a Common Stockholder elects otherwise, all cash dividends, capital gains distributions, and other distributions are automatically reinvested in additional Common Stock. If you hold your shares in street name or other nominee (i.e., through a broker), you should contact them to determine their policy, as the broker firm’s policy with respect to Fund distributions may be to default to a cash payment. Common Stockholders who elect not to participate in the Plan (including those whose intermediaries do not permit participation in the Plan by their customers) will receive all dividends and distributions payable in cash directly to the Common Stockholder of record (or, if the shares of Common Stock are held in street or other nominee name, then to such nominee). Common Stockholders may elect not to participate in the Plan and to receive all distributions of dividends and capital gains or other distributions in cash by sending written instructions to American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC (AST), 59 Maiden Lane Plaza Level, New York, New York 10038. Participation in the Plan may be terminated or resumed at any time without penalty by written notice if received by AST, prior to the record date for the next distribution. Otherwise, such termination or resumption will be effective with respect to any subsequently declared distribution.

Under the Plan, Common Stockholders receive shares of Common Stock in lieu of cash distributions unless they have elected otherwise as described above. Common Stock will be issued in lieu of cash by the Fund from previously authorized but unissued Common Stock. If the

 

 

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NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

December 31, 2015

 

market price of a share on the ex-dividend date of such a distribution is at or above the Fund’s net asset value per share on such date, the number of shares to be issued by the Fund to each Common Stockholder receiving shares in lieu of cash distributions will be determined by dividing the amount of the cash distribution to which such Common Stockholder would be entitled by the greater of the net asset value per share on such date or 95% of the market price of a share on such date. If the market price of a share on such an ex-dividend date is below the net asset value per share, the number of shares to be issued to such Common Stockholders will be determined by dividing such amount by the per share market price. The issuance of Common Stock at less than net asset value per share will dilute the net asset value of all Common Stock outstanding at that time. Market price on any day means the closing price for the Common Stock at the close of regular trading on the NYSE on such day or, if such day is not a day on which the Common Stock trades, the closing price for the Common Stock at the close of regular trading on the immediately preceding day on which trading occurs.

The Fund, under its stock repurchase program, currently intends to make open market purchases of its Common Stock from time to time when the Fund’s Common Stock is trading at a discount to its net asset value, in an amount approximately sufficient to offset the growth in the number of shares of Common Stock issued as a result of the reinvestment of the portion of its distributions to Common Stockholders that are attributable to distributions received by the Fund from its underlying portfolio investments less fund expenses. No shares were purchased in the open market during the year ended December 31, 2015. In February 2016, the Board approved the continuation of the Fund’s stock repurchase program for 2016.

The Fund reserves the right to amend or terminate the Plan as applied to any distribution paid subsequent to written notice of the change sent to participants in the Plan at least 90 days before the record date for such distribution. There are no service or brokerage charges to participants in the Plan; however, the Fund reserves the right to amend the Plan to include a service charge payable to the Fund by the participants. The Fund reserves the right to amend the Plan to provide for payment of brokerage fees by Plan participants in the event the Plan is changed to provide for open market purchases of Common Stock on behalf of Plan participants. All correspondence concerning the Plan should be directed to AST.

Note 7. Affiliated Money Market Fund

The Fund invests in Columbia Short-Term Cash Fund, an affiliated money market fund established for the exclusive use by the Fund and other affiliated funds. The income earned by the Fund from such investments is included as Dividends — affiliated issuers in the Statement of Operations. As an investing fund, the Fund indirectly bears its proportionate share of the expenses of Columbia Short-Term Cash Fund.

Note 8. Significant Risks

Non-Diversification Risk

A non-diversified fund is permitted to invest a greater percentage of its total assets in fewer issuers than a diversified fund. The Fund may, therefore, have a greater risk of loss from a few issuers than a similar fund that invests more broadly.

Technology and Technology-related Investment Risk

The Fund invests a substantial portion of its assets in technology and technology-related companies. The market prices of technology and technology-related stocks tend to exhibit a greater degree of market risk and price volatility than other types of investments. These stocks may fall in and out of favor with investors rapidly, which may cause sudden selling and dramatically lower market prices. These stocks also may be affected adversely by changes in technology, consumer and business purchasing patterns, government regulation and/or obsolete products or services. In addition, a rising interest rate environment tends to negatively affect technology and technology-related companies. In such an environment, those companies with high market valuations may appear less attractive to investors, which may cause sharp decreases in the companies’ market prices. Further, those technology or technology-related companies seeking to finance their expansion would have increased borrowing costs, which may negatively impact their earnings. As a result, these factors may negatively affect the performance of the Fund. Finally, the Fund may be susceptible to factors affecting the technology and technology-related industries, and the Fund’s net asset value may fluctuate more than a fund that invests in a wider range of industries. Technology and technology-related companies are often smaller and less experienced companies and may be subject to greater risks than larger companies, such as limited product lines, markets and financial and managerial resources. These risks may be heightened for technology companies in foreign markets.

 

 

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NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

December 31, 2015

 

Writing Call Options Risk

A principal aspect of the Fund’s investment strategy involves writing call options on the NASDAQ 100. This part of the Fund’s strategy subjects the Fund to certain additional risks. A decision as to whether, when and how to use options involves the exercise of skill and judgment, and even a well-conceived transaction may be unsuccessful to some degree because of market behavior or unexpected events. The principal factors affecting the market value of an option include supply and demand, interest rates, the current market price of the underlying index or security in relation to the exercise price of the option, the actual or perceived volatility of the underlying index or security and the time remaining until the expiration date.

The Fund intends to write call options on the NASDAQ 100; however, it does not intend to have a portfolio of securities that mirrors the securities in the NASDAQ 100. As a result, during a period when the Fund has outstanding call options written on the NASDAQ 100, the NASDAQ 100 may appreciate to a greater extent than the securities in the Fund’s portfolio. If the call options are exercised in these circumstances, the Fund’s loss on the options will be greater because it will be paying the option holder not only an amount effectively representing appreciation on securities in its own portfolio but also an amount representing the greater appreciation experienced by the securities in the NASDAQ 100 that the Fund does not own. If, at a time these call options may be exercised, the securities underlying these options have market values above the exercise price, then these call options will be exercised and the Fund will be obligated to deliver to the option holder either the securities underlying these options or to deliver the cash value of those securities, in exchange for which the option holder will pay the Fund the exercise price. In either case, the Fund will incur losses to the extent the market value of the underlying securities exceed the sum of the premium the Fund received from writing the call options and the exercise price of the call options, which loss may be very substantial.

