Law Offices Of Charles J. Piven, P.A. Announces the Filing of a Class Action Suit Against FleetBoston Financial Corporation and certain of its affiliates on behalf of Purchasers of the Securities of the Columbia Family of Funds -- LBCAX, CDIXX, CFSAX, CFIAX


BALTIMORE, March 30, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- Law Offices Of Charles J. Piven, P.A. announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts on behalf of all purchasers of the securities of the Columbia family of funds (the "Funds") operated by FleetBoston Financial Corporation, Columbia Management Group, Inc., Columbia Management Advisors, Inc. and Columbia Wanger Asset Management, L.P. between February 13, 1999 and January 14, 2004, inclusive (the "Class Period"), seeking to pursue remedies under the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.

The Funds and the symbols for the respective Funds subject to the lawsuit are as follows:


  Columbia Acorn Fund  (Sym: LACAX, LACBX, LIACX, ACRNX)
  Columbia Acorn Select  (Sym: LTFAX, LTFBX, LTFCX, ACTWX)
  Columbia Acorn USA  (Sym: LAUAX, LAUBX, LAUCX, AUSAX)
  Columbia Asset Allocation Fund  (Sym: LAAAX, LAABX, LAACX, GBAAX,
   GAAAX, GAATX)
  Columbia Balanced Fund  (Sym: CBLAX, CBLBX, CBLCX, CBLDX, CBALX)
  Columbia Common Stock Fund  (Sym: CMSAX, CMSBX, CCSCX, CMSDX, CMSTX)
  Columbia Disciplined Value Fund  (Sym: LEVAX, LEVBX, LEVCX, GEVBX,
   GALEX, GEVTX)
  Columbia Dividend Income Fund  (Sym: LBSAX, LBSBX, LBSCX, GEQBX,
   GEQAX, GSFTX)
  Columbia Growth & Income Fund  (Sym: CFGAX, CFGBX, CFGDX, LGISX)
  Columbia Growth Fund  (Sym: CGWAX, CGWBX, CGWCX, CGWDX, CGWGX,
   CLMBX)
  Columbia Growth Stock Fund  (Sym: CGSAX, CGSBX, CGSCX, SRFSX)
  Columbia Large Cap Core Fund  (Sym: LCCAX, LCCBX, LCCCX, GGRBX,
   SGIEX, SMGIX)
  Columbia Large Cap Growth Fund  (Sym: LEGAX, LEGBX, LEGCX, GBEGX,
   GAEGX, GEGTX)
  Columbia Large Company Index Fund  (Sym: LLIAX, LLIBX, LLICX, ILCIX)
  Columbia Liberty Fund  (Sym: COLFX, CCFBX, CTCCX, CTCFX)
  Columbia Mid Cap Growth Fund  (Sym: CBSAX, CBSBX, CMCCX, CBSDX,
   CBSGX, CBSTX, CLSPX)
  Columbia Mid Cap Value Fund  (Sym: COLGX, COGBX, CSVCX, LSVSX)
  Columbia Real Estate Equity Fund  (Sym: CREAX, CREBX, CRECX, CREDX,
   CREEX)
  Columbia Small Cap Fund  (Sym: LSMAX, LSMBX, LSMCX, GBSMX, SSCEX,
   SMCEX)
  Columbia Small Cap Growth Fund  (Sym: CMSCX)
  Columbia Small Cap Value Fund  (Sym: CSMIX, CSSBX, CSSCX, CSCZX)
  Columbia Small Company Equity Fund  (Sym: LSEAX, LSEBX, LSECX,
   GERBX, GASEX, GSETX)
  Columbia Small Company Index Fund  (Sym: LBIAX, LBIBX, LBICX,
   ISCIX)
  Columbia Strategic Investor Fund  (Sym: CSVAX, CSVBX, CSRCX, CSVDX,
   CSVFX)
  Columbia Tax-Managed Aggressive Growth Fund  (Sym: LTMAX, LTAGX,
   LTACX, LTAZX)
  Columbia Tax-Managed Growth Fund  (Sym: STMAX, CTMBX, CTMCX, LMGZX)
  Columbia Tax-Managed Growth Fund II  (Sym: LTGAX, LTIIX, LTGCX,
   LTGZX)
  Columbia Tax-Managed Value Fund  (Sym: SRVAX, CTMVX, LTVCX, LTMZX)
  Columbia Technology Fund  (Sym: CTCAX, CTCBX, CTHCX, CTCDX, CMTFX)
  Columbia Thermostat Fund  (Sym: CTFAX, CTFBX, CTFDX, COTZX)
  Columbia Utilities Fund  (Sym: CUTLX, CUTBX, CUTFX, LUFZX)
  Columbia Young Investor Fund  (Sym: LYIAX, LYIBX, LYICX, SRYIX)
  Columbia Acorn International Fund  (Sym: LAIAX, LIABX, LAICX,
   ACINX)
  Columbia Acorn International Select Fund (Sym: LAFAX, LFFBX, LFFCX,
   ACFFX)
  Columbia Europe Fund  (Sym: NEUAX, LNEBX, LNECX, LNEZX)
  Columbia European Thematic Equity Fund  (Sym: LSREX)
