N-CSR 1 cbf_ncsr.htm N-CSR

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: 811-22744

 

 

 

American Funds Corporate Bond Fund

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

6455 Irvine Center Drive

Irvine, California 92618

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

 

 

 

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (213) 486-9200

 

Date of fiscal year end: May 31

 

Date of reporting period: May 31, 2015

 

 

 

 

 

Steven I. Koszalka

American Funds Corporate Bond Fund

6455 Irvine Center Drive

Irvine, California 92618

(Name and Address of Agent for Service)

 

 

Copies to:

Michael Glazer

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP

355 South Grand Avenue, Suite 4400

Los Angeles, California 90071

(Counsel for the Registrant)

 

 
 

ITEM 1 – Reports to Stockholders

 

American Funds
Corporate Bond FundSM

 

Annual report
for the year ended
May 31, 2015

 

 

American Funds Corporate Bond Fund seeks to provide, over the long term, a high level of total return largely comprised of current income.

 

This fund is one of more than 40 offered by one of the nation’s largest mutual fund families, American Funds, from Capital Group. For more than 80 years, Capital has invested with a long-term focus based on thorough research and attention to risk.

 

Fund results shown in this report, unless otherwise indicated, are for Class A shares at net asset value. If a sales charge (maximum 3.75%) had been deducted, the results would have been lower. Results are for past periods and are not predictive of results for future periods. Current and future results may be lower or higher than those shown. Share prices and returns will vary, so investors may lose money. Investing for short periods makes losses more likely. Investments are not FDIC-insured, nor are they deposits of or guaranteed by a bank or any other entity, so they may lose value.

 

Here are total returns on a $1,000 investment with all distributions reinvested for periods ended June 30, 2015 (the most recent calendar quarter-end):

 

    Cumulative   Average annual
    total return   total return
        Lifetime
Class A shares   1 year   (since 12/14/12)
         
Reflecting 3.75% maximum sales charge   -1.97%   1.10%

 

The fund’s estimated gross expense ratio for Class A shares is 1.13% as of the prospectus dated August 1, 2015 (unaudited).

 

Investment results assume all distributions are reinvested and reflect applicable fees and expenses. The investment adviser is currently reimbursing a portion of other expenses. This reimbursement will be in effect through at least August 31, 2016. After that time, the adviser may elect at its discretion to extend, modify or terminate the reimbursement. Investment results shown reflect the reimbursement, without which the results would have been lower. Refer to the fund’s most recent prospectus for details.

 

Although the fund has a plan of distribution, fees for distribution services are not paid by the fund on amounts invested in the fund by the fund’s investment adviser. Expenses shown assume fees for distribution services were charged on these assets. However, because fees for distribution services were not charged on these assets, actual fund expenses were lower and total return was higher. See the “Plan of distribution” section of the prospectus for information on the distribution service fees permitted to be charged by the fund.

 

The fund’s 30-day yield for Class A shares as of June 30, 2015, reflecting the 3.75% maximum sales charge and calculated in accordance with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission formula, was 2.75%.

 

The return of principal for bond funds and for funds with significant underlying bond holdings is not guaranteed. Fund shares are subject to the same interest rate, inflation and credit risks associated with the underlying bond holdings. Investing in bonds issued outside the U.S. may be subject to additional risks. They include currency fluctuations, political and social instability, differing securities regulations and accounting standards, higher transaction costs, possible changes in taxation, illiquidity and price volatility. These risks may be heightened in connection with investments in developing countries. Refer to the fund prospectus and the Risk Factors section of this report for more information on these and other risks associated with investing in the fund.

 
Contents
1   Letter to investors
2   The value of a $10,000 investment
3   Investment portfolio
8   Financial statements
24   Board of trustees and other officers

 

Fellow investors:

 

We are pleased to present you with the annual report for American Funds Corporate Bond Fund.

 

For the 12-month period ended May 31, 2015, the fund gained 3.44%, with all dividends reinvested. By way of comparison, the Barclays U.S. Corporate Investment Grade Index rose 2.72%, while the fund’s peer group, as measured by the Lipper Corporate Debt Funds BBB-Rated Average, advanced 2.69%. The fund also outpaced the Lipper Corporate Debt Funds A-Rated Average, which climbed 2.76%.

 

During this time the fund generated dividends totaling about 25 cents a share, providing investors who reinvested dividends with an income return of 2.55%.

 

At fiscal year-end, the fund’s corporate holdings — representing nearly 87% of the portfolio — were spread among a variety of sectors. Financial sector bonds made up 20.5% of the portfolio, followed by health care at 16.5% and consumer discretionary at 14.7%. About 4.4% of the portfolio was invested in government securities, primarily U.S. Treasury notes. A complete list of fund holdings can be found beginning on page 3.

 

Roughly 77% of the fund consisted of U.S. securities, with the rest chiefly invested in European and Australian bonds. A small portion of the fund, less than 1%, was held in bonds from emerging markets.

 

We thank you for making American Funds Corporate Bond Fund part of your portfolio and look forward to reporting to you again in six months.

 

Cordially,

 

 

Andrew F. Barth
President

 

July 15, 2015

 

Results at a glance

 

For periods ended May 31, 2015, with all distributions reinvested

 

    Cumulative   Average annual
    total returns   total returns
        Lifetime
    1 year   (since 12/14/12)
             
American Funds Corporate Bond Fund (Class A shares)     3.44 %     3.30 %
Barclays U.S. Corporate Investment Grade Index*     2.72       2.76  
Lipper Corporate Debt Funds BBB-Rated Average     2.69       2.68  
Lipper Corporate Debt Funds A-Rated Average     2.76       2.27  

 

* The market index is unmanaged and, therefore, has no expenses. Investors cannot invest directly in an index.
Lipper averages reflect the current composition of all eligible mutual funds (all share classes) within a given category.

 

American Funds Corporate Bond Fund 1
 

The value of a $10,000 investment

 

How a $10,000 investment has fared for the period December 14, 2012, to May 31, 2015, with all distributions reinvested.