To the extent all or part of the Fund’s call options are covered, the Fund forgoes, during the option’s life, the opportunity to profit from increases in the market value of the security underlying the call option above the sum of the option premium received and the exercise price of the call, but has retained the risk of loss should the price of the underlying security decline below the exercise price minus the option premium received. The writer of an exchange-listed option on a security has no control

over when during the exercise period of the option (which may be a single day or multiple days) it may be required to fulfill its obligation as a writer of the option. Once an option writer has received an exercise notice, it would be obligated to deliver the underlying security at the exercise price. Thus, the writing of call options may require the Fund to sell portfolio securities at inopportune times or for prices other than current market values and will limit the amount of appreciation the Fund can realize above the exercise price of an option.

The Fund may be required to sell investments from its portfolio to effect cash settlement (or transfer ownership of a stock or other instrument to physically settle) on any written call options that are exercised. Such sales (or transfers) may occur at inopportune times, and the Fund may incur transaction costs that increase the costs borne by Common Stockholders. The Fund may sell written call options over an exchange or in the OTC market. The options in the OTC markets may not be as liquid as exchange-listed options. The Fund may be limited in the number of counterparties willing to take positions opposite the Fund or may find the terms of such counterparties to be less favorable than the terms available for listed options. The Fund cannot guarantee that its options strategies will be effective. Moreover, OTC options may provide less favorable tax treatment than listed options.

The value of options may be adversely affected if the market for such options becomes less liquid or smaller. There can be no assurance that a liquid market will exist when the Fund seeks to close out an option position, in the case of a call option written, by buying the option back. Reasons for the absence of a liquid secondary market on an exchange include the following: (i) there may be insufficient trading interest in certain options; (ii) restrictions may be imposed by an exchange on opening transactions or closing transactions or both; (iii) trading halts, suspensions or other restrictions may be imposed with respect to particular classes or series of options; (iv) unusual or unforeseen circumstances may interrupt normal operations on an exchange; (v) the facilities of an exchange or the Options Clearing Corporation (OCC) may not at all times be adequate to handle current trading volume; or (vi) one or more exchanges could, for economic or other reasons, decide or be compelled to discontinue the trading of options (or a particular class or series of options) at some future date. If trading were discontinued, the secondary market on that exchange (or in that class or series of options) would cease to exist. However, outstanding options on

 

 

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NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

December 31, 2015

 

that exchange that had been issued by the OCC as a result of trades on that exchange would continue to be exercisable in accordance with their terms. The Fund’s ability to terminate OTC options will be more limited than with exchange-traded options and may involve the risk that broker-dealers participating in such transactions will not fulfill their obligations.

The hours of trading for options may not conform to the hours during which the underlying securities are traded. To the extent that the options markets close before the markets for the underlying securities, significant price and rate movements can take place in the underlying markets that would not be reflected concurrently in the options markets. Call options are marked to market daily and their value will be affected by changes in the value of and dividend rates of the underlying common stocks, changes in interest rates, changes in the actual or perceived volatility of the stock market and the underlying common stocks and the remaining time to the options’ expiration. Additionally, the exercise price of an option may be adjusted downward before the option’s expiration as a result of the occurrence of certain corporate events affecting the underlying equity security, such as extraordinary dividends, stock splits, merger or other extraordinary distributions or events. A reduction in the exercise price of an option would reduce the Fund’s capital appreciation potential on the underlying security.

The Fund’s options transactions will be subject to limitations established by each of the exchanges, boards of trade or other trading facilities on which such options are traded. These limitations govern the maximum number of options in each class which may be written or purchased by a single investor or group of investors acting in concert, regardless of whether the options are written or purchased on the same or different exchanges, boards of trade or other trading facilities or are held or written in one or more accounts or through one or more brokers. Thus, the number of options which the Fund may write or purchase may be affected by options written or purchased by other investment advisory clients of the Investment Manager. An exchange, board of trade or other trading facility may order the liquidation of positions found to be in excess of these limits, and may impose certain other sanctions.

Options Risk

The Fund engages in transactions in options on securities, indices, exchange traded funds and market baskets of securities on exchanges and in the OTC markets. In general, exchange-traded options have

standardized exercise prices and expiration dates and require the parties to post margin against their obligations, and the performance of the parties’ obligations in connection with such options is guaranteed by the exchange or a related clearing corporation. OTC options have more flexible terms negotiated between the buyer and the seller, but generally do not require the parties to post margin and are subject to greater credit risk. OTC options also involve greater liquidity risk.

In addition to writing call options as described above, the Fund may purchase put options. By buying a put option, the Fund will pay a premium to acquire a right to sell the securities or instruments underlying the put at the exercise price of the option. The Fund will lose money if the securities or instruments underlying the option do not decline in value below the exercise price of the option by an amount sufficient to offset the premium paid to acquire the option. To the extent the Fund purchases put options in the OTC market, the Fund will be subject to the credit risk of the seller of the option. The Fund also may write put options on the types of securities or instruments that may be held by the Fund, provided that such put options are secured by segregated, liquid instruments. The Fund will receive a premium for writing a put option, which increases the Fund’s return. In exchange for the premium received, the Fund has the obligation to buy the securities or instruments underlying the option at an agreed-upon exercise price if the securities or instruments decrease below the exercise price of the option.

The Fund will lose money if the securities or instruments decrease in value so that the amount the Fund is obligated to pay the counterparty to the option to purchase the securities underlying the option upon exercise of the option exceeds the value of those securities by an amount that is greater than the premium received by the Fund for writing the option.

The Fund may purchase call options on any of the types of securities or instruments in which it may invest. In exchange for paying the option premium, a purchased call option gives the Fund the right to buy, and obligates the seller to sell, the underlying security or instrument at the exercise price. The Fund will lose money if the securities or instruments underlying the option do not appreciate in value in an amount sufficient to offset the premium paid by the Fund to acquire the option.

Small and Mid-cap Companies Risk

The Fund may invest all or a substantial portion of its Managed Assets in companies whose market

 

 

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   COLUMBIA SELIGMAN PREMIUM TECHNOLOGY GROWTH FUND  

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

December 31, 2015

 

capitalization is considered small- or mid-cap. These companies often are newer or less established companies than larger companies. Investments in these companies carry additional risks because earnings of these companies tend to be less predictable; they often have limited product lines, markets, distribution channels or financial resources; and the management of such companies may be dependent upon one or a few key people. The market movements of equity securities of small-cap and mid-cap companies may be more abrupt or erratic than the market movements of equity securities of larger, more established companies or the stock market in general. Historically, small-cap and mid-cap companies have sometimes gone through extended periods when they did not perform as well as larger companies. In addition, equity securities of these companies generally are less liquid than those of larger companies. This means that the Fund could have greater difficulty selling such securities at the time and price that the Fund would like. Smaller-company stocks, as a whole, may experience larger price fluctuations than large-company stocks or other types of investments. During periods of investor uncertainty, investor sentiment may favor large, well-known companies over small, lesser-known companies. There may be less trading in a smaller company’s stock, which means that buy and sell transactions in that stock could have a larger impact on the stock’s price than is the case with larger company stocks.

