Summary Prospectus
May 1, 2025
Variable Portfolio – Managed Volatility Moderate Growth Fund
The Fund offers Class 1 and Class 2 shares to separate accounts consisting of subaccounts funding variable annuity
contracts and variable life insurance policies (Contracts) issued by affiliated life insurance companies authorized by Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. (the Distributor). There are no exchange ticker symbols associated
with shares of the Fund.
Before you invest, you may want to review the
Fund’s prospectus, which contains more information about the Fund and its risks. You can find the Fund’s prospectus, reports to shareholders, statement of additional
information and other information about the Fund online at https://www.columbiathreadneedleus.com/resources/literature. You can also get this information at no cost by calling 800.345.6611, by sending an email to
serviceinquiries@columbiathreadneedle.com, or by contacting the participating insurance company or other financial intermediary through whom you hold your Fund shares. This Summary Prospectus incorporates by reference the Fund’s
prospectus, dated May 1, 2025, and current Statement of Additional Information.
As with all mutual funds, the Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved these securities or
passed upon the adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
Investment
Objective
Variable Portfolio – Managed Volatility Moderate Growth Fund
(the Fund) pursues total return while seeking to manage the Fund’s exposure to equity market
volatility.
Fees and Expenses of the
Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay as an
investor in the Fund. The table does not reflect any fees or expenses imposed by your Contract, which are disclosed in your Contract prospectus. If the additional fees
or expenses were reflected, the expenses set forth below would be higher.
| Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you
pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) | ||
| |
Class 1 |
Class 2 |
| Management fees |
0.18 % |
0.18 % |
| Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees |
0.00 % |
0.25 % |
| Other expenses |
0.07 % |
0.07 % |
| Acquired fund fees and expenses |
0.48 % |
0.48 % |
| Total annual Fund operating expenses(a) |
0.73 % |
0.98 % |
(a)
“Total annual Fund operating expenses” include acquired fund fees and expenses (expenses the Fund incurs indirectly through its investments in other investment companies) and may be higher than the ratio of expenses to average net assets shown in the Financial Highlights section of
this prospectus because the ratio of expenses to average net assets does not include acquired fund fees and expenses.
Example
The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of
investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over the time periods indicated, and assumes that:
■
you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the periods indicated,
■
your investment has a 5% return each year, and
■
the Fund’s total annual operating expenses remain the same as shown in the Annual Fund Operating
Expenses table above.
The example does not reflect any fees and expenses that
apply to your Contract. Inclusion of these charges would increase expenses for all periods shown.
Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on the
assumptions listed above, your costs would be:
| |
1 year |
3 years |
5 years |
10 years |
| Class 1 (whether or not shares are redeemed) |
$75 |
$233 |
$406 |
$906 |
| Class 2 (whether or not shares are redeemed) |
$100 |
$312 |
$542 |
$1,201 |
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund and underlying funds (including exchange-traded funds (ETFs)) may pay transaction costs, such as commissions,
when they buy and sell securities (or “turn over” their portfolios). The Fund will indirectly bear the expenses associated with portfolio turnover of the underlying
funds. A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 156% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal circumstances, the Fund pursues its investment objective by allocating its assets across equity and
fixed-income/debt asset classes while targeting a particular level of effective equity market exposure (described below) that varies based on volatility in the equity market. The Fund invests in a mix of affiliated mutual funds
(Underlying Funds) and, in seeking to manage the Fund’s exposure to equity market volatility, the Fund employs a tactical allocation strategy utilizing:
■
derivative transactions, including forward contracts, futures, options and
swaps;
■
direct investments in exchange-traded funds (ETFs); and
1
Variable Portfolio – Managed Volatility Moderate Growth Fund
■
direct investments in fixed-income or debt instruments (such as investment grade corporate bonds, high yield (i.e.,
junk) instruments, sovereign debt, U.S. Government bonds and notes, Treasury inflation-protected securities (TIPS), mortgage- and other asset-backed
securities, international bonds and mortgage dollar rolls, each with varying interest rates, terms, durations and credit exposures).
Collectively, these assets
are referred to as the Tactical Assets (which are described below under “Tactical Allocation”).
Effective Equity Market Exposure
The Fund’s “effective equity market exposure” (or EEME) reflects the
amount of Fund assets exposed to the equity market, with such exposure fluctuating based on market volatility. The Fund’s EEME includes exposure to equity markets through the Fund’s investments in Underlying Funds and Tactical Assets, adjusted based on measures
of market volatility to reflect the degree to which the Fund’s holdings are expected to move in tandem with equity markets (beta) based solely on the views of the Fund’s investment manager. Under normal circumstances, the Fund’s targeted EEME may range from 0% to 70% of its net assets. Within this range, the Fund’s targeted and actual EEME
is subject to change, including on a daily basis. At March 31, 2025, the Fund’s actual EEME was approximately 54.93% of its net assets.
The Fund invests in Underlying Funds focused on equity investments (Equity Underlying Funds) and Underlying Funds
focused on fixed-income/debt investments (Fixed-Income Underlying Funds) to gain exposure to equity and fixed-income/debt asset classes, respectively. If the Fund invests, for example, 50% of its net assets in Equity Underlying Funds (and
has no EEME through its Tactical Assets), the Fund will have 50% of its net assets exposed to the equity market and an EEME of 50% of its net assets. Using the same example, the
Fund could employ its Tactical Assets to increase the Fund’s EEME to a maximum of 70% while maintaining a 50% allocation to Equity Underlying Funds. The Fund may invest significantly in any individual Underlying Fund(s).
As discussed in the above example, the Tactical Assets are typically utilized to adjust (increase or reduce) the Fund’s exposure to equity and fixed-income/debt asset classes and various segments within these asset classes (i.e., the
Tactical Assets are typically used to adjust the Fund’s EEME). Derivatives instruments may also be used to facilitate the Fund’s management of cash inflows/outflows. At times (e.g., when there are significant cash inflows or
anticipated inflows), such additional derivatives use could cause the Fund’s assets to be invested outside the ranges described below for Fund investments in Tactical Assets (and, in turn, the Underlying Funds).