 

Fund results shown reflect deduction of the maximum sales charge of 3.75% on the $10,000 investment.1 Thus, the net amount invested was $9,625.

 

 

1 As outlined in the prospectus, the sales charge is reduced for accounts (and aggregated investments) of $100,000 or more and is eliminated for purchases of $1 million or more. There is no sales charge on dividends or capital gain distributions that are reinvested in additional shares.
2 The Barclays U.S. Corporate Investment Grade Index is unmanaged and, therefore, has no expenses. Investors cannot invest directly in an index.
3 Results of the Lipper Corporate Debt Funds BBB-Rated Average and the Lipper Corporate Debt Funds A-Rated Average do not reflect any sales charges.
4 Includes reinvested dividends of $594 and reinvested capital gain distributions of $1.

 

Past results are not predictive of results for future periods. The results shown are before taxes on fund distributions and sale of fund shares.

 

Total returns based on a $1,000 investment (for the period ended May 31, 2015)*

 

    Cumulative   Average annual
    total return   total return
        Lifetime
    1 year   (since 12/14/12)
         
Class A shares   –0.41%   1.71%

 

* Assumes reinvestment of all distributions and payment of the maximum 3.75% sales charge.

 

Investment results assume all distributions are reinvested and reflect applicable fees and expenses. The investment adviser is currently reimbursing a portion of other expenses. This reimbursement will be in effect through at least August 31, 2016. After that time, the adviser may elect at its discretion to extend, modify or terminate the reimbursement. Investment results shown reflect the reimbursement, without which the results would have been lower. Refer to the fund’s most recent prospectus for details.

 

Although the fund has plans of distribution for Class A shares, fees for distribution services are not paid by the fund on amounts invested in the fund by the fund’s investment adviser. Because fees for distribution services were not charged on these assets, total returns were higher. See the “Plans of distribution” section of the prospectus for information on the distribution service fees permitted to be charged by the fund.

 

2 American Funds Corporate Bond Fund
 

Investment portfolio May 31, 2015

 

Industry sector diversification Percent of net assets

 

 

 

Portfolio quality summary* Percent of
net assets
U.S. Treasury and agency 3.40 %
AA/Aa 9.04  
A/A 38.97  
BBB/Baa 39.55  
Below investment grade 2.27  
Short-term securities & other assets less liabilities 6.77  

 

* Bond ratings, which typically range from AAA/Aaa (highest) to D (lowest), are assigned by credit rating agencies such as Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s and/or Fitch as an indication of an issuer’s creditworthiness. In assigning a credit rating to a security, the fund looks specifically to the ratings assigned to the issuer of the security by Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s and/or Fitch. If agency ratings differ, the security will be considered to have received the highest of those ratings, consistent with the fund’s investment policies. The ratings are not covered by the Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
These securities are guaranteed by the full faith and credit of the United States government.

 

Bonds, notes & other debt instruments 93.23%   Principal amount
(000)
    Value
(000)
 
Corporate bonds & notes 86.63%                
Financials 20.49%                
American Campus Communities, Inc. 4.125% 2024   $ 400     $ 411  
American International Group, Inc. 4.50% 2044     200       200  
Bank of America Corp., Series L, 3.95% 2025     250       248  
Barclays Bank PLC 3.65% 2025     350       343  
BB&T Corp. 0.99% 20201     275       276  
BNP Paribas 2.375% 2020     545       546  
Citigroup Inc. 1.70% 2018     400       398  
Credit Agricole SA 4.375% 20252     200       199  
Credit Suisse Group AG 1.70% 2018     500       498  
Credit Suisse Group AG 3.75% 20252     250       247  
Developers Diversified Realty Corp. 9.625% 2016     150       160  
Developers Diversified Realty Corp. 7.50% 2017     200       221  
Developers Diversified Realty Corp. 7.875% 2020     150       186  
EPR Properties 4.50% 2025     400       403  
ERP Operating LP 5.75% 2017     350       381  
ERP Operating LP 4.50% 2044     300       308  
ERP Operating LP 4.50% 2045     45       46  
Essex Portfolio L.P. 3.50% 2025     350       347  
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. 3.50% 2025     300       297  
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. 3.75% 2025     250       252  
Goodman Funding Pty Ltd. 6.375% 20202     500       579  
Hospitality Properties Trust 6.70% 2018     400       436  
Intercontinentalexchange, Inc. 4.00% 2023     300       320  
QBE Insurance Group Ltd. 2.40% 20182     250       253  
Rabobank Nederland 3.375% 2025     250       252  
Scentre Group 3.50% 20252     575       575  
Scentre Group 3.25% 20252     260       255  
TD Ameritrade Holding Co. 2.95% 2022     300       303  
UBS AG 2.35% 2020     500       500  

 

American Funds Corporate Bond Fund 3
 
Bonds, notes & other debt instruments (continued)   Principal amount
(000)
    Value
(000)
 
Corporate bonds & notes (continued)                
Financials (continued)                
UnumProvident Finance Co. PLC 6.85% 20152   $ 204     $ 209  
WEA Finance LLC 2.70% 20192     400       405  
WEA Finance LLC 3.75% 20242     390       397  
              10,451  
                 
Health care 16.45%                
AbbVie Inc. 3.60% 2025     650       655  
AbbVie Inc. 4.50% 2035     350       352  
AbbVie Inc. 4.70% 2045     285       289  
Actavis Funding SCS 3.80% 2025     250       252  
Actavis Funding SCS 4.55% 2035     220       218  
Actavis Funding SCS 4.75% 2045     325       322  
Bayer AG 3.375% 20242     355       360  
Becton, Dickinson and Co. 2.675% 2019     210       213  
Becton, Dickinson and Co. 4.685% 2044     375       382  
Boston Scientific Corp. 2.85% 2020     520       522  
EMD Finance LLC 2.95% 20222     750       753  
EMD Finance LLC 3.25% 20252     375       371  
Express Scripts Inc. 2.25% 2019     425       425  
Gilead Sciences, Inc. 3.50% 2025     100       102  
Gilead Sciences, Inc. 4.80% 2044     200       213  
HCA Inc. 3.75% 2019     300       305  
HCA Inc. 4.25% 2019     200       208  
Humana Inc. 3.15% 2022     250       250  
Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings 3.60% 2025     300       295  
Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings 4.70% 2045     200       193  
Medtronic, Inc. 4.375% 20352     210       215  
Medtronic, Inc. 4.625% 20452     350       364  
Quest Diagnostics Inc. 4.70% 2045     150       145  
Zimmer Holdings, Inc. 3.55% 2025     500       493  
Zimmer Holdings, Inc. 4.25% 2035     260       252  
Zimmer Holdings, Inc. 4.45% 2045     250       241  
              8,390  
                 