Foreign Securities Risk

The Fund may invest up to 25% of its Managed Assets in securities of companies organized outside the United States. Investments in foreign securities involve certain risks not associated with investments in U.S. companies. Securities markets in certain foreign countries are not as developed, efficient or liquid as securities markets in the United States. Therefore, the prices of foreign securities are often volatile and trading costs are higher. Certain foreign countries may impose restrictions on the ability of issuers of foreign securities to make payments of principal and interest to investors located outside the country, due to blockage of foreign currency exchanges or otherwise. Generally, there is less publicly available information about foreign companies due to less rigorous disclosure or accounting standards and regulatory practices. In addition, the Fund will be subject to risks associated with adverse political and economic developments in foreign countries, which could cause the Fund to lose money on its investments in foreign securities.

The Fund may invest in securities of issuers located or doing substantial business in “emerging markets” (lesser developed countries). Because of the less developed markets and economics and, in some countries, less mature governments and governmental institutions, the risks of investing in foreign securities can be intensified in the case of investments in issuers domiciled or doing substantial business in emerging markets. These risks include a high concentration of market capitalization and trading volume in a small number of issuers representing a limited number of industries, as well as a high concentration of investors and financial intermediaries; political and social uncertainties; over-dependence on exports, especially with respect to primary commodities, making these economies vulnerable to changes in commodity prices; overburdened infrastructure and obsolete or unseasoned financial systems; environmental problems; less developed legal systems; and less reliable custodial services and settlement practices.

Active Management Risk

Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives.

Issuer Risk

An issuer in which the Fund invests may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.

Market Risk

Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or even long periods.

Note 9. Subsequent Events

Management has evaluated the events and transactions that have occurred through the date the financial statements were issued and noted no items requiring adjustment of the financial statements or additional disclosure.

 

 

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   COLUMBIA SELIGMAN PREMIUM TECHNOLOGY GROWTH FUND  

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

December 31, 2015

 

Note 10. Information Regarding Pending and Settled Legal Proceedings

In December 2005, without admitting or denying the allegations, American Express Financial Corporation (AEFC, which is now known as Ameriprise Financial, Inc. (Ameriprise Financial)) entered into settlement agreements with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Minnesota Department of Commerce (MDOC) related to market timing activities. As a result, AEFC was censured and ordered to cease and desist from committing or causing any violations of certain provisions of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, the Investment Company Act of 1940, and various Minnesota laws. AEFC agreed to pay disgorgement of $10 million and civil money penalties of $7 million. AEFC also agreed to retain an independent distribution consultant to assist in developing a plan for distribution of all disgorgement and civil penalties ordered by the SEC in accordance with various undertakings detailed at http://www.sec.gov/litigation/admin/ia-2451.pdf. Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates have cooperated with the SEC and the MDOC in these legal proceedings, and have made regular reports to the Funds’ Boards of Directors.

Ameriprise Financial and certain of its affiliates have historically been involved in a number of legal, arbitration and regulatory proceedings, including routine litigation, class actions, and governmental actions, concerning matters arising in connection with the conduct of their business activities. Ameriprise Financial believes that the Funds are not currently the subject of, and that neither Ameriprise Financial nor any of its affiliates are the subject of, any pending legal, arbitration or regulatory proceedings that are likely to have a material adverse effect on the Funds or the ability of Ameriprise Financial or its affiliates to perform under their contracts with the Funds. Ameriprise Financial is required to make quarterly (10-Q), annual (10-K) and, as necessary, 8-K filings with the SEC on legal and regulatory matters that relate to Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates. Copies of these filings may be obtained by accessing the SEC website at www.sec.gov.

There can be no assurance that these matters, or the adverse publicity associated with them, will not result in increased fund redemptions, reduced sale of fund shares or other adverse consequences to the Funds. Further, although we believe proceedings are not likely to have a material adverse effect on the Funds or the ability of Ameriprise Financial or its affiliates to perform under

their contracts with the Funds, these proceedings are subject to uncertainties and, as such, we are unable to estimate the possible loss or range of loss that may result. An adverse outcome in one or more of these proceedings could result in adverse judgments, settlements, fines, penalties or other relief that could have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial condition or results of operations of Ameriprise Financial.

 

 

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   COLUMBIA SELIGMAN PREMIUM TECHNOLOGY GROWTH FUND  

 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of

Columbia Seligman Premium Technology Growth Fund

In our opinion, the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the portfolio of investments, and the related statements of operations and of changes in net assets and the financial highlights present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Columbia Seligman Premium Technology Growth Fund (the “Fund”) at December 31, 2015, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended and the financial highlights for each of the four years in the period then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These financial statements and financial highlights (hereafter referred to as “financial statements”) are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits, which included confirmation of securities at December 31, 2015 by correspondence with the custodian, brokers and transfer agent, and the application of alternative auditing procedures where such confirmations had not been received, provide a reasonable basis for our opinion. The financial highlights of the Fund for the period ended on December 31, 2011 were audited by another independent registered public accounting firm whose report dated February 22, 2012 expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial highlights.

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Minneapolis, MN

February 22, 2016

 

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   COLUMBIA SELIGMAN PREMIUM TECHNOLOGY GROWTH FUND  

 

FEDERAL INCOME TAX INFORMATION

(Unaudited)

 

The Fund hereby designates the following tax attributes for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015.

Tax Designations

 

Qualified Dividend Income

    57.58

Dividends Received Deduction

    49.96

Capital Gain Dividend

    $30,186,293   

Qualified Dividend Income. For taxable, non-corporate stockholders, the percentage of ordinary income distributed during the fiscal year that represents qualified dividend income subject to reduced tax rates.

Dividends Received Deduction. The percentage of ordinary income distributed during the fiscal year that qualifies for the corporate dividends received deduction.

Capital Gain Dividend. The Fund designates as a capital gain dividend the amount reflected above, or if subsequently determined to be different, the net capital gain of such fiscal period.

 

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   COLUMBIA SELIGMAN PREMIUM TECHNOLOGY GROWTH FUND  

 

DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

 

Stockholders elect the Board that oversees the Fund’s operations. The Board appoints officers who are responsible for day-to-day business decisions based on policies set by the Board. The following table provides basic biographical information about the Fund’s Directors, including their principal occupations during the past five years, although specific titles for individuals may have varied over the period. Under current Board policy, members may serve a term of three years, whereupon they may be re-elected to serve another term (the Fund’s Board has three classes, with one class expiring each year at the Fund’s regular stockholder’s meeting), or through the end of the calendar year in which he or she reaches either the mandatory retirement age established by the Board or the fifteenth anniversary of the first Board meeting they attended as a member of the Board.