In general, when the Fund’s investment manager, Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (Columbia Management or the Investment Manager), determines that equity market volatility is relatively low, the Investment
Manager may increase the Fund’s EEME and decrease the Fund’s effective fixed-income/debt market exposure. Conversely, if it determines that volatility in the equity market is relatively high, it may reduce (or, in certain extreme cases, eliminate entirely) the Fund’s EEME and, correspondingly, increase the Fund’s effective fixed-income/debt market exposure.
Investment Process
Columbia Management uses the following two-part investment process that, together, pursues total return while seeking to
manage the Fund’s exposure to equity market volatility:
■
Selects and determines allocations to the Underlying Funds (referred to as the Strategic Allocation); and
■
Invests in and determines allocations to the Tactical Assets typically to adjust desired
asset class exposures (referred to as the Tactical Allocation).
Columbia Management makes adjustments to the Fund’s investment exposure based on
measures of market volatility and its views on the performance of equity markets. Volatility refers to the ups and downs in the market and can run in cycles of several months or even years.
The Fund uses an investment strategy based on a variable model derived from its blended benchmark which consists of 50%
Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index, 35% Russell 3000 Index and 15% MSCI EAFE Index (Net).
Strategic Allocation
Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests 40% to 90% of its net assets in Underlying Funds managed by Columbia
Management, including those for which Columbia Management provides day-to-day portfolio management and those for which day-to-day portfolio management is provided by investment
subadvisers hired by Columbia Management. Of the assets allocated to the Underlying Funds, the Fund may invest up to 100% of those assets in Equity Underlying Funds or Fixed-Income Underlying Funds (or some combination of the two).
Variable Portfolio – Managed Volatility Moderate Growth Fund
2
The Fund may invest in Underlying Funds across
various sectors and industries within the equity and fixed-income/debt asset classes and markets, including Underlying Funds that invest in securities of different investment
strategies and styles (e.g., growth, value and core/blend), market capitalizations (e.g., large, mid and small cap) and geographic focus (e.g., domestic and international, including emerging markets), as well as those that invest in real
estate securities and fixed-income or debt instruments, including investment grade corporate bonds, high yield (i.e., junk) instruments, sovereign debt, U.S. Government bonds and notes, TIPS, mortgage- and other asset-backed
securities and international bonds, each with varying interest rates, terms, durations and credit exposures. The Fund may invest, directly and/or indirectly through Underlying Funds, in debt securities and instruments across the credit
quality spectrum and, at times, may invest in below investment grade fixed-income securities and instruments
(commonly referred to as “high yield” investments or “junk bonds”). The Fund may invest in debt instruments of any maturity and does not seek to maintain a particular dollar-weighted average maturity.
Underlying Fund selections and allocations are reviewed periodically by Columbia Management. Changes to Underlying Fund selections and allocations may be driven by various factors, including the risks and potential benefits
of investing in a particular Underlying Fund as a means of achieving total return. During times of relatively high equity market volatility as determined by Columbia Management, Columbia Management may reduce, eliminate entirely or increase,
including significantly, the Fund’s allocation to Equity Underlying Funds and may alter Underlying Fund and Tactical Asset selections and allocations with more frequency in
seeking to achieve desired levels of EEME.
Tactical
Allocation
Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests 10% to 60% of
its net assets in the Tactical Allocation strategy, which includes derivative instruments (such as forward contracts (including forward foreign currency contracts), futures
(including currency futures, equity futures, index futures and interest rate futures), options and swaps (including credit default swaps and credit default swap indexes), as well as direct investments in ETFs and fixed-income or debt
instruments (such as investment grade corporate bonds, high yield (i.e., junk) instruments, sovereign debt, U.S. Government bonds and notes, TIPS, mortgage- and other asset-backed securities, international bonds and mortgage
dollar rolls, each with varying interest rates, terms, durations and credit exposures).
Columbia Management typically seeks through investments in Tactical
Assets to adjust the Fund’s exposures to equity and fixed-income/debt markets and to segments within those markets in response to its assessment of the relative risks and potential returns of these markets and segments. As with the Underlying Funds, the Fund may, through
its tactical allocation strategy, reduce (or, in certain extreme cases, eliminate entirely) its EEME and, correspondingly, increase the Fund’s effective fixed-income/debt
market exposure. Conversely, the Fund may also increase its EEME through its Underlying Fund selections and allocations and by employing the Tactical Assets to adjust upward the volatility level in the Fund’s portfolio closer to desired levels.
The Fund also seeks to reduce equity market volatility in the portfolio by purchasing or writing call and put options on equity indices to protect against periods of decline in equity markets.
The Investment Manager believes that the use of the Tactical Assets, the derivative instruments and ETFs in particular,
may provide more efficient and economical exposure to asset classes and segments than investments in or withdrawals from the Underlying Funds. As a result, Columbia Management
typically uses derivatives and ETFs as primary tools for adjusting the Fund’s EEME.
The Fund may hold a significant amount of cash, money market instruments or other high quality, short-term investments, including shares of affiliated or unaffiliated money market funds which may have a floating net asset
value, to cover obligations with respect to, or that may result from, the Fund’s investments in derivatives. The Fund’s use of certain derivatives may create significant leveraged exposure to the equity and debt markets. Leverage occurs
when investments in derivatives create greater economic exposure than the amount invested. This means that the Fund could lose more than originally invested in the derivative.
The portfolio managers may actively and frequently trade securities in the Fund’s portfolio to carry out its principal strategies.
Underlying Funds
Appendix A includes the list of the Underlying Funds available to the Fund, as well as a description of the Underlying
Funds’ investment objectives and principal investment strategies. A description of the principal risks associated with the Underlying Funds is included in Appendix B. Columbia Management may add new or remove existing Underlying Funds at
any time without the approval of shareholders. The prospectuses and Statements of Additional Information for the Underlying Funds include more detailed information about these
Underlying Funds and are available free of charge by calling 800.345.6611.
