The Fund aims to achieve a higher rate of return from capital appreciation and income than the rate of inflation in the UK (CPI), over a period of 3 to 5 years. Currently, the Fund looks to achieve an average annual return of CPI +4% when measured over this same time period, before charges are deducted. The Fund also seeks to deliver a positive return over any 3-year period (net of charges), regardless of market conditions. The Fund actively manages an exposure to bonds, equities, money market instruments, cash, currencies, commodities, property and other alternative asset classes on a global basis. The exposure to these asset classes varies over time, as deemed necessary to achieve the investment objective, which may result in the Fund having little or no exposure to certain asset classes. The Fund obtains exposure to different asset classes by investing in other collective investment schemes (including funds managed by Columbia Threadneedle companies) or by using derivatives.