Consumer discretionary 14.65%                
Amazon.com, Inc. 4.95% 2044     425       435  
California Institute of Technology 4.321% 2045     225       233  
Carnival Corp. 3.95% 2020     300       319  
CBS Corp. 2.30% 2019     325       324  
Comcast Corp. 3.375% 2025     250       253  
DaimlerChrysler North America Holding Corp. 1.375% 20172     250       250  
DaimlerChrysler North America Holding Corp. 2.25% 20202     315       315  
DaimlerChrysler North America Holding Corp. 2.45% 20202     200       201  
Dollar General Corp. 4.125% 2017     500       524  
Ford Motor Credit Co. 1.684% 2017     500       499  
Gannett Co., Inc. 6.375% 2023     175       187  
Gannett Co., Inc. 5.50% 20242     75       76  
General Motors Co. 5.20% 2045     200       204  
General Motors Financial Co. 3.25% 2018     250       256  
General Motors Financial Co. 4.375% 2021     500       522  
Marriott International, Inc., Series I, 6.375% 2017     325       356  
NBC Universal Enterprise, Inc. 5.25% (undated)2     475       502  
Thomson Reuters Corp. 1.30% 2017     350       350  
Thomson Reuters Corp. 5.65% 2043     100       111  
Time Warner Inc. 4.85% 2045     500       503  
Viacom Inc. 5.85% 2043     75       78  
Viacom Inc. 5.25% 2044     225       219  
Volkswagen Group of America Finance, LLC 2.40% 20202     750       756  
              7,473  
                 
Energy 11.30%                
Cenovus Energy Inc. 3.00% 2022     425       409  
ConocoPhillips 2.20% 2020     325       326  
ConocoPhillips 3.35% 2025     500       505  
Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc. 4.875% 2043     450       376  
Enbridge Inc. 4.50% 2044     150       134  
EnLink Midstream Partners, LP 5.05% 2045     255       243  

 

4 American Funds Corporate Bond Fund
 
Bonds, notes & other debt instruments (continued)   Principal amount
(000)
    Value
(000)
 
Corporate bonds & notes (continued)                
Energy (continued)                
Ensco PLC, 5.75% 2044   $ 150     $ 144  
Enterprise Products Operating LLC 3.70% 2026     140       141  
Enterprise Products Operating LLC 4.85% 2044     100       100  
Enterprise Products Operating LLC 4.90% 2046     175       175  
Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, LP 3.50% 2023     375       362  
Kinder Morgan Finance Co. 5.05% 2046     100       92  
Kinder Morgan, Inc. 5.55% 2045     250       245  
Noble Corp PLC 5.95% 2025     500       506  
Peabody Energy Corp. 6.00% 2018     200       143  
Range Resources Corp. 4.875% 20252     275       275  
Shell International Finance BV 3.25% 2025     825       837  
Shell International Finance BV 4.125% 2035     250       252  
Williams Partners LP 5.40% 2044     175       170  
Williams Partners LP 5.10% 2045     350       331  
              5,766  
                 
Utilities 7.93%                
American Electric Power Co. 2.95% 2022     200       199  
CMS Energy Corp. 6.25% 2020     250       290  
Entergy Corp. 4.70% 2017     250       261  
Entergy Louisiana, LLC 3.78% 2025     250       259  
MidAmerican Energy Co. 4.40% 2044     175       183  
National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corp. 2.00% 2020     120       120  
NV Energy, Inc 6.25% 2020     675       793  
PG&E Corp. 2.40% 2019     150       152  
Puget Sound Energy, Inc., First Lien, 6.50% 2020     101       120  
Puget Sound Energy, Inc., First Lien, 6.00% 2021     145       170  
Puget Sound Energy, Inc., First Lien, 5.625% 2022     154       176  
Puget Sound Energy, Inc., First Lien, 3.65% 20252     155       156  
State Grid Overseas Investment Ltd. 1.75% 2018     325       323  
Teco Finance, Inc. 5.15% 2020     750       843  
              4,045  
               
Telecommunication services 4.66%                
AT&T Inc. 2.45% 2020     800       793  
AT&T Inc. 3.40% 2025     310       301  
AT&T Inc. 4.50% 2035     125       118  
Verizon Communications Inc. 4.272% 20362     1,250       1,164  
              2,376  
                 
Consumer staples 3.41%                
Altria Group, Inc. 2.85% 2022     325       319  
Altria Group, Inc. 4.50% 2043     200       195  
ConAgra Foods, Inc. 1.90% 2018     325       325  
ConAgra Foods, Inc. 4.65% 2043     100       93  
Energizer SpinCo Inc. 5.50% 20252     125       125  
Kraft Foods Inc. 3.50% 2022     300       306  
Philip Morris International Inc. 3.875% 2042     275       253  
The JM Smucker Co. 3.00% 20222     50       50  
The JM Smucker Co. 3.50% 20252     75       75  
              1,741  
                 
Information technology 3.14%                
Harris Corp. 3.832% 2025     125       125  
Harris Corp. 5.054% 2045     250       248  
Oracle Corp. 2.95% 2025     1,000       982  
QUALCOMM Inc. 4.80% 2045     250       249  
              1,604  
                 