 

Directors    
Independent Directors     

Name,
Address,
Year of Birth

  Position Held
With the Fund and Length of Service
 

Principal Occupation(s)
During the Past Five Years

and Other Relevant
Professional Experience

  Number of
Funds in the
Columbia Funds
Complex
Overseen
 

Other Directorships Held by Director During the Past

Five Years

Kathleen Blatz
901 S. Marquette Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55402
1954

  Director since November 2008   Attorney, specializing in arbitration and mediation; Chief Justice, Minnesota Supreme Court, 1998-2006; Associate Justice, Minnesota Supreme Court, 1996-1998; Fourth Judicial District Court Judge, Hennepin County, 1994-1996; Attorney in private practice and public service, 1984-1993; State Representative, Minnesota House of Representatives, 1979-1993, which included service on the Tax and Financial Institutions and Insurance Committees   124   Trustee, BlueCross BlueShield of Minnesota (Chair of the Business Development Committee) since 2009; Chair of the Robina Foundation since August 2013

Pamela G. Carlton
901 S. Marquette Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55402
1954

  Director since November 2008   President, Springboard — Partners in Cross Cultural Leadership (consulting company) since 2003; Managing Director of US Equity Research, JP Morgan Chase, 1999-2003; Director of US Equity Research, Chase Asset Management, 1996-1999; Co-Director Latin America Research, 1993-1996, COO Global Research, 1992-1996, Co-Director of US Research, 1991-1992, Investment Banker, Morgan Stanley, 1982-1991   124   Trustee, New York Presbyterian Hospital Board (Executive Committee and Chair of Human Resources Committee) since 1996

William P. Carmichael
901 S. Marquette Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55402
1943

  Director since January 2014; Chair of the Board from January 2014 through November 2015   Retired; Co-founder, The Succession Fund (provides exit strategies to owners of privately held companies), 1998-2007; Adjunct Professor of Finance, Kelley School of Business, Indiana University, 1993-2007; Senior Vice President, Sara Lee Corporation, 1991-1993; Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Beatrice Foods Company, 1984-1990; Vice President, Esmark, Inc., 1973-1984; Associate, Price Waterhouse, 1968-1972   124   Director, The Finish Line (athletic shoes and apparel) since July 2003; Director, International Textile Corp. since 2012; Director, hhgregg since May, 2015; former Director, Cobra Electronics Corporation (electronic equipment manufacturer), 1994-August 2014; former Director, Spectrum Brands, Inc. (consumer products), 2002-2009; former Director, Simmons Company (bedding), 2004-2010; former Trustee, BofA Funds Series Trust (11 funds), 2009-2011; former Director, McMoRan Exploration Company (oil and gas exploration and development), 2010-2013

 

Annual Report 2015     29   


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   COLUMBIA SELIGMAN PREMIUM TECHNOLOGY GROWTH FUND  

 

DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS (continued)

 

Independent Directors (continued)     

Name,
Address,
Year of Birth

  Position Held
With the Fund and Length of Service
 

Principal Occupation(s)
During the Past Five Years

and Other Relevant
Professional Experience

  Number of
Funds in the
Columbia Funds
Complex
Overseen
 

Other Directorships Held by Director During the Past

Five Years

Patricia M. Flynn
901 S. Marquette Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55402
1950

  Director since November 2008   Trustee Professor of Economics and Management, Bentley University since 1976 (also teaches and conducts research on corporate governance); Dean, McCallum Graduate School of Business, Bentley University, 1992-2002   124   Trustee, MA Taxpayers Foundation since 1997; Board of Governors, Innovation Institute, MA Technology Collaborative since 2010

William A. Hawkins
901 S. Marquette Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55402
1942

  Chair of the Board since November 2015; Director since March 2015   Managing Director, Overton Partners (financial consulting), since August 2010; President and Chief Executive Officer, California General Bank, N.A., January 2008-August 2010; Operation Hope, COO, 2004-2007; IndyMac Bancorp, President, CBG, 1999-2003; American General Bank, President, 1997-1999; Griffin Financial Services, CEO, 1981-1997; The Griffin Funds, CEO, 1992-1998   124   Former Trustee, BofA Funds Series Trust (11 funds), 2009- 2015

Catherine James Paglia

901 S. Marquette Ave.

Minneapolis, MN 55402

1952

  Director since November 2008   Director, Enterprise Asset Management, Inc. (private real estate and asset management company) since September 1998; Managing Director and Partner, Interlaken Capital, Inc., 1989-1997; Managing Director, Morgan Stanley, 1982-1989; Vice President, Investment Banking, 1980-1982, Associate, Investment Banking, 1976-1980, Dean Witter Reynolds, Inc.   124   Director, Valmont Industries, Inc. (irrigation systems manufacturer) since 2012; Trustee, Carleton College (on the Investment Committee); Trustee, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (on the Investment Committee)

Leroy C. Richie
901 S. Marquette Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55402
1941

  Director since 2000   Counsel, Lewis & Munday, P.C. (law firm) since 2004; Vice President and General Counsel, Automotive Legal Affairs, Chrysler Corporation, 1993-1997   124   Lead Outside Director, Infinity Resources, Inc. (oil and gas exploration and production) since 1994; Lead Outside Director, Digital Ally, Inc. (digital imaging) since September 2005; Trustee, Marygrove College (Chair of Finance Committee), since 2007; former Director, OGE Energy Corp. (energy and energy services), 2007-2014

Alison Taunton-Rigby
901 S. Marquette Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55402
1944

  Director since November 2008   Managing Director, Forester Biotech (consulting), 2001-2003; Chief Executive Officer and Director, RiboNovix, Inc., (biotechnology), 2003-2010; President and Chief Executive Officer of CMT Inc., 2001-2003; Aquila Biopharmaceuticals Inc., 1996-2000; Cambridge Biotech Corporation, 1995-1996; Mitotix Inc., 1993-1994   124  

Director, Abt Associates (government contractor) since 2001; Director, Boston Children’s Hospital since 2002; Director, Healthways, Inc. (health and well-being solutions) since 2005; Director, ICI Mutual Insurance Company since 2011

 

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   COLUMBIA SELIGMAN PREMIUM TECHNOLOGY GROWTH FUND  

 

DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS (continued)

 

Interested Director Affiliated with Investment Manager*

Name,

Address,
Year of Birth

  Position Held
With the Fund and Length of Service
  Principal Occupation(s)
During the Past Five Years
and Other Relevant
Professional Experience
  Number of Funds in the Columbia Funds Complex Overseen   Other Directorships Held by Director During the
Past Five Years

William F. Truscott
c/o Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC,

225 Franklin St.

Boston, MA 02110
1960

  Director and Senior Vice President since November 2008   Chairman of the Board and President, Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC since May 2010 and February 2012, respectively (previously President and Chief Investment Officer, 2001-April 2010); Chief Executive Officer, Global Asset Management, Ameriprise Financial, Inc. since September 2012 (previously Chief Executive Officer, U.S. Asset Management & President, Annuities, May 2010-September 2012 and President — U.S. Asset Management and Chief Investment Officer, 2005-April 2010); Director and Chief Executive Officer, Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. since May 2010 and February 2012, respectively (previously Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, 2006-April 2010); Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, RiverSource Distributors, Inc. since 2006; Director, Threadneedle Asset Management Holdings, SARL since 2014; President and Chief Executive Officer, Ameriprise Certificate Company, 2006-August 2012.   182  

Chairman of the Board,

Columbia Management

Investment Advisers,

LLC since May 2010;

Director, Columbia

Management

Investment Distributors,

Inc. since May 2010; Former Director, Ameriprise Certificate Company, 2006-January 2013

 

* Interested person (as defined under the 1940 Act) by reason of being an officer, director, security holder and/or employee of the Investment Manager or Ameriprise Financial.