  Columbia Global Equity Fund  (Sym: CGUAX, CGUBX, CGUCX)
  Columbia Global Thematic Equity Fund  LSRGX
  Columbia International Equity Fund  (Sym: LIEAX, LIEBX, LIECX,
   GBIEX, GAIEX, GIETX)
  Columbia International Stock Fund  (Sym: CISAX, CISBX, CSKCX, CISDX,
   CMISX)
  Columbia Newport Asia Pacific Fund  (Sym: NWAPX, LNABX, LNACX,
   LAPSX)
  Columbia Newport Japan Opportunities Fund  (Sym: NJOAX, NJOBX,
   NJOCX, LNJZX)
  Columbia Newport Greater China Fund  (Sym: NGCAX, NGCBX, NGCCX,
   LNGZX)
  Columbia Newport Tiger Fund  (Sym: CNTAX, CNTBX, CNTDX, CNTTX,
   CNTZX)
  Columbia Contrarian Income Fund  (Sym: CHINX, LCIBX, LCICX, LCIZX)
  Columbia Corporate Bond Fund  (Sym: LBCAX, LBCBX, LBCCX, GCBTX)
  Columbia Daily Income Company Fund  (Sym: CDIXX)
  Columbia Federal Securities Fund  (Sym: CFSAX, CFSOX, CFSCX, LFSZX)
  Columbia Fixed Income Securities Fund  (Sym: CFIAX, CFIBX, CISCX,
   CFIDX, CFISX)
  Columbia Floating Rate Advantage Fund  (Sym: XSFRX, XSFBX, XLACX,
   XLAZX)
  Columbia Floating Rate Fund  (Sym: XLFAX, XLSBX, XLFCX, XLFZX)
  Columbia High Yield Fund  (Sym: CHGAX, CHGBX, CHDCX, CHGDX, CMHYX)
  Columbia High Yield Opportunity Fund  (Sym: COLHX, COHBX, CHYCX,
   LHYZX)
  Columbia Income Fund  (Sym: LIIAX, CIOBX, CIOCX, SRINX)
  Columbia Intermediate Bond Fund  (Sym: LIBAX, LIBBX, LIBCX, SRBFX)
  Columbia Intermediate Government Income Fund  (Sym: LIGAX, LIGBX,
   LIGCX, GGIBX, GALBX, GIBTX)
  Columbia Money Market Fund  (Sym: CMMXX, CMBXX, CMCXX, LMZXX)
  Columbia Quality Plus Bond Fund  (Sym: LQPAX, LQPBX, LQPCX, GBHQX,
   GAHQX, GHQTX)
  Columbia Short Term Bond Fund  (Sym: CTBAX, CTBBX, CSHCX, CTBDX,
   CTBGX, CTBTX, CUGGX)
  Columbia Strategic Income Fund  (Sym: COSIX, CLSBX, CLSCX, LSIZX)
  Columbia US Treasury Index Fund  (Sym: LUTAX, LUTBX, LUTCX, IUTIX)
  Columbia California Tax-Exempt Fund  (Sym: CLMPX, CCABX, CCAOX)
  Columbia Connecticut Intermediate Municipal Bond (Sym: LCTAX, LCTBX,
   LCTCX, GCBBX, GCBAX, SCTEX)
  Columbia Connecticut Tax-Exempt Fund  (Sym: COCTX, CCTBX, CCTCX)
  Columbia Florida Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund  (Sym: LFIAX,
   LFIBX, LFICX, SFTEX)
  Columbia High Yield Municipal Fund  (Sym: LHIAX, CHMBX, CHMCX,
   SRHMX)
  Columbia Intermediate Tax-Exempt Bond Fund  (Sym: LITAX, LITBX,
   LITCX, GIMBX, GIMAX, SETMX)
  Columbia Managed Municipals Fund  (Sym: LMMAX, LMMBX, LMMCX, SRMMX)
  Columbia Massachusetts Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund
   (Sym: LMIAX, LMIBX, LMICX, GMBBX, GMBAX, SEMAX)
  Columbia Massachusetts Tax-Exempt Fund  (Sym: COMAX, CMABX, COMCX)
  Columbia Municipal Money Market Fund  (Sym: CXMXX, CMNXX, CMXXX,
   CMZXX)
  Columbia National Municipal Bond Fund  (Sym: CNLAX, CNLBX, CNBCX,
   CNLDX, CLNMX)
  Columbia New Jersey Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund  (Sym: LNIAX,
   LNIBX, LNICX, GNJBX, GNJAX, GNJTX)
  Columbia New York Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund  (Sym: LNYAX,
   LNYBX, LNYCX, GBNYX, GANYX, GNYTX)
  Columbia New York Tax-Exempt Fund  (Sym: COLNX, CNYBX, CNYCX)
  Columbia Oregon Municipal Bond Fund  (Sym: COEAX, COEBX, CORCX,
   COEDX, CMBFX)
  Columbia Pennsylvania Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund  (Sym: LPIAX,
   LPIBX, LPICX, GTPAX)
  Columbia Rhode Island Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund  (Sym: LRIAX,
   LRIBX, LRICX, GRBBX, GRBAX, GRITX)
  Columbia Tax-Exempt Fund  (Sym: COLTX, CTEBX, COLCX)
  Columbia Tax-Exempt Insured Fund  (Sym: CEXIX, CEIBX, CEINX)