Industrials 2.79%                
AerCap Holdings NV 2.75% 20172     150       150  
Continental Airlines, Inc., Series 1997-4, Class A, 6.90% 20193     79       83  
Continental Airlines, Inc., Series 2000-2, Class A-1, 7.707% 20223     118       132  
Delta Air Lines, Inc., Series 2002-1, Class G-1, MBIA insured, 6.718% 20243     98       115  

 

American Funds Corporate Bond Fund 5
 
Bonds, notes & other debt instruments (continued)   Principal amount
(000)
    Value
(000)
 
Corporate bonds & notes (continued)                
Industrials (continued)                
Nielsen Finance LLC and Nielsen Finance Co. 5.00% 20222   $ 200     $ 201  
Siemens AG 3.25% 20252     345       347  
United Technologies Corp. 4.15% 2045     400       394  
              1,422  
                 
Materials 1.81%                
Glencore Funding LLC 2.875% 20202     500       498  
Glencore Xstrata LLC 4.125% 20232     125       125  
Glencore Xstrata LLC 4.625% 20242     150       155  
Monsanto Co. 4.20% 2034     150       144  
              922  
                 
Total corporate bonds & notes             44,190  
                 
U.S. Treasury bonds & notes 3.40%                
U.S. Treasury 1.25% 20204     750       744  
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.25% 20255     997       992  
              1,736  
                 
Municipals 2.18%                
Energy Northwest, Columbia Generating Station Electric Rev. Bonds,                
Series 2015-B, 2.814% 2024     400       399  
Hurricane Catastrophe Fund Fin. Corp., Rev. Bonds, Series 2013-A, 2.995% 2020     700       712  
              1,111  
                 
Bonds & notes of governments outside the U.S. 1.02%                
Bermuda Government 4.854% 20242     475       517  
                 
Total bonds, notes & other debt instruments (cost: $47,412,000)             47,554  
 
Short-term securities 6.86%                
Federal Home Loan Bank 0.05%–0.07% due 6/5/2015–6/19/2015     2,100       2,100  
General Electric Co. 0.08% due 6/1/2015     1,400       1,400  
                 
Total short-term securities (cost: $3,500,000)             3,500  
Total investment securities 100.09% (cost: $50,912,000)             51,054  
Other assets less liabilities (0.09)%             (44 )
                 
Net assets 100.00%           $ 51,010  

 

Interest rate swaps

 

The fund has entered into interest rate swaps as shown in the following table. The average notional amount of interest rate swaps was $7,958,000 over the prior 12-month period.

 

Pay/receive
fixed rate
    Clearinghouse     Floating rate index   Fixed
rate
    Expiration
date
  Notional
amount
(000)
  Unrealized
appreciation
(depreciation)
at 5/31/2015
(000)
 
Receive     LCH.Clearnet     3-month USD-LIBOR     1.789 %   7/7/2019     $5,000     $ 69  
Pay     LCH.Clearnet     3-month USD-LIBOR     2.7945     4/10/2024     2,500       (138 )
Pay     LCH.Clearnet     3-month USD-LIBOR     2.4865     11/14/2024     1,500       (41 )
                                    $ (110 )

 

6 American Funds Corporate Bond Fund
 
1 Coupon rate may change periodically.
2 Acquired in a transaction exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. May be resold in the U.S. in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. The total value of all such securities was $11,120,000, which represented 21.80% of the net assets of the fund.
3 Principal payments may be made periodically. Therefore, the effective maturity date may be earlier than the stated maturity date.
4 A portion of this security was pledged as collateral. The total value of pledged collateral was $152,000, which represented .30% of the net assets of the fund.
5 Index-linked bond whose principal amount moves with a government price index.

 

Key to abbreviations

Fin. = Finance

LIBOR = London Interbank Offered Rate Rev. = Revenue

 

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

American Funds Corporate Bond Fund 7
 

Financial statements

 

Statement of assets and liabilities
at May 31, 2015
  (dollars in thousands)
       
Assets:                
Investment securities, at value (cost: $50,912)           $ 51,054  
Cash             138  
Receivables for:                
Sales of investments   $ 722          
Variation margin     1          
Interest     355          
Reimbursement from advisor     68          
Other     1       1,147  
              52,339  
Liabilities:                
Payables for:                
Purchases of investments     1,125          
Dividends on fund’s shares     113          
Investment advisory services     20          
Trustees’ deferred compensation     *        
Other     71       1,329  
Net assets at May 31, 2015           $ 51,010  
                 
Net assets consist of:                
Capital paid in on shares of beneficial interest           $ 50,000  
Undistributed net investment income             9  
Undistributed net realized gain             969  
Net unrealized appreciation             32  
Net assets at May 31, 2015           $ 51,010  

 

          (dollars and shares in thousands, except per-share amounts)

 

Shares of beneficial interest issued and outstanding (no stated par value) —
unlimited shares authorized (5,000 total shares outstanding)

 

          Shares     Net asset value  
      Net assets       outstanding       per share  
Class A   $ 51,010       5,000     $ 10.20  
                         
* Amount less than one thousand.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

8 American Funds Corporate Bond Fund
 
Statement of operations
for the year ended May 31, 2015
  (dollars in thousands)
     
Investment income:                
Income:                
Interest           $ 1,552  
Fees and expenses*:                
Investment advisory services   $ 234          
Transfer agent services            
Administrative services     5          
Reports to shareholders     11          
Registration statement and prospectus     11          
Trustees’ compensation            
Auditing and legal     84          
Custodian            
Other     15          
Total fees and expenses before reimbursement     360          
Less reimbursement of fees and expenses     90          
Total fees and expenses after reimbursement             270  
Net investment income             1,282  
                 
Net realized gain and unrealized depreciation:                
Net realized gain (loss) on:                
Investments     1,887          
Interest rate swaps     (11 )     1,876  
Net unrealized depreciation on:                
Investments     (1,297 )        
Interest rate swaps     (115 )     (1,412 )
Net realized gain and unrealized depreciation             464  
                 
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations           $ 1,746  

 

* Additional information related to class-specific fees and expenses is included in the Notes to Financial Statements.
Amount less than one thousand.