3
Variable Portfolio – Managed Volatility Moderate Growth Fund
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risks, including Fund-of-Funds Risk, Market Risk,
Volatility and Volatility Management Risk, Growth Securities Risk,
Quantitative Model Risk, Derivatives Risk, and Allocation Risk, among others. Descriptions of these and other principal risks of investing in the Fund, including select
risks related to the Underlying Funds in which it invests, are provided below. More information about Underlying Funds, including their principal risks, is available in their prospectuses. A description of the principal risks associated with investment in
these Underlying Funds is included in the prospectus Appendix B. This prospectus is not an offer for any of the Underlying Funds. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you
may lose money. The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value
(NAV) and share price may go down. An investment in the Fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The significance of any specific risk to an investment in the Fund will vary
over time depending on the composition of the Fund's portfolio, market conditions, and other factors. You should read all of the risk information below carefully, because any one
or more of these risks may result in losses to the Fund.
Allocation Risk. Because the Fund uses an asset allocation strategy in pursuit of its investment
objective, there is a risk that the Fund's allocation among asset classes, investments, managers, strategies and/or investment styles will cause the Fund's shares to lose value or cause the Fund to underperform other funds with similar investment objectives
and/or strategies, or that the investments themselves will not produce the returns expected.
Counterparty Risk. Counterparty risk is the risk that a counterparty to a transaction in a financial
instrument held by the Fund or by a special purpose or structured vehicle invested in by the Fund may become insolvent or otherwise fail to perform its obligations. As a result, the Fund may obtain no or limited recovery of its investment, and any recovery
may be significantly delayed.
Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that the value of loans or other debt instruments may decline if the borrower or the issuer
thereof defaults or otherwise becomes unable or unwilling, or is perceived to be unable or unwilling, to honor its financial obligations, such as making payments to the Fund when
due. Credit rating agencies, such as S&P Global Ratings, Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (Moody’s Ratings), Fitch Ratings, Inc. (Fitch), Morningstar DBRS (DBRS)
and Kroll Bond Rating Agency, LLC (KBRA), assign credit ratings to certain loans and debt instruments to indicate their credit risk. A rating downgrade by such agencies can negatively impact the value of such instruments. Lower-rated or
unrated loans or instruments held by the Fund may present increased credit risk as compared to higher-rated loans or instruments. Non-investment grade loans or debt instruments may be subject to greater price fluctuations and are more
likely to experience a default than investment grade loans or debt instruments and therefore may expose the Fund to increased credit risk. If the Fund purchases unrated loans or
instruments, or if the ratings of loans or instruments held by the Fund are lowered after purchase, the Fund will depend on analysis of credit risk more heavily than usual. If the issuer of a loan or debt instrument declares bankruptcy or is declared bankrupt, there may be a delay
before the Fund can act on the collateral (if any) securing the loan or debt instrument, which may adversely affect the Fund. Further, there is a risk that a court could take
action with respect to a loan or debt instrument that is adverse to the holders of the loan or debt instrument. Such actions may include invalidating the loan or debt instrument, the lien on the collateral (if any), the priority status of the loan or debt instrument, or ordering the refund of interest previously paid by the borrower. Any such actions by a court could adversely affect the Fund’s
performance. A default or expected default of a loan or debt instrument could also make it difficult for the Fund to sell the loan or debt instrument at a price approximating the value previously placed on it. In order to enforce its
rights in the event of a default, bankruptcy or similar situation, the Fund may be required to retain legal or similar counsel. This may increase the Fund’s operating expenses and adversely affect its NAV. Loans or debt instruments
that have a lower priority for repayment in an issuer’s capital structure typically involve a higher degree of overall risk than more senior loans or debt instruments of the same borrower.
Derivatives Risk. Derivatives may involve significant risks. Derivatives are financial instruments with
a value in relation to, or derived from, the value of an underlying asset(s) or other reference, such as an index, rate or other economic indicator (each an underlying reference). Derivatives may include those that are privately placed or otherwise
exempt from SEC registration, including certain Rule 144A eligible securities. Derivatives could result in Fund losses if the underlying reference does not perform as
anticipated. Use of derivatives is a highly specialized activity that can involve investment techniques, risks, and tax planning different from those associated with more traditional investment instruments. The Fund’s derivatives strategy may not be successful and use of certain
derivatives could result in substantial, potentially unlimited, losses to the Fund regardless of the Fund’s actual investment. A relatively small movement in the price, rate or other economic indicator associated with the underlying
reference may result in substantial losses for the Fund. Derivatives may be more volatile than other types of
investments. The value of derivatives may be influenced by a variety of factors, including national and international political and economic developments. Potential changes to the regulation of the derivatives markets may make
Variable Portfolio – Managed Volatility Moderate Growth Fund
4
derivatives more costly, may limit the market
for derivatives, or may otherwise adversely affect the value or performance of derivatives. Derivatives can increase the Fund’s risk exposure to underlying references and
their attendant risks, such as credit risk, market risk, foreign currency risk and interest rate risk, while potentially exposing the Fund to correlation risk, counterparty risk, hedging risk, inflation risk, leverage risk, liquidity risk, pricing risk and volatility risk.
Derivatives Risk – Forward Contracts Risk. A forward contract is an over-the-counter derivative
transaction between two parties to buy or sell a specified amount of an underlying reference at a specified price (or rate) on a specified date in the future. Forward contracts are negotiated on an individual basis and are not standardized or traded on
exchanges. The market for forward contracts is substantially unregulated and can experience lengthy periods of illiquidity, unusually high trading volume and other negative impacts, such as political intervention, which may result
in volatility or disruptions in such markets. A relatively small price movement in a forward contract may result in substantial losses to the Fund, exceeding the amount of the margin paid. Forward contracts can increase the Fund’s
risk exposure to underlying references and their attendant risks, such as credit risk, market risk, foreign currency risk and interest rate risk, while potentially exposing the Fund to correlation risk, counterparty risk, hedging risk, inflation risk, leverage risk, liquidity risk, pricing risk and volatility risk.