 

Annual Report 2015     31   


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   COLUMBIA SELIGMAN PREMIUM TECHNOLOGY GROWTH FUND  

 

DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS (continued)

 

The Board has appointed officers who are responsible for day-to-day business decisions based on policies it has established. The officers serve at the pleasure of the Board. The following table provides basic information about the Officers of the Fund , including principal occupations during the past five years, although their specific titles may have varied over the period. In addition to Mr. Truscott, who is Senior Vice President, the Fund’s other officers are:

 

Fund Officers

Name,
Address and

Year of Birth

 

Position and Year

First Appointed to

Position for any Fund

in the Columbia Funds Complex or a Predecessor Thereof

  Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years

Christopher O. Petersen
5228 Ameriprise Financial
Center

Minneapolis, MN 55474
Born 1970

  President and Principal Executive Officer (2015)   Vice President and Lead Chief Counsel, Ameriprise Financial, Inc. since January 2015 (previously, Vice President and Chief Counsel January 2010-December 2014; and Vice President and Group Counsel or Counsel 2004-January 2010); officer of Columbia Funds and affiliated funds since 2007.

Michael G. Clarke
225 Franklin Street
Boston, MA 02110
Born 1969

  Treasurer (2011), Chief Financial Officer (2009) and Chief Accounting Officer (2015)   Vice President — Mutual Fund Administration, Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC, since May 2010; Managing Director of Fund Administration, Columbia Management Advisors, LLC, September 2004-April 2010; senior officer of Columbia Funds and affiliated funds since 2002.

Paul B. Goucher
100 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10017
Born 1968

  Senior Vice President (2011), Chief Legal Officer (2015) and Assistant Secretary (2008)   Vice President and Lead Chief Counsel, Ameriprise Financial, Inc. since November 2008 and January 2013, respectively (previously Chief Counsel, January 2010-January 2013 and Group Counsel, November 2008-January 2010).

Thomas P. McGuire
225 Franklin Street
Boston, MA 02110
Born 1972

  Senior Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer (2012)   Vice President — Asset Management Compliance, Ameriprise Financial, Inc., since May 2010; Chief Compliance Officer, Ameriprise Certificate Company since September 2010; Compliance Executive, Bank of America, 2005-April 2010.

Colin Moore
225 Franklin Street
Boston, MA 02110
Born 1958

  Senior Vice President (2010)   Executive Vice President and Global Chief Investment Officer, Ameriprise Financial, Inc., since July 2013; Director and Global Chief Investment Officer, Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC since May 2010; Manager, Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer, Columbia Management Advisors, LLC, 2007-April 2010.

Michael E. DeFao
225 Franklin Street
Boston, MA 02110
Born 1968

  Vice President (2011) and Assistant Secretary (2010)   Vice President and Chief Counsel, Ameriprise Financial, Inc. since May 2010; Associate General Counsel, Bank of America, 2005-April 2010.

Amy Johnson
5228 Ameriprise Financial
Center

Minneapolis, MN 55474
Born 1965

  Vice President (2006)   Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer, Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC since May 2010 (previously Chief Administrative Officer, 2009-April 2010, and Vice President — Asset Management and Trust Company Services, 2006-2009).

Lyn Kephart-Strong
5228 Ameriprise Financial
Center

Minneapolis, MN 55474
Born 1960

  Vice President (2015)   President, Columbia Management Investment Services Corp. since October 2014; Vice President & Resolution Officer, Ameriprise Trust Company since August 2009; President, RiverSource Service Corporation 2004-2010.

Ryan C. Larrenaga
225 Franklin Street
Boston, MA 02110
Born 1970

  Vice President and Secretary (2015)   Vice President and Group Counsel, Ameriprise Financial, Inc. since August 2011 (previously, Counsel from May 2010 to August 2011); Assistant General Counsel, Bank of America, 2005-April 2010; officer of Columbia Funds and affiliated funds since 2005.

 

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   COLUMBIA SELIGMAN PREMIUM TECHNOLOGY GROWTH FUND  

 

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THIS REPORT

 

The Fund mails one stockholder report to each stockholder address. If you would like more than one report, please call shareholder services at 800.937.5449 and additional reports will be sent to you.

The policy of the Board is to vote the proxies of the companies in which the Fund holds investments consistent with the procedures that can be found by visiting columbiathreadneedle.com/us. Information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities is filed with the SEC by August 31 for the most recent 12-month period ending June 30 of that year, and is available without charge by visiting columbiathreadneedle.com/us; or searching the website of the SEC at sec.gov.

The Fund files a complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q. The Fund’s Form N-Q is available on the SEC’s website at sec.gov and may be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling 800.SEC.0330. The Fund’s complete schedule of portfolio holdings, as filed on Form N-Q, can also be obtained without charge, upon request, by calling 800.937.5449.

 

Annual Report 2015     33   


Table of Contents

Columbia Seligman Premium Technology Growth Fund

P.O. Box 8081

Boston, MA 02266-8081

 

LOGO

 

You should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the Fund carefully before investing. You can obtain the Fund’s most recent periodic reports and other regulatory filings by contacting your financial advisor or American Stock Transfer & Trust Company at 866.666.1532. These reports and other filings can also be found on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s EDGAR Database. You should read these reports and other filings carefully before investing.

Columbia Threadneedle Investments (Columbia Threadneedle) is the global brand name of the Columbia and Threadneedle group of companies. All rights reserved. Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc., 225 Franklin Street, Boston, MA 02110-2804

© 2016 Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC.

columbiathreadneedle.com/us

 

ANN221_12_F01_(02/16)


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Item 2. Code of Ethics.

 

  (a) The registrant has adopted a code of ethics that applies to the registrant’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions, regardless of whether these individuals are employed by the registrant or a third party.

 

  (b) During the period covered by this report, there were not any amendments to a provision of the code of ethics adopted in 2(a) above.

 

  (c) During the period covered by this report, there were no waivers, including any implicit waivers, from a provision of the code of ethics described in 2(a) above that relates to one or more of the items set forth in paragraph (b) of this item’s instructions.

Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert.

The registrant’s Board of Trustees has determined that Pamela G. Carlton, William P. Carmichael and Alison Taunton-Rigby, each of whom are members of the registrant’s Board of Trustees and Audit Committee, each qualify as an audit committee financial expert. Ms. Carlton, Mr. Carmichael and Ms. Taunton-Rigby are each independent trustees, as defined in paragraph (a)(2) of this item’s instructions.

Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.

Fee information below is disclosed for the one series of the registrant whose report to stockholders is included in this annual filing.

(a) Audit Fees. Aggregate Audit Fees billed by the principal accountant for professional services rendered during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 are approximately as follows:

 

2015      2014  
$ 25,800       $ 25,000   

Audit Fees include amounts related to the audit of the registrant’s annual financial statements or services that are normally provided by the accountant in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements for those fiscal years.


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(b) Audit-Related Fees. Aggregate Audit-Related Fees billed to the registrant by the principal accountant for professional services rendered during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 are approximately as follows:

 

2015      2014
$ 400       $400

Audit-Related Fees include amounts for assurance and related services by the principal accountant that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit of the registrant’s financial statements and are not reported in Audit Fees above. In both fiscal years 2015 and 2014, Audit-Related Fees consist of agreed-upon procedures performed for semi-annual shareholder reports.

During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, there were no Audit-Related Fees billed by the registrant’s principal accountant to the registrant’s investment adviser (not including any sub-adviser whose role is primarily portfolio management and is subcontracted with or overseen by another investment adviser) and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant for an engagement that related directly to the operations and financial reporting of the registrant.

(c) Tax Fees. Aggregate Tax Fees billed by the principal accountant to the registrant for professional services rendered during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 are approximately as follows:

 

2015      2014  
$ 3,700       $ 5,700   

Tax Fees include amounts for the review of annual tax returns, the review of required shareholder distribution calculations and typically include amounts for professional services by the principal accountant for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning.

During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, there were no Tax Fees billed by the registrant’s principal accountant to the registrant’s investment adviser (not including any sub-adviser whose role is primarily portfolio management and is subcontracted with or overseen by another investment adviser) and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant for an engagement that related directly to the operations and financial reporting of the registrant.

(d) All Other Fees. Aggregate All Other Fees billed by the principal accountant to the registrant for professional services rendered during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 are approximately as follows:

 

2015      2014  
$ 0       $ 0   


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All Other Fees include amounts for products and services provided by the principal accountant, other than the services reported in paragraphs (a) through (c) above.

Aggregate All Other Fees billed by the registrant’s principal accountant to the registrant’s investment adviser (not including any sub-adviser whose role is primarily portfolio management and is subcontracted with or overseen by another investment adviser) and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant for an engagement that related directly to the operations and financial reporting of the registrant during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 are approximately as follows:

 

2015      2014  
$ 110,000       $ 210,000   

In both fiscal years 2015 and 2014, All Other Fees primarily consist of fees billed for internal control examinations of the registrant’s transfer agent and investment advisor.

(e)(1) Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures

The registrant’s Audit Committee is required to pre-approve the engagement of the registrant’s independent auditors to provide audit and non-audit services to the registrant and non-audit services to its investment adviser (excluding any sub-adviser whose role is primarily portfolio management and is sub-contracted or overseen by another investment adviser (the “Adviser”) or any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Adviser that provides ongoing services to the Fund (a “Control Affiliate”) if the engagement relates directly to the operations and financial reporting of the registrant.

The Audit Committee has adopted a Policy for Engagement of Independent Auditors for Audit and Non-Audit Services (the “Policy”). The Policy sets forth the understanding of the Audit Committee regarding the engagement of the registrant’s independent accountants to provide (i) audit and permissible audit-related, tax and other services to the registrant (“Fund Services”); (ii) non-audit services to the registrant’s Adviser and any Control Affiliates, that relates directly to the operations and financial reporting of a Fund (“Fund-related Adviser Services”); and (iii) certain other audit and non-audit services to the registrant’s Adviser and its Control Affiliates. A service will require specific pre-approval by the Audit Committee if it is to be provided by the Fund’s independent auditor; provided, however, that pre-approval of non-audit services to the Fund, the Adviser or Control Affiliates may be waived if certain de minimis requirements set forth in the SEC’s rules are met.

Under the Policy, the Audit Committee may delegate pre-approval authority to any pre-designated member or members who are independent board members. The member(s) to whom such authority is delegated must report, for informational purposes only, any pre-approval decisions to the Audit Committee at its next regular meeting. The Audit Committee’s responsibilities with respect to the pre-approval of services performed by the independent auditor may not be delegated to management.


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On an annual basis, at a regularly scheduled Audit Committee meeting, the Fund’s Treasurer or other Fund officer shall submit to the Audit Committee a schedule of the types of Fund Services and Fund-related Adviser Services that are subject to specific pre-approval. This schedule will provide a description of each type of service that is subject to specific pre-approval, along with total projected fees for each service. The pre-approval will generally cover a one-year period. The Audit Committee will review and approve the types of services and the projected fees for the next one-year period and may add to, or subtract from, the list of pre-approved services from time to time, based on subsequent determinations. This specific approval acknowledges that the Audit Committee is in agreement with the specific types of services that the independent auditor will be permitted to perform and the projected fees for each service.

The Fund’s Treasurer or other Fund officer shall report to the Audit Committee at each of its regular meetings regarding all Fund Services or Fund-related Adviser Services provided since the last such report was rendered, including a description of the services, by category, with forecasted fees for the annual reporting period, proposed changes requiring specific pre-approval and a description of services provided by the independent auditor, by category, with actual fees during the current reporting period.

*****

(e)(2) 100% of the services performed for items (b) through (d) above during 2015 and 2014 were pre-approved by the registrant’s Audit Committee.

(f) Not applicable.

(g) The aggregate non-audit fees billed by the registrant’s accountant for services rendered to the registrant, and rendered to the registrant’s investment adviser (not including any sub-adviser whose role is primarily portfolio management and is subcontracted with or overseen by another investment adviser), and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 are approximately as follows:

 

2015      2014  
$ 114,100       $ 216,100   

(h) The registrant’s Audit Committee of the Board of Directors has considered whether the provision of non-audit services that were rendered to the registrant’s adviser (not including any sub-adviser whose role is primarily portfolio management and is subcontracted with or overseen by another investment adviser), and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the investment adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant that were not pre-approved pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(ii) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X, is compatible with maintaining the principal accountant’s independence.


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Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrants.

 

  (a) The registrant has a separately-designated standing audit committee established in accordance with Section 3(a)58)(A) of the Exchange Act (15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(58)(A). Pamela G. Carlton, William P. Carmichael, Alison Taunton-Rigby and Patricia M. Flynn are each independent trustees and collectively constitute the entire Audit Committee.

 

  (b) Not applicable.

Item 6. Investments

 

  (a) The registrant’s “Schedule I – Investments in securities of unaffiliated issuers” (as set forth in 17 CFR 210.12-12) is included in Item 1 of this Form N-CSR.

 

  (b) Not applicable.