 

Statements of changes in net assets            
    (dollars in thousands)  
       
    Year ended May 31  
    2015     2014  
Operations:                
Net investment income   $ 1,282     $ 1,287  
Net realized gain (loss)     1,876       (927 )
Net unrealized (depreciation) appreciation     (1,412 )     2,207  
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations     1,746       2,567  
                 
Dividends and distributions paid or accrued to shareholders:                
Dividends from net investment income     (1,273 )     (1,270 )
Distributions from net realized gain on investments           (5 )
Total dividends and distributions paid or accrued to shareholders     (1,273 )     (1,275 )
                 
Total increase in net assets     473       1,292  
                 
Net assets:                
Beginning of year     50,537       49,245  
End of year (including undistributed net investment income: $9 and $11, respectively)   $ 51,010     $ 50,537  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

American Funds Corporate Bond Fund 9
 

Notes to financial statements

 

1. Organization

 

American Funds Corporate Bond Fund (the “fund”) is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 as an open-end, diversified management investment company. The fund seeks to provide, over the long term, a high level of total return largely comprised of current income by investing primarily in investment-grade corporate debt securities.

 

The fund has 17 share classes consisting of five retail share classes (Classes A, B and C, as well as two F share classes, F-1 and F-2), five 529 college savings plan share classes (Classes 529-A, 529-B, 529-C, 529-E and 529-F-1) and seven retirement plan share classes (Classes R-1, R-2, R-2E, R-3, R-4, R-5 and R-6). The 529 college savings plan share classes can be used to save for college education. The retirement plan share classes are generally offered only through eligible employer-sponsored retirement plans. The fund’s share classes are described further in the following table:

 

Share class   Initial sales charge   Contingent deferred sales
charge upon redemption
  Conversion feature
Classes A and 529-A   Up to 3.75%   None (except 1% for certain redemptions within one year of purchase without an initial sales charge)   None
Classes B and 529-B*   None   Declines from 5% to 0% for redemptions within six years of purchase   Classes B and 529-B convert to Classes A and 529-A, respectively, after eight years
Class C   None   1% for redemptions within one year of purchase   Class C converts to Class F-1 after 10 years
Class 529-C   None   1% for redemptions within one year of purchase   None
Class 529-E   None   None   None
Classes F-1, F-2 and 529-F-1   None   None   None
Classes R-1, R-2, R-2E, R-3, R-4, R-5 and R-6   None   None   None
* Class B and 529-B shares of the fund are not available for purchase.

 

On August 29, 2014, the fund made an additional retirement plan share class (Class R-2E) available for sale pursuant to an amendment to its registration statement filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Refer to the fund’s prospectus for more details.

 

Holders of all share classes have equal pro rata rights to the assets, dividends and liquidation proceeds of the fund. Each share class has identical voting rights, except for the exclusive right to vote on matters affecting only its class. Share classes have different fees and expenses (“class-specific fees and expenses”), primarily due to different arrangements for distribution, transfer agent and administrative services. Differences in class-specific fees and expenses will result in differences in net investment income and, therefore, the payment of different per-share dividends by each share class.

 

2. Significant accounting policies

 

The fund is an investment company that applies the accounting and reporting guidance issued in Topic 946 by the U.S. Financial Accounting Standards Board. The fund’s financial statements have been prepared to comply with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”). These principles require the fund’s investment adviser to make estimates and assumptions that affect reported amounts and disclosures. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Subsequent events, if any, have been evaluated through the date of issuance in the preparation of the financial statements. The fund follows the significant accounting policies described in this section, as well as the valuation policies described in the next section on valuation.

 

Security transactions and related investment income — Security transactions are recorded by the fund as of the date the trades are executed with brokers. Realized gains and losses from security transactions are determined based on the specific identified cost of the securities. In the event a security is purchased with a delayed payment date, the fund will segregate liquid assets sufficient to meet its payment obligations. Interest income is recognized on an accrual basis. Market discounts, premiums and original issue discounts on fixed-income securities are amortized daily over the expected life of the security.

 

10 American Funds Corporate Bond Fund
 

Class allocations — Income, fees and expenses (other than class-specific fees and expenses) are allocated daily among the various share classes based on the relative value of their settled shares. Realized and unrealized gains and losses are allocated daily among the various share classes based on their relative net assets. Class-specific fees and expenses, such as distribution, transfer agent and administrative services, are charged directly to the respective share class.

 

Dividends and distributions to shareholders — Dividends to shareholders are declared daily after the determination of the fund’s net investment income and are paid to shareholders monthly. Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date.

 

3. Valuation

 

Capital Research and Management Company (“CRMC”), the fund’s investment adviser, values the fund’s investments at fair value as defined by U.S. GAAP. The net asset value of each share class of the fund is generally determined as of approximately 4:00 p.m. New York time each day the New York Stock Exchange is open.

 

Methods and inputs — The fund’s investment adviser uses the following methods and inputs to establish the fair value of the fund’s assets and liabilities. Use of particular methods and inputs may vary over time based on availability and relevance as market and economic conditions evolve.

 

Fixed-income securities, including short-term securities, are generally valued at prices obtained from one or more pricing vendors. Vendors value such securities based on one or more of the inputs described in the following table. The table provides examples of inputs that are commonly relevant for valuing particular classes of fixed-income securities in which the fund is authorized to invest. However, these classifications are not exclusive, and any of the inputs may be used to value any other class of fixed-income security.