Derivatives Risk – Futures Contracts Risk. A futures contract is an exchange-traded derivative
transaction between two parties in which a buyer (holding the “long” position) agrees to pay a fixed price (or rate) at a specified future date for delivery of an underlying reference from a seller (holding the “short” position). The seller hopes that the market price on the delivery date is less than the agreed upon price, while the buyer hopes for the contrary. Certain
futures contract markets are highly volatile, and futures contracts may be illiquid. Futures exchanges may limit fluctuations in futures contract prices by imposing a maximum permissible daily price movement. The Fund may be
disadvantaged if it is prohibited from executing a trade outside the daily permissible price movement. At or prior to maturity of a futures contract, the Fund may enter into an offsetting contract and may incur a loss to the extent there
has been adverse movement in futures contract prices. The liquidity of the futures markets depends on participants entering into offsetting transactions rather than making or taking delivery. To the extent participants make or take
delivery, liquidity in the futures market could be reduced. Because of the low margin deposits normally required in futures trading, it is possible that the Fund may employ a high degree of leverage in the portfolio. As a result, a
relatively small price movement in a futures contract may result in substantial losses to the Fund, exceeding the amount of the margin paid. For certain types of futures contracts, losses are potentially unlimited. Futures markets are
highly volatile and the use of futures may increase the volatility of the Fund’s NAV. Futures contracts executed (if any) on foreign exchanges may not provide the same
protection as U.S. exchanges. Futures contracts can increase the Fund’s risk exposure to underlying references and their attendant risks, such as credit risk, market risk,
foreign currency risk and interest rate risk, while potentially exposing the Fund to correlation risk, counterparty risk, hedging risk, inflation risk, leverage risk, liquidity risk, pricing risk and volatility risk.
Derivatives Risk – Options Risk. Options are derivatives that
give the purchaser the option to buy (call) or sell (put) an underlying reference from or to a counterparty at a specified price (the strike price) on or before an expiration
date. When writing options, the Fund is exposed to the risk that it may be required to buy or sell the underlying reference at a disadvantageous price on or before the expiration date. Options may involve economic leverage, which
could result in greater volatility in price movement. The Fund's losses could be significant, and are potentially unlimited for certain types of options. Options may be traded on a securities exchange or in the over-the-counter
market. At or prior to maturity of an options contract, the Fund may enter into an offsetting contract and may incur a loss to the extent there has been adverse movement in options prices. Options can increase the Fund’s risk
exposure to underlying references and their attendant risks, such as credit risk, market risk, foreign currency risk and interest rate risk, while potentially exposing the Fund to correlation risk, counterparty risk, hedging risk, inflation risk, leverage risk, liquidity risk, pricing risk and volatility risk.
Derivatives Risk – Swaps Risk. In a typical swap transaction, two parties agree to exchange the
return earned on a specified underlying reference for a fixed return or the return from another underlying reference during a specified period of time. Swaps may be difficult to value and may be illiquid. Swaps could result in Fund losses if the underlying
asset or reference does not perform as anticipated. Swaps create significant investment leverage such that a relatively small price movement in a swap may result in immediate and
substantial losses to the Fund. The Fund may only close out a swap with its particular counterparty, and may only transfer a position with the consent of that counterparty. Certain swaps, such as short swap transactions and total return swaps, have the potential for
unlimited losses, regardless of the size of the initial position. Swaps can increase the Fund’s risk exposure to underlying references and their attendant risks, such as credit risk, market risk, foreign currency risk and interest
rate risk, while potentially exposing the Fund to correlation risk, counterparty risk, hedging risk, inflation risk, leverage risk, liquidity risk, pricing risk and volatility risk.
5
Variable Portfolio – Managed Volatility Moderate Growth Fund
Emerging Market Securities
Risk. Securities issued by foreign governments or companies in emerging market countries, such
as China, Russia and certain countries in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Latin America or Africa, are more likely to have greater exposure to the risks of investing
in foreign securities that are described in Foreign Securities Risk. In addition, emerging market countries are more likely to experience instability resulting, for example, from rapid changes or developments in social, political, economic or other conditions. Their economies are
usually less mature and their securities markets are typically less developed with more limited trading activity (i.e., lower trading volumes and less liquidity) than more developed countries. Emerging market securities tend to be
more volatile, and may be more susceptible to market manipulation, than securities in more developed markets.
Many emerging market countries are heavily dependent on international trade and have fewer trading partners, which makes them more sensitive to world commodity prices and economic downturns in other countries, and some have a higher
risk of currency devaluations. Due to the differences in the nature and quality of financial information of issuers of emerging market securities, including auditing and
financial reporting standards, financial information and disclosures about such issuers may be unavailable or, if made available, may be considerably less reliable than publicly available information about other foreign securities.
Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF) Risk. Investments in ETFs have unique characteristics, including, but not limited to, the expense structure and additional
expenses associated with investing in ETFs. ETFs are subject to, among other risks, tracking risk and passive and, in some cases, active investment risk. In addition,
shareholders bear both their proportionate share of the Fund’s expenses, and indirectly the ETF’s expenses, incurred through the Fund’s ownership of the ETF. Because the expenses and costs of an underlying ETF are shared by its investors, redemptions by
other investors in the ETF could result in decreased economies of scale and increased operating expenses for such ETF. The ETFs may not achieve their investment objective. The
Fund, through its investment in ETFs, may not achieve its investment objective.
Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to securities of
foreign companies may involve heightened risks relative to investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. Investing in securities of foreign companies subjects the Fund to the risks associated with an issuer’s (and any of its related companies’) country of organization and places of business operations, including risks related to political, regulatory, economic, social, diplomatic and
other conditions or events (including, for example, military confrontations and actions, war, other conflicts, terrorism and disease/virus outbreaks and epidemics) occurring in the country or region, as well as risks associated with less
developed custody and settlement practices. Foreign securities may be more volatile and less liquid than securities of U.S. companies, and are subject to the risks associated with potential imposition of economic and other sanctions
against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country. In addition, foreign governments may impose withholding or other taxes on the Fund’s income, capital gains or proceeds from the
disposition of foreign securities, which could reduce the Fund’s return on such securities. The performance of the Fund may also be negatively affected by fluctuations in a foreign currency's strength or weakness relative to the U.S.
dollar, particularly to the extent the Fund invests a significant percentage of its assets in foreign securities or other assets denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar.