Item 7. Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures

General. The Funds have delegated to the Investment Manager the responsibility to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities held by the Funds, including Funds managed by subadvisers.

The Investment Manager votes proxies relating to portfolio securities in accordance with a proxy voting policy and pre-determined proxy voting guidelines adopted by the Board. The Funds endeavor to vote all proxies of which they become aware prior to the vote deadline; provided, however, that in certain circumstances the Funds may refrain from voting securities. For instance, the Funds may refrain from voting foreign securities if the costs of voting outweigh the expected benefits of voting and typically will not vote securities if voting would impose trading restrictions.

Board Oversight and Retention of Proxy Voting Authority. The Board may, in its discretion, vote proxies for the Funds. For instance, the Board may determine to vote on matters that may present a material conflict of interest to the Investment Manager.

The Board reviews on an annual basis, or more frequently as determined appropriate, the Investment Manager’s administration of the proxy voting process and its adherence to the approved guidelines.

Voting Guidelines. The Investment Manager and Board will generally vote in accordance with pre-determined voting guidelines adopted by the Board. The voting guidelines indicate whether to vote for, against or abstain from particular proposals, or whether the matter should be considered on a case-by-case basis. A committee within the Investment Manager (the Proxy Voting Committee), which is composed of representatives of the Investment Manager’s equity investments, equity research, compliance, legal and operations functions, may determine to vote differently from the guidelines on particular proposals in the event it determines that doing so is in the clients’ best economic interests. The Board may also determine to vote differently from the guidelines on particular proposals in the event it determines that doing so is appropriate and in the


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Funds’ interests. The Investment Manager and the Board may also consider the voting recommendations of analysts, portfolio managers, subadvisers and information obtained from outside resources, including one or more third party research providers. When proposals are not covered by the voting guidelines or a voting determination must be made on a case-by-case basis, a portfolio manager, subadviser or analyst will make the voting determination based on his or her determination of the clients’ best economic interests. In addition, the Proxy Voting Committee or Board may determine proxy votes when proposals require special consideration.

On an annual basis, or more frequently as determined necessary, the Board reviews recommendations to revise the existing guidelines or add new guidelines. Recommendations are based on, among other things, industry trends and the frequency that similar proposals appear on company ballots.

Addressing Conflicts of Interest. If the Investment Manager is subject to a potential material conflict of interest with respect to a proxy vote, the Board will vote the proxy by administering the guidelines or determining the vote on a case-by-case basis. If the Board determines that its members may be subject to a potential material conflict of interest with respect to a proxy vote, the member is asked to recuse himself or herself from the determination.

Voting Proxies of Affiliated Underlying Funds. Certain Funds may invest in shares of other Columbia Funds (referred to in this context as “underlying funds”) and may own substantial portions of these underlying funds. If such Funds are in a master-feeder structure, the feeder fund will either seek instructions from its shareholders with regard to the voting of proxies with respect to the master fund’s shares and vote such proxies in accordance with such instructions or vote the shares held by it in the same proportion as the vote of all other master fund shareholders. With respect to Funds that hold shares of underlying funds other than in a master-feeder structure, the proxy policy of the Funds is, in general, to ensure that direct public shareholders of underlying funds control the outcome of any shareholder vote. To help manage this potential conflict of interest, the policy of the Funds is to vote proxies of the underlying funds in the same proportion as the vote of the direct public shareholders; provided, however, that if there are no direct public shareholders of an underlying fund or if direct public shareholders represent only a minority interest in an underlying fund, the Fund may cast votes in accordance with instructions from the independent members of the Board.

Proxy Voting Agents. The Investment Manager has retained Institutional Shareholder Services Inc., a third party vendor, as its proxy voting administrator to implement the Funds’ proxy voting process and to provide recordkeeping and vote disclosure services. The Investment Manager has retained both Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. and Glass-Lewis & Co. to provide proxy research services.

Additional Information. Information regarding how the Columbia Funds (except certain Columbia Funds that do not invest in voting securities) voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent twelve month period ended June 30 will be available by August 31 of this year free of charge: (i) through the Columbia Funds’ website at www.columbiathreadneedle.com/us and (ii) on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. For a copy of the voting guidelines in effect on the date of this SAI, see Appendix B to this SAI.


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Item 8. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

Portfolio Managers

 

Portfolio Manager

  

Title

  

Role with the Corporation

  

Managed the Corporation Since

Paul Wick

  

Portfolio Manager

  

Lead Portfolio Manager

  

2009

Braj Agrawal

  

Portfolio Manager

  

Co-Portfolio Manager

  

2010

Jeetil Patel

  

Portfolio Manager

  

Technology Team Member

  

July 2015

Christopher Boova

  

Portfolio Manager

  

Co-Portfolio Manager

  

February 2016

Mr. Wick joined the Investment Manager in November 2008. Mr. Wick is Team Leader and Portfolio Manager for Technology. Mr. Wick began his investment career in 1987 and earned a B.A. from Duke and an M.B.A. from Duke/Fuqua.

Mr. Agrawal joined the firm in 2010 as a Managing Trader responsible for derivatives. Mr. Agrawal has been a member of the investment community since 2001, and earned a B.A. in Economics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and an M.B.A. from University of Minnesota’s Carlson School.

Mr. Patel joined the Investment Manager in 2012. Prior to joining the Investment Manager as a Portfolio Analyst, Mr. Patel was a managing director and senior internet analyst for Deutsche Bank Securities. Mr. Patel began his investment career in 1998 and earned a B.A. from University of California, Los Angeles.

Mr. Boova joined one of the Columbia Management legacy firms or acquired business lines in 2000. Mr. Boova began his investment career in 1995 and earned two B.S. degrees from Worcester Polytechnic Institute, an M.A. from Georgetown University and an M.B.A. from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

Other Accounts Managed by the Portfolio Managers:

 

Fund

  

Portfolio Manager

  

Other Accounts Managed

  

Performance
Based
Accounts

  

Ownership
of Fund
Shares

     

Number and type of
account

  

Approximate
Total Net Assets

(excluding the fund)

     

For fiscal period ending December 31

Columbia Seligman Premium Technology Growth Fund

   Paul Wick   

4 RICs

2 PIVs

4 Other accounts

  

$4.82 billion

$493.16 million

$1.91 million

   None    None
  

Braj Agrawal

  

17 Other accounts

  

$582,421.67

  

None

  

None

  

Jeetil Patel

  

4 RICs

4 Other accounts

  

$4.82 billion

$868,380.08

  

None

  

None

  

Christopher Boova(a)

   8 Other accounts    $4.78 million    None    None

 

(a) The portfolio manager began managing the Fund effective February 19, 2016; reporting information is provided as of December 31, 2015.