 

Fixed-income class Examples of standard inputs
All Benchmark yields, transactions, bids, offers, quotations from dealers and trading systems, new issues, spreads and other relationships observed in the markets among comparable securities; and proprietary pricing models such as yield measures calculated using factors such as cash flows, financial or collateral performance and other reference data (collectively referred to as “standard inputs”)
Corporate bonds & notes; convertible securities Standard inputs and underlying equity of the issuer
Bonds & notes of governments & government agencies Standard inputs and interest rate volatilities
Mortgage-backed; asset-backed obligations     Standard inputs and cash flows, prepayment information, default rates, delinquency and loss assumptions, collateral characteristics, credit enhancements and specific deal information
Municipal securities     Standard inputs and, for certain distressed securities, cash flows or liquidation values using a net present value calculation based on inputs that include, but are not limited to, financial statements and debt contracts

 

When the fund’s investment adviser deems it appropriate to do so (such as when vendor prices are unavailable or deemed to be not representative), fixed-income securities will be valued in good faith at the mean quoted bid and ask prices that are reasonably and timely available (or bid prices, if ask prices are not available) or at prices for securities of comparable maturity, quality and type. Interest rate swaps are generally valued by pricing vendors based on market inputs that include the index and term of index, reset frequency, payer/receiver, currency and pay frequency.

 

Securities and other assets for which representative market quotations are not readily available or are considered unreliable by the fund’s investment adviser are fair valued as determined in good faith under fair valuation guidelines adopted by authority of the fund’s board of trustees as further described. The investment adviser follows fair valuation guidelines, consistent with U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission rules and guidance, to consider relevant principles and factors when making fair value determinations. The investment adviser considers relevant indications of value that are reasonably and timely available to it in determining the fair value to be assigned to a particular security, such as the type and cost of the security; contractual or legal restrictions on resale of the security; relevant financial or business developments of the issuer; actively traded similar or related securities; conversion or exchange rights on the security; related corporate actions; significant events occurring after the close of trading in the security; and changes in overall market conditions. In addition, the closing prices of equity securities that trade in markets outside U.S. time zones may be adjusted to reflect significant events that occur after the close of local trading but before the net asset value of each share class of the fund is determined. Fair valuations and valuations of investments that are not actively trading involve judgment and may differ materially from valuations that would have been used had greater market activity occurred.

 

American Funds Corporate Bond Fund 11
 

Processes and structure — The fund’s board of trustees has delegated authority to the fund’s investment adviser to make fair value determinations, subject to board oversight. The investment adviser has established a Joint Fair Valuation Committee (the “Fair Valuation Committee”) to administer, implement and oversee the fair valuation process, and to make fair value decisions. The Fair Valuation Committee regularly reviews its own fair value decisions, as well as decisions made under its standing instructions to the investment adviser’s valuation teams. The Fair Valuation Committee reviews changes in fair value measurements from period to period and may, as deemed appropriate, update the fair valuation guidelines to better reflect the results of back testing and address new or evolving issues. The Fair Valuation Committee reports any changes to the fair valuation guidelines to the board of trustees with supplemental information to support the changes. The fund’s board and audit committee also regularly review reports that describe fair value determinations and methods.

 

The fund’s investment adviser has also established a Fixed-Income Pricing Review Group to administer and oversee the fixed-income valuation process, including the use of fixed-income pricing vendors. This group regularly reviews pricing vendor information and market data. Pricing decisions, processes and controls over security valuation are also subject to additional internal reviews, including an annual control self-evaluation program facilitated by the investment adviser’s compliance group.

 

Classifications — The fund’s investment adviser classifies the fund’s assets and liabilities into three levels based on the inputs used to value the assets or liabilities. Level 1 values are based on quoted prices in active markets for identical securities. Level 2 values are based on significant observable market inputs, such as quoted prices for similar securities and quoted prices in inactive markets. Certain securities trading outside the U.S. may transfer between Level 1 and Level 2 due to valuation adjustments resulting from significant market movements following the close of local trading. Level 3 values are based on significant unobservable inputs that reflect the investment adviser’s determination of assumptions that market participants might reasonably use in valuing the securities. The valuation levels are not necessarily an indication of the risk or liquidity associated with the underlying investment. For example, U.S. government securities are reflected as Level 2 because the inputs used to determine fair value may not always be quoted prices in an active market. At May 31, 2015, all of the fund’s investments were classified as Level 2.

 

4. Risk factors

 

Investing in the fund may involve certain risks including, but not limited to, those described below.

 

Market conditions — The prices of, and the income generated by, the securities held by the fund may decline – sometimes rapidly or unpredictably – due to various factors, including events or conditions affecting the general economy or particular industries; overall market changes; local, regional or global political, social or economic instability; governmental or governmental agency responses to economic conditions; and currency exchange rate, interest rate and commodity price fluctuations.

 

Issuer risks — The prices of, and the income generated by, securities held by the fund may decline in response to various factors directly related to the issuers of such securities, including reduced demand for an issuer’s goods or services, poor management performance and strategic initiatives such as mergers, acquisitions or dispositions and the market response to any such initiatives.

 

Investing in debt instruments — The prices of, and the income generated by, bonds and other debt securities held by the fund may be affected by changing interest rates and by changes in the effective maturities and credit ratings of these securities.

 

Rising interest rates will generally cause the prices of bonds and other debt securities to fall. Falling interest rates may cause an issuer to redeem, call or refinance a debt security before its stated maturity, which may result in the fund having to reinvest the proceeds in lower yielding securities. Longer maturity debt securities generally have greater sensitivity to changes in interest rates and may be subject to greater price fluctuations than shorter maturity debt securities.

 

Bonds and other debt securities are also subject to credit risk, which is the possibility that the credit strength of an issuer will weaken and/or an issuer of a debt security will fail to make timely payments of principal or interest and the security will go into default. Lower quality debt securities generally have higher rates of interest and may be subject to greater price fluctuations than higher quality debt securities. Credit risk is gauged, in part, by the credit ratings of the debt securities in which the fund invests. However, ratings are only the opinions of the rating agencies issuing them and are not guarantees as to credit quality or an evaluation of market risk. The fund’s investment adviser relies on its own credit analysts to research issuers and issues in seeking to mitigate various credit and default risks.