Forward Commitments on Mortgage-Backed Securities (including Dollar
Rolls) Risk. When purchasing mortgage-backed securities in the “to be announced” (TBA) market
(MBS TBAs), the seller agrees to deliver mortgage-backed securities for an agreed upon price on an agreed upon date, but may make no guarantee as to the specific securities
to be delivered. In lieu of taking delivery of mortgage-backed securities, the Fund could enter into dollar rolls, which are transactions in which the Fund sells securities to a counterparty and simultaneously agrees to purchase those or
similar securities in the future at a predetermined price. Dollar rolls involve the risk that the market value of the securities the Fund is obligated to repurchase may decline below the repurchase price, or that the counterparty may
default on its obligations. These transactions may also increase the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate. If the Fund reinvests the proceeds of the security sold, the Fund will also be subject to the risk that the investments purchased
with such proceeds will decline in value (a form of leverage risk). MBS TBAs and dollar rolls are subject to the risk that the counterparty to the transaction may not perform or be unable to perform in accordance with the terms of the
instrument.
Frequent Trading Risk. The portfolio managers may actively and frequently trade investments in the
Fund's portfolio to carry out its investment strategies. Frequent trading can also mean higher brokerage and other transaction costs, which could reduce the Fund's return. The trading costs associated with portfolio turnover may adversely affect the
Fund’s performance.
Fund-of-Funds Risk. Determinations regarding asset classes or selection of Underlying Funds and the
Fund’s allocations thereto may not successfully achieve the Fund’s investment objective, in whole or in part. The ability of the Fund to realize its investment objective will depend, in large part, on the extent to which the Underlying Funds
realize their investment objective. There is no guarantee that the Underlying Funds will achieve their respective investment objectives. The Fund is exposed to the same risks as the Underlying Funds in direct proportion to the
Variable Portfolio – Managed Volatility Moderate Growth Fund
6
allocation of its assets among the Underlying
Funds. Therefore, to the extent that the Fund invests significantly in a particular Underlying Fund, the Fund’s performance would be significantly impacted by the
performance of such Underlying Fund. Generally, by investing in a combination of Underlying Funds, the Fund has exposure to the risks of many areas of the market. By concentrating its investments in relatively few Underlying Funds, the Fund may have more
concentrated market exposures, subjecting the Fund to greater risk of loss should those markets decline or fail to rise. The performance of Underlying Funds could be adversely
affected if other entities that invest in the same funds make relatively large investments or redemptions in such funds. The Fund, and its shareholders, indirectly bear a portion of the expenses of any funds in which the Fund invests. Because the expenses and costs of each Underlying Fund
are shared by its investors, redemptions by other investors in an Underlying Fund could result in decreased economies of scale and increased operating expenses for such
Underlying Fund. The Investment Manager has a conflict of interest in choosing affiliated funds over unaffiliated funds when selecting and investing in Underlying Funds because it receives management fees from affiliated funds, and it has a conflict in choosing among
affiliated funds when selecting and investing in Underlying Funds, because the fees paid to it by certain affiliated funds are higher than the fees paid by other affiliated funds. Also, to the extent that the Fund is
constrained/restricted from investing (or investing further) in a particular Underlying Fund for one or more reasons (e.g., Underlying Fund capacity constraints or regulatory restrictions) or if the Fund chooses to sell its investment in
an Underlying Fund because of poor investment performance or for other reasons, the Fund may have to invest in another fund(s), including less desirable funds – from a strategy or investment performance standpoint – which could have a negative impact on Fund performance. In addition, Fund performance could be negatively impacted if the Investment
Manager is unable to identify an appropriate alternate fund(s) in a timely manner or at all.
Growth Securities Risk. Growth securities typically trade at a higher multiple of earnings than other
types of equity securities. Accordingly, the market values of growth securities may never reach their expected market value and may decline in price. In addition, growth securities, at times, may not perform as well as value securities or the stock
market in general, and may be out of favor with investors for varying periods of time. Growth securities may also be sensitive to movements in interest rates.
High-Yield Investments Risk. Securities and other debt instruments held by the Fund that are rated
below investment grade (commonly called “high-yield” or “junk” bonds) and unrated debt instruments of comparable quality expose the Fund to a greater risk of loss of principal and income than a fund that invests solely or primarily in investment grade
debt instruments. In addition, these investments have greater price fluctuations, are less liquid and are more likely to experience a default than higher-rated debt instruments. High-yield debt instruments are considered to be predominantly
speculative with respect to the issuer’s capacity to pay interest and repay principal.
Inflation-Protected Securities Risk. Inflation-protected debt securities tend to react to changes in
real interest rates (i.e., nominal interest rates minus the expected impact of inflation). In general, the price of such securities falls when real interest rates rise, and rises when real interest rates fall. Interest payments on these securities will vary and
may be more volatile than interest paid on ordinary bonds. In periods of deflation, the Fund may have no income at all from such investments.