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Potential Conflicts of Interest:

Like other investment professionals with multiple clients, a Fund’s portfolio manager(s) may face certain potential conflicts of interest in connection with managing both the Fund and other accounts at the same time. The Investment Manager and the Funds have adopted compliance policies and procedures that attempt to address certain of the potential conflicts that portfolio managers face in this regard. Certain of these conflicts of interest are summarized below.

The management of accounts with different advisory fee rates and/or fee structures, including accounts that pay advisory fees based on account performance (performance fee accounts), may raise potential conflicts of interest for a portfolio manager by creating an incentive to favor higher fee accounts.

Potential conflicts of interest also may arise when a portfolio manager has personal investments in other accounts that may create an incentive to favor those accounts. As a general matter and subject to the Investment Manager’s Code of Ethics and certain limited exceptions, the Investment Manager’s investment professionals do not have the opportunity to invest in client accounts, other than the funds.

A portfolio manager who is responsible for managing multiple funds and/or accounts may devote unequal time and attention to the management of those Funds and/or accounts. The effects of this potential conflict may be more pronounced where Funds and/or accounts managed by a particular portfolio manager have different investment strategies.

A portfolio manager may be able to select or influence the selection of the broker/dealers that are used to execute securities transactions for the Funds. A portfolio manager’s decision as to the selection of broker/dealers could produce disproportionate costs and benefits among the Funds and the other accounts the portfolio manager manages.

A potential conflict of interest may arise when a portfolio manager buys or sells the same securities for a Fund and other accounts. On occasions when a portfolio manager considers the purchase or sale of a security to be in the best interests of a Fund as well as other accounts, the Investment Manager’s trading desk may, to the extent consistent with applicable laws and regulations, aggregate the securities to be sold or bought in order to obtain the best execution and lower brokerage commissions, if any. Aggregation of trades may create the potential for unfairness to a Fund or another account if a portfolio manager favors one account over another in allocating the securities bought or sold. In addition, although the Investment Manager has entered into a personnel sharing arrangement with Threadneedle, the Investment Manager and Threadneedle maintain separate trading operations for their clients. By maintaining separate trading operations in this manner, the Funds may forego certain opportunities including the aggregation of trades across certain accounts managed by Threadneedle. This could result in the Funds competing in the market with one or more accounts managed by Threadneedle for similar trades. In addition, it is possible that the separate trading desks of the Investment Manager and Threadneedle may be on opposite sides of a trade execution for a Fund at the same time.

“Cross trades,” in which a portfolio manager sells a particular security held by a Fund to another account (potentially saving transaction costs for both accounts), could involve a potential conflict of interest if, for example, a portfolio manager is permitted to sell a security from one account to another account at a higher price than an independent third party would pay. The Investment Manager and the Funds have adopted compliance procedures that provide that any transactions between a Fund and another account managed by the Investment Manager are to be made at a current market price, consistent with applicable laws and regulations.


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Another potential conflict of interest may arise based on the different investment objectives and strategies of a Fund and other accounts managed by its portfolio manager(s). Depending on another account’s objectives and other factors, a portfolio manager may give advice to and make decisions for a Fund that may differ from advice given, or the timing or nature of decisions made, with respect to another account. A portfolio manager’s investment decisions are the product of many factors in addition to basic suitability for the particular account involved. Thus, a portfolio manager may buy or sell a particular security for certain accounts, and not for a Fund, even though it could have been bought or sold for the Fund at the same time. A portfolio manager also may buy a particular security for one or more accounts when one or more other accounts are selling the security (including short sales). There may be circumstances when a portfolio manager’s purchases or sales of portfolio securities for one or more accounts may have an adverse effect on other accounts, including the Funds.

A Fund’s portfolio manager(s) also may have other potential conflicts of interest in managing the Fund, and the description above is not a complete description of every conflict that could exist in managing the Fund and other accounts. Many of the potential conflicts of interest to which the Investment Manager’s portfolio managers are subject are essentially the same or similar to the potential conflicts of interest related to the Investment Management activities of the Investment Manager and its affiliates.

Structure of Compensation:

Portfolio manager compensation is typically comprised of (i) a base salary and (ii) an annual cash bonus. The annual cash bonus, and in some instances the base salary, are paid from a team bonus pool that is based on fees and performance of the accounts managed by the portfolio management team, which might include mutual funds, wrap accounts, institutional portfolios and hedge funds.

The percentage of management fees on mutual funds and long-only institutional portfolios that fund the bonus pool is based on the short term (typically one-year) and long-term (typically three-year and five-year) performance of those accounts in relation to the relevant peer group universe.

A fixed percentage of management fees on hedge funds and separately managed accounts that follow a hedge fund mandate fund the bonus pool.

The percentage of performance fees on hedge funds and separately managed accounts that follow a hedge fund mandate that fund the bonus pool is based on the absolute level of each hedge fund’s current year investment return.

For all employees the benefit programs generally are the same, and are competitive within the Financial Services Industry. Employees participate in a wide variety of plans, including options in Medical, Dental, Vision, Health Care and Dependent Spending Accounts, Life Insurance, Long Term Disability Insurance, 401(k), and a cash balance pension plan.


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Item 9. Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers.

The Fund has a share repurchase plan approved by the Fund’s Board of Directors, which authorizes repurchases of the Fund’s common stock in the open market at times when shares are trading at a discount from NAV and in an amount approximately sufficient to offset the growth in the number of common shares attributable to the reinvestment of the portion of its distributions to common stockholders attributable to distributions received from portfolio investments less Fund expenses. The Fund has not repurchased shares during the period.

Item 10. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

There were no material changes to the procedures by which shareholders may recommend nominees to the registrant’s board of directors.

Item 11. Controls and Procedures.

 

  (a) The registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officers, based on their evaluation of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days of the filing of this report, have concluded that such controls and procedures are adequately designed to ensure that material information required to be disclosed by the registrant in Form N-CSR is accumulated and communicated to the registrant’s management, including the principal executive officer and principal financial officer, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

 

  (b) There was no change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s second fiscal quarter of the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Item 12. Exhibits.

(a)(1) Code of ethics required to be disclosed under Item 2 of Form N-CSR attached hereto as Exhibit 99.CODE ETH.

(a)(2) Certifications pursuant to Rule 30a-2(a) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (17 CFR 270.30a-2(a)) attached hereto as Exhibit 99.CERT.

(a)(3) None.

(b) Certification pursuant to Rule 30a-2(b) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (17 CFR 270.30a-2(b)) attached hereto as Exhibit 99.906CERT.


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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

(registrant)  

Columbia Seligman Premium Technology Growth Fund, Inc.

By (Signature and Title)  

/s/ Christopher O. Petersen

  Christopher O. Petersen, President and Principal Executive Officer
Date  

February 22, 2016

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

By (Signature and Title)  

/s/ Christopher O. Petersen

  Christopher O. Petersen, President and Principal Executive Officer
Date  

February 22, 2016

By (Signature and Title)  

/s/ Michael G. Clarke

  Michael G. Clarke, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer
Date  

February 22, 2016