 

12 American Funds Corporate Bond Fund
 

Investing in securities backed by the U.S. government — Securities backed by the U.S. Treasury or the full faith and credit of the U.S. government are guaranteed only as to the timely payment of interest and principal when held to maturity. Accordingly, the current market values for these securities will fluctuate with changes in interest rates. Securities issued by government-sponsored entities and federal agencies and instrumentalities that are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government are neither issued nor guaranteed by the U.S. government.

 

Thinly traded securities — There may be little trading in the secondary market for particular bonds or other debt securities, which may make them more difficult to value, acquire or sell.

 

Investing outside the U.S. — Securities of issuers domiciled outside the U.S., or with significant operations or revenues outside the U.S., may lose value because of adverse political, social, economic or market developments (including social instability, regional conflicts, terrorism and war) in the countries or regions in which the issuers operate or generate revenue. These securities may also lose value due to changes in foreign currency exchange rates against the U.S. dollar and/or currencies of other countries. Issuers of these securities may be more susceptible to actions of foreign governments, such as the imposition of price controls or punitive taxes, that could adversely impact revenues. Securities markets in certain countries may be more volatile and/or less liquid than those in the U.S. Investments outside the U.S. may also be subject to different accounting practices and different regulatory, legal and reporting standards and practices, and may be more difficult to value, than those in the U.S. In addition, the value of investments outside the U.S. may be reduced by foreign taxes, including foreign withholding taxes on interest and dividends. Further, there may be increased risks of delayed settlement of securities purchased or sold by the fund. The risks of investing outside the U.S. may be heightened in connection with investments in emerging markets.

 

Investing in emerging markets — Investing in emerging markets may involve risks in addition to and greater than those generally associated with investing in the securities markets of developed countries. For instance, developing countries may have less developed legal and accounting systems than those in developed countries. The governments of these countries may be less stable and more likely to impose capital controls, nationalize a company or industry, place restrictions on foreign ownership and on withdrawing sale proceeds of securities from the country, and/or impose punitive taxes that could adversely affect the prices of securities. In addition, the economies of these countries may be dependent on relatively few industries that are more susceptible to local and global changes. Securities markets in these countries can also be relatively small and have substantially lower trading volumes. As a result, securities issued in these countries may be more volatile and less liquid, and may be more difficult to value, than securities issued in countries with more developed economies and/or markets. Less certainty with respect to security valuations may lead to additional challenges and risks in calculating the fund’s net asset value. Additionally, there may be increased settlement risks for transactions in local securities.

 

Management — The investment adviser to the fund actively manages the fund’s investments. Consequently, the fund is subject to the risk that the methods and analyses employed by the investment adviser in this process may not produce the desired results. This could cause the fund to lose value or its investment results to lag relevant benchmarks or other funds with similar objectives.

 

5. Certain investment techniques

 

Index-linked bonds — The fund has invested in index-linked bonds, which are fixed-income securities whose principal value is periodically adjusted to a government price index. Over the life of an index-linked bond, interest is paid on the adjusted principal value. Increases or decreases in the principal value of index-linked bonds are recorded as interest income in the fund’s statement of operations.

 

Loan transactions — The fund has entered into loan transactions in which the fund acquires a loan either through an agent, by assignment from another holder, or as a participation interest in another holder’s portion of a loan. The loan is often administered by a financial institution that acts as agent for the holders of the loan, and the fund may be required to receive approval from the agent and/or borrower prior to the sale of the investment. The loan’s interest rate and maturity date may change based on the terms of the loan, including potential early payments of principal.

 

Interest rate swaps — The fund has entered into interest rate swap contracts, which are agreements to exchange one stream of future interest payments for another based on a specified notional amount. Typically, interest rate swaps exchange a fixed interest rate for a payment that floats relative to a benchmark or vice versa. The fund’s investment adviser uses interest rate swaps to manage the interest rate sensitivity of the fund by increasing or decreasing the duration of the fund or a portion of the fund’s portfolio. Risks may arise as a result of the fund’s investment adviser incorrectly anticipating changes in interest rates, increased volatility, reduced liquidity and the potential inability of counterparties to meet the terms of their agreements.

 

American Funds Corporate Bond Fund 13
 

Upon entering into an interest rate swap contract, the fund is required to deposit cash, U.S. government securities or other liquid securities, which is known as “initial margin.” Generally, the initial margin required for a particular interest rate swap is set and held as collateral by the clearinghouse on which the contract is cleared. The amount of initial margin required may be significantly modified from time to time by the clearinghouse during the term of the contract.

 

On a daily basis, the fund’s investment adviser records daily interest accruals related to the exchange of future payments as a receivable and payable in the fund’s statement of assets and liabilities. The fund also pays or receives a “variation margin” based on the increase or decrease in the value of the interest rate swaps, including accrued interest, and records variation margin on interest rate swaps in the statement of assets and liabilities. The fund records realized gains and losses on both the net accrued interest and any gain or loss recognized at the time the interest rate swap is closed or expires. Net realized gains or losses, as well as any net unrealized appreciation or depreciation, from interest rate swaps are recorded in the fund’s statement of operations.

 

The following tables present the financial statement impacts resulting from the fund’s use of interest rate swaps as of or for the year ended May 31, 2015 (dollars in thousands):

 

    Assets   Liabilities
    Location on statement of       Location on statement of    
Contract   assets and liabilities   Value   assets and liabilities   Value
Interest rate swaps   Variation margin   $1   Variation margin   $—
 
    Net realized loss   Net unrealized depreciation
    Location on statement of       Location on statement of    
Contract   operations   Value   operations   Value
Interest rate swaps   Net realized loss on interest rate swaps   $(11)   Net unrealized depreciation on interest rate swaps   $(115)

 

Collateral — The fund participates in a collateral program due to its use of interest rate swaps. The program calls for the fund to pledge collateral for initial and variation margin by contract. The purpose of the collateral is to cover potential losses that could occur in the event that either party cannot meet its contractual obligations.

 

6. Taxation and distributions

 

Federal income taxation — The fund complies with the requirements under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to mutual funds and intends to distribute substantially all of its net taxable income and net capital gains each year. The fund is not subject to income taxes to the extent such distributions are made. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required.