Interest Rate Risk. Interest rate risk is the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates. In general, if interest rates rise,
the values of loans and other debt instruments tend to fall, and if interest rates fall, the values of loans and other debt instruments tend to rise. Changes in the value of a
debt instrument usually will not affect the amount of income the Fund receives from it but will generally affect the value of your investment in the Fund. Changes in interest rates may also affect the liquidity of the Fund’s investments in debt instruments. In general, the longer the maturity or duration of a debt instrument, the greater its sensitivity to changes in interest rates. For
example, a three-year duration means a bond is expected to decrease in value by 3% if interest rates rise 1% and increase in value by 3% if interest rates fall 1%. Interest rate declines also may increase prepayments of debt
obligations, which, in turn, would increase prepayment risk. The Fund is subject to the risk that the income generated by its investments may not keep pace with inflation. Actions by governments and central banking authorities can result
in increases or decreases in interest rates. Higher periods of inflation could lead such authorities to raise interest rates. Such actions may negatively affect the value of debt
instruments held by the Fund, resulting in a negative impact on the Fund's performance and NAV. Any interest rate increases could cause the value of the Fund’s investments in debt instruments to decrease. Rising interest rates may prompt redemptions from the Fund, which may force
the Fund to sell investments at a time when it is not advantageous to do so, which could result in losses.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly or
below expectations, and the value of its loans or securities may therefore decline, which may negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Underperformance of an issuer may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures,
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Variable Portfolio – Managed Volatility Moderate Growth Fund
breakthroughs in technology, reliance on
suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters, military confrontations and actions, war, other conflicts, terrorism,
disease/virus outbreaks, epidemics or other events, conditions and factors which may impair the value of your investment in the Fund.
Leverage Risk. Leverage occurs when the Fund increases its assets
available for investment using borrowings, derivatives, or similar instruments or techniques. Use of leverage can produce volatility and may exaggerate changes in the NAV of Fund shares and in the return on the Fund’s portfolio, which may increase the risk that the Fund will
lose more than it has invested. If the Fund uses leverage, through the purchase of particular instruments such as derivatives, the Fund may experience capital losses that exceed the net assets of the Fund. Leverage can create an
interest expense that may lower the Fund's overall returns. Leverage presents the opportunity for increased net income and capital gains, but may also exaggerate the Fund’s volatility and risk of loss. There can be no guarantee
that a leveraging strategy will be successful.
Liquidity Risk. Liquidity risk is the risk associated with any event, circumstance, or characteristic
of an investment or market that negatively impacts the Fund’s ability to sell, or realize the proceeds from the sale of, an investment at a desirable time or price. Liquidity risk may arise because of, for example, a lack of marketability of the investment,
which means that when seeking to sell its portfolio investments, the Fund could find that selling is more difficult than anticipated, especially during times of high market volatility. Decreases in the number of financial institutions,
including banks and broker-dealers, willing to make markets (match up sellers and buyers) in the Fund’s investments or decreases in their capacity or willingness to trade such investments may increase the Fund’s exposure to this risk. The debt market has experienced considerable growth, and financial institutions making markets in instruments purchased
and sold by the Fund (e.g., bond dealers) have been subject to increased regulation. The impact of that growth and regulation on the ability and willingness of financial
institutions to engage in trading or “making a market” in such instruments remains unsettled. Certain types of investments, such as lower-rated securities or those
that are purchased and sold in over-the-counter markets, may be especially subject to liquidity risk. Securities or other assets in which the Fund invests may be traded in the over-the-counter market rather than on an exchange and therefore may be
more difficult to purchase or sell at a fair price, which may have a negative impact on the Fund’s performance. Market participants attempting to sell the same or a similar
instrument at the same time as the Fund could exacerbate the Fund’s exposure to liquidity risk. The Fund may have to accept a lower selling price for the holding, sell other liquid or more liquid investments that it might otherwise prefer to hold (thereby increasing the proportion of
the Fund’s investments in less liquid or illiquid securities), or forego another more appealing investment opportunity. The liquidity of Fund investments may change significantly over time and certain investments that were liquid when
purchased by the Fund may later become illiquid, particularly in times of overall economic distress. Changing
regulatory, market or other conditions or environments (for example, the interest rate or credit environments) may also adversely affect the liquidity and the price of the Fund's investments. Judgment plays a larger role in valuing
illiquid or less liquid investments as compared to valuing liquid or more liquid investments. Price volatility may be higher for illiquid or less liquid investments as a result of, for example, the relatively less frequent pricing of such
securities (as compared to liquid or more liquid investments). Generally, the less liquid the market at the time the Fund sells a portfolio investment, the greater the risk of loss or decline of value to the Fund. Overall market liquidity
and other factors can lead to an increase in redemptions, which may negatively impact Fund performance and NAV, including, for example, if the Fund is forced to sell investments in a down market. Foreign securities can present
enhanced liquidity risks, including as a result of less developed custody, settlement or other practices of foreign markets.
Market Risk. The Fund may incur losses due to declines in the value
of one or more securities in which it invests. These declines may be due to factors affecting a particular issuer, or the result of, among other things, political, regulatory, market, economic or social developments affecting the relevant market(s) more generally. In addition,
turbulence in financial markets and reduced liquidity in equity, credit and/or fixed income markets may negatively affect many issuers, which could adversely affect the Fund’s ability to price or value hard-to-value assets in thinly traded and closed markets and could cause significant redemptions and operational challenges. Global economies and
financial markets are increasingly interconnected, and conditions and events in one country, region or financial market may adversely impact issuers in a different country,
region or financial market. These risks may be magnified if certain events or developments adversely interrupt the global supply chain; in these and other circumstances, such
risks might affect companies worldwide. As a result, local, regional or global events such as terrorism, war, other conflicts, natural disasters, disease/virus outbreaks and epidemics or other public health issues, recessions,
depressions or other events – or the potential for such events – could have a significant negative impact on global economic and market conditions.