The wrongful conduct alleged in and which is the subject of the lawsuit relates to "timing." As used, "timing" is an investment technique involving short-term, "in and out" trading of mutual fund shares to turn a quick profit. The lawsuit alleges that timing injures ordinary mutual fund investors who are not allowed to engage in such practices and benefits the mutual fund companies.

No class has yet been certified in the lawsuit. Until a class is certified, you are not represented unless you retain an attorney. If you are a member of the proposed class, meaning you are one who purchased any of the mutual funds referenced herein during the Class Period, you may be eligible to serve as a plaintiff. To be a member of the class, if certified, you need not take any action at this time. You may retain counsel of your choice. If you bought shares of any of the funds between February 13, 1999 and January 14, 2004, inclusive, and you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, a motion must be filed with the Court no later than April 13, 2004.

If you are one who purchased any of the mutual funds referenced above during the Class Period and want to discuss your legal rights, or if you have information or questions about other mutual fund companies being investigated for improper conduct, you may e-mail or call Law Offices Of Charles J. Piven, P.A. who will, without obligation or cost to you, attempt to answer your questions. Law Offices Of Charles J. Piven has been involved in securities litigation for over ten years. You may contact Law Offices Of Charles J. Piven, P.A. at The World Trade Center-Baltimore, 401 East Pratt Street, Suite 2525, Baltimore, Maryland 21202, by email at hoffman@pivenlaw.com or by calling 410/986-0036.

More information on this and other class actions can be found on the Class Action Newsline at www.primezone.com/ca



            

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