Money Market Fund Investment Risk. An investment in a money market fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by any bank, the Federal
Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) or any other government agency. Certain money market funds float their NAV while others seek to preserve the value of investments at a
Variable Portfolio – Managed Volatility Moderate Growth
Fund
8
stable NAV (typically, $1.00 per share). An
investment in a money market fund, even an investment in a fund seeking to maintain a stable NAV per share, is not guaranteed and it is possible for the Fund to lose money by
investing in these and other types of money market funds. Certain money market funds (including the Fund’s cash sweep vehicle) are subject to mandatory liquidity fees if daily net redemptions exceed 5% of their net assets and may also impose a
discretionary liquidity fee of up to 2% on redemptions if that fee is determined to be in the best interests of the money market fund. Such fees, if imposed, will reduce the amount the Fund receives on redemptions. In addition to the
fees and expenses that the Fund directly bears, the Fund indirectly bears the fees and expenses of any money market funds in which it invests, including affiliated money market
funds. By investing in a money market fund, the Fund will be exposed to the investment risks of the money market fund in direct proportion to such investment. To the extent the Fund invests in instruments such as derivatives, the Fund may hold investments, which may be significant,
in money market fund shares to cover its obligations resulting from the Fund’s investments in such instruments. Money market funds and the securities they invest in are
subject to comprehensive regulations. The enactment of new legislation or regulations, as well as changes in interpretation and enforcement of current laws, may affect the manner of operation, performance and/or yield of money market funds.
Mortgage- and Other Asset-Backed Securities Risk. The value of
any mortgage-backed and other asset-backed securities including collateralized debt obligations and collateralized loan obligations, if any, held by the Fund may be affected by, among other things, changes or perceived changes in: interest rates; factors concerning the interests in
and structure of the issuer or the originator of the mortgages or other assets; the creditworthiness of the entities that provide any supporting letters of credit, surety bonds or other credit enhancements; or the market's assessment of
the quality of underlying assets. Payment of principal and interest on some mortgage-backed securities (but not the market value of the securities themselves) may be guaranteed
by the full faith and credit of a particular U.S. Government agency, authority, enterprise or instrumentality, and some, but not all, are also insured or guaranteed by the U.S. Government. Mortgage-backed securities issued by non-governmental issuers (such as commercial banks, savings
and loan institutions, private mortgage insurance companies, mortgage bankers and other secondary market issuers) may entail greater risk than obligations guaranteed by the U.S.
Government. Mortgage- and other asset-backed securities are subject to liquidity risk and prepayment risk. A decline or flattening of housing values may cause delinquencies in mortgages (especially sub-prime or non-prime mortgages) underlying mortgage-backed securities and
thereby adversely affect the ability of the mortgage-backed securities issuer to make principal and/or interest payments to mortgage-backed securities holders, including the
Fund. Rising or high interest rates tend to extend the duration of mortgage- and other asset-backed securities, making their prices more volatile and more sensitive to changes in interest rates.
Prepayment and Extension Risk. Prepayment and extension risk is the risk that a bond or other security
or investment might, in the case of prepayment risk, be called or otherwise converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity and, in the case of extension risk, that the investment might not be called as expected. In the case of
prepayment risk, if the investment is converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity, the portfolio managers may not be able to invest the proceeds in other investments providing as high a level of income, resulting in a reduced
yield to the Fund. As interest rates decrease or spreads narrow on such investments, the likelihood of prepayment increases. Conversely, extension risk is the risk that an unexpected rise in interest rates will extend the life of an
investment beyond the prepayment time. If the Fund’s investments are locked in at a lower interest rate for a longer period of time, the portfolio managers may be unable to capitalize on investments with higher interest rates or wider
spreads.
Quantitative Models Risk. Quantitative models used by the Fund may not effectively identify purchases
and sales of Fund investments and may cause the Fund to underperform other investment strategies. Flaws or errors in the quantitative model's assumptions, design, execution, or data inputs may adversely affect Fund performance. Quantitative
models may not perform as expected and may underperform in certain market environments including in stressed or volatile market conditions. There can be no assurance that the use
of quantitative models will enable the Fund to achieve its objective.
Real Estate-Related Investment Risk. Investments in real estate
investment trusts (REITs) and in securities of other companies (wherever organized) principally engaged in the real estate industry subject the Fund to, among other things, risks similar to those of direct investments in real estate and the real estate industry in general. These
include risks related to general and local economic conditions, possible lack of availability of financing and changes in interest rates or property values. The value of interests in a REIT may be affected by, among other factors, changes
in the value of the underlying properties owned by the REIT, changes in the prospect for earnings and/or cash flow growth of the REIT itself, defaults by borrowers or tenants,
market saturation, decreases in market rates for rents, and other economic, political, or regulatory matters affecting the real estate industry, including REITs. REITs may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements than the overall securities markets. In a rising interest rate
environment, the stock prices of real estate-related investments may decline and the borrowing costs of these
companies may increase. REITs are also subject to the risk of failing to qualify for favorable tax treatment under the
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Variable Portfolio – Managed Volatility Moderate Growth Fund
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. The
failure of a REIT to continue to qualify as a REIT for tax purposes can materially and adversely affect its value. Some REITs (especially mortgage REITs) are affected by risks
similar to those associated with investments in debt securities including changes in interest rates and the quality of credit extended.
Sovereign Debt Risk. The willingness or ability of a sovereign or
quasi-sovereign debtor to repay principal and pay interest in a timely manner may be affected by a variety of factors, including its cash flow situation, the extent of its
reserves, the availability of sufficient foreign exchange on the date a payment is due, the relative size of the debt service burden to the economy as a whole, the sovereign or quasi-sovereign debtor’s policy toward international
lenders, and the political constraints to which such debtor may be subject.
U.S. Government Obligations Risk. While U.S. Treasury obligations are backed by the “full faith and credit” of the U.S. Government, such
securities are nonetheless subject to credit risk (i.e., the risk that the U.S. Government may be, or be perceived to be, unable or unwilling to honor its financial obligations,
such as making payments). Securities issued or guaranteed by federal agencies or authorities and U.S. Government-sponsored instrumentalities or enterprises may or may not be backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government.
Value Securities Risk. Value securities are securities of companies that may have experienced, for example, adverse business, industry or
other developments or may be subject to special risks that have caused the securities to be out of favor and, in turn, potentially undervalued. The market value of a portfolio
security may not meet the perceived value assessment of that security as determined by the portfolio managers, or may decline in price, even though the securities are already believed to be undervalued by the portfolio managers. There is also a risk that it may take
longer than expected for the value of these investments to rise to the perceived value as determined by the portfolio managers. In addition, value securities, at times, may not perform as well as growth securities or the stock market in
general, and may be out of favor with investors for varying periods of time.
Volatility and Volatility Management Risk. Although the Fund seeks
to manage equity market volatility within its portfolio, there is no guarantee that the Fund will be successful. Despite the Fund’s name, the Fund’s portfolio may
experience more than its targeted level of volatility, subjecting the Fund to market risk. Securities in the Fund’s portfolio and the Underlying Funds’ portfolios may be subject to price volatility, and the Fund’s share price may not be any less volatile than the market as a whole and could be more volatile. The Investment Manager’s
determinations/expectations regarding volatility may be incorrect or inaccurate, which may also adversely affect the Fund’s actual volatility within the portfolio. The Fund also may underperform other funds with similar investment
objectives and/or strategies. Additionally, because the Fund seeks to target a particular level of effective equity market exposure (EEME), as stated above under “Principal Investment Strategies”, the Fund may provide protection in volatile markets by potentially curbing or mitigating the risk of loss in declining equity markets, but the Fund’s opportunity to achieve returns when the equity markets are rising will also be curbed. In general, the greater the
protection against downside loss (as reflected in a smaller target level of EEME), the lesser the Fund’s opportunity to participate in the returns generated by rising equity markets; however, there is no guarantee that the Fund will be
successful in protecting the value of its portfolio in down markets. Additionally, to the extent that the Fund maximizes its EEME in low volatility markets, if the equity markets should decline in such low volatility markets, the Fund may
experience greater loss than if it had not maximized its EEME. To the extent that the Fund underestimates or
misinterprets volatility signals, the Fund’s performance could be negatively affected. The Fund's volatility management strategy may increase transaction costs, which would reduce gains. Volatility targets and volatility risk are
different for all four funds in the Managed Volatility series, with the Conservative Fund having the lowest relative volatility target (and volatility risk)
and the Growth Fund having the highest relative volatility target (and volatility risk).
Performance Information
The following bar chart and table show you how the Fund has performed in the past, and can
help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the Fund’s Class 2 share performance has varied for each full calendar year shown. The table below the bar chart compares the Fund’s returns for the periods shown
with a blended benchmark that is intended to provide a measure of the Fund's performance given its investment strategy, as well as one additional measure of performance for markets in which the Fund may invest.
The performance of one or more share classes shown in the table below begins before the indicated inception date for such share class. The returns shown for each such share class include the returns of the Fund’s Class 2 shares
for periods prior to its inception date. Except for differences in annual returns resulting from differences in expenses (where applicable), the share classes of
the Fund would have substantially similar annual returns because all share classes of the Fund invest in the same portfolio of securities.
The returns shown do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract and
would be lower if they did.
Variable Portfolio – Managed Volatility Moderate Growth
Fund
10
The Fund’s past
performance is no guarantee of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information can
be obtained by calling toll-free 800.345.6611 or visiting columbiathreadneedleus.com.
| Year by Year Total Return (%) as of December 31 Each Year |
Best and Worst Quarterly Returns
During the Period Shown in the Bar Chart |
||
 |
Best |
2nd Quarter 2020 |
10.37% |
| Worst |
2nd Quarter 2022 |
-10.65% | |
Average Annual Total
Returns (for periods ended December 31, 2024)
| |
Share Class
Inception Date |
1 Year |
5 Years |
10 Years |
| Class 1 |
02/20/2019 |
9.72% |
4.08% |
4.43% |
| Class 2 |
04/19/2013 |
9.41% |
3.82% |
4.28% |
| Blended Benchmark (consisting of 50% Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond
Index, 35% Russell 3000® Index and 15%
MSCI EAFE Index (Net)) (reflects reinvested dividends net of withholding taxes on the MSCI EAFE Index portion of the Blended
Benchmark, and for all indexes reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or other
taxes) |
|
9.20% |
5.57% |
6.03% |
| Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (reflects no deductions
for fees, expenses or taxes) |
|
1.25% |
-0.33% |
1.35% |
Fund Management
Investment Manager: Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC
| Portfolio Management |
Title |
Role with Fund |
Managed Fund Since |
| Brian Virginia |
Senior Portfolio Manager and Head of Insurance Investments |
Lead Portfolio Manager |
2014 |
| David Weiss, CFA |
Vice President, Head of Sub-Advisory Management |
Portfolio Manager |
2016 |
| Joshua Kutin, CFA |
Senior Portfolio Manager and Head of Multi-Asset Solutions, North America |
Portfolio Manager |
2018 |
| Dan Boncarosky, CFA |
Senior Portfolio Manager and Head of Multi-Asset Strategy |
Portfolio Manager |
2023 |
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
The Fund is available for purchase through Contracts offered by the separate accounts of participating insurance
companies or by other eligible investors authorized by Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. (the
Distributor). Shares of the Fund may not be purchased or sold by individual owners of Contracts. If you are a Contract holder, please refer to your Contract prospectus for information about minimum investment requirements and how to
purchase and redeem shares of the Fund on days the Fund is open for business.
Tax Information
The Fund expects to be treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and does not expect to make
regular distributions (other than in redemption of Fund shares) to shareholders which are generally the participating insurance companies investing in the Fund through separate accounts or certain other eligible investors authorized by
the Distributor. You should consult with the participating insurance company that issued your Contract, plan sponsor or other eligible investor through which your investment in the Fund is made regarding the U.S. federal income taxation
of your investment.
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Variable Portfolio – Managed Volatility Moderate Growth
Fund
Payments to Broker-Dealers
and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you make allocations to the Fund, the
Fund, its Distributor or other related companies may pay participating insurance companies or other financial intermediaries for the allocation (sale) of Fund shares and related
services in connection with such allocations to the Fund. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the participating insurance company, other financial intermediary or your salesperson to recommend an allocation to the Fund
over another fund or other investment option. Ask your financial advisor or salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
Variable Portfolio – Managed Volatility Moderate Growth
Fund
12
Columbia Threadneedle Investments is the global brand name of the Columbia and Threadneedle group of companies.
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