 

As of and during the period ended May 31, 2015, the fund did not have a liability for any unrecognized tax benefits. The fund recognizes interest and penalties, if any, related to unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense in the statement of operations. During the period, the fund did not incur any interest or penalties.

 

The fund is not subject to examination by U.S. federal and state tax authorities for tax years before 2012, the year the fund commenced operations.

 

Non-U.S. taxation — Interest income is recorded net of non-U.S. taxes paid.

 

Distributions — Distributions paid to shareholders are based on net investment income and net realized gains determined on a tax basis, which may differ from net investment income and net realized gains for financial reporting purposes. These differences are due primarily to different treatment for items such as short-term capital gains and losses, and net capital losses. The fiscal year in which amounts are distributed may differ from the year in which the net investment income and net realized gains are recorded by the fund for financial reporting purposes.

 

During the year ended May 31, 2015, the fund reclassified $11,000 from undistributed net investment income to undistributed net realized gain to align financial reporting with tax reporting.

 

14 American Funds Corporate Bond Fund
 

As of May 31, 2015, the tax basis components of distributable earnings, unrealized appreciation (depreciation) and cost of investment securities were as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

Undistributed ordinary income   $ 1,054  
Undistributed long-term capital gains     32  
Gross unrealized appreciation on investment securities     549  
Gross unrealized depreciation on investment securities     (408 )
Net unrealized appreciation on investment securities     141  
Cost of investment securities     50,913  

 

Tax-basis distributions paid or accrued to shareholders from ordinary income were as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

    Year ended May 31  
Share class   2015     2014  
Class A   $ 1,273     $ 1,275  
Total   $ 1,273     $ 1,275  

 

7. Fees and transactions with related parties

 

CRMC, the fund’s investment adviser, is the parent company of American Funds Distributors,® Inc. (“AFD”), the principal underwriter of the fund’s shares, and American Funds Service Company® (“AFS”), the fund’s transfer agent. CRMC, AFD and AFS are considered related parties to the fund.

 

Investment advisory services — The fund has an investment advisory and service agreement with CRMC that provides for monthly fees accrued daily. These fees are based on an annual rate of 0.460% of daily net assets. For the year ended May 31, 2015, the investment advisory services fee was $234,000.

 

CRMC has agreed to reimburse a portion of the fees and expenses of the fund during its startup period. This reimbursement may be adjusted or discontinued by CRMC, subject to any restrictions in the fund’s prospectus. For the year ended May 31, 2015, total fees and expenses reimbursed by CRMC were $90,000. Fees and expenses in the statement of operations are presented gross of any reimbursements from CRMC.

 

Class-specific fees and expenses — Expenses that are specific to individual share classes are accrued directly to the respective share class. The principal class-specific fees and expenses are further described below:

 

Distribution services — The fund has plans of distribution for all share classes, except Class F-2, R-5 and R-6 shares. Under the plans, the board of trustees approves certain categories of expenses that are used to finance activities primarily intended to sell fund shares and service existing accounts. The plans provide for payments, based on an annualized percentage of average daily net assets, ranging from 0.30% to 1.00% as noted in this section. In some cases, the board of trustees has limited the amounts that may be paid to less than the maximum allowed by the plans. All share classes with a plan may use up to 0.25% of average daily net assets to pay service fees, or to compensate AFD for paying service fees, to firms that have entered into agreements with AFD to provide certain shareholder services. The remaining amounts available to be paid under each plan are paid to dealers to compensate them for their sales activities.

 

American Funds Corporate Bond Fund 15
 

For Class A and 529-A shares, distribution-related expenses include the reimbursement of dealer and wholesaler commissions paid by AFD for certain shares sold without a sales charge. These share classes reimburse AFD for amounts billed within the prior 15 months but only to the extent that the overall annual expense limit of 0.30% is not exceeded. As of May 31, 2015, there were no unreimbursed expenses subject to reimbursement for Class A or 529-A shares.

 

Share class   Currently approved limits   Plan limits
Class A     0.30 %       0.30 %
Class 529-A     0.30         0.50  
Classes B and 529-B     1.00         1.00  
Classes C, 529-C and R-1     1.00         1.00  
Class R-2     0.75         1.00  
Class R-2E     0.60         0.85  
Classes 529-E and R-3     0.50         0.75  
Classes F-1, 529-F-1 and R-4     0.25         0.50  

 

Transfer agent services — The fund has a shareholder services agreement with AFS under which the fund compensates AFS for providing transfer agent services to each of the fund’s share classes. These services include recordkeeping, shareholder communications and transaction processing. In addition, the fund reimburses AFS for amounts paid to third parties for performing transfer agent services on behalf of fund shareholders.

 

Administrative services — The fund has an administrative services agreement with CRMC under which the fund compensates CRMC for providing administrative services to Class A, C, F, 529 and R shares. These services include, but are not limited to, coordinating, monitoring, assisting and overseeing third parties that provide services to fund shareholders. Under the agreement, Class A shares pay an annual fee of 0.01% and Class C, F, 529 and R shares pay an annual fee of 0.05% of their respective average daily net assets.

 

529 plan services — Each 529 share class is subject to service fees to compensate the Virginia College Savings Plan (“Virginia529”) for its oversight and administration of the 529 college savings plan. The quarterly fee is based on a series of decreasing annual rates beginning with 0.10% on the first $30 billion of the net assets invested in Class 529 shares of the American Funds and decreasing to 0.05% on such assets in excess of $70 billion. The fee for any given calendar quarter is accrued and calculated on the basis of the average net assets of Class 529 shares of the American Funds for the last month of the prior calendar quarter. The fee is included in other expenses in the fund’s statement of operations. Virginia529 is not considered a related party to the fund.

 

For the year ended May 31, 2015, class-specific expenses under the agreements were as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

      Distribution     Transfer agent     Administrative     529 plan
  Share class   services     services     services     services
  Class A     $—       $— *   $5     Not applicable
  Total class-specific expenses     $—       $— *   $5     Not applicable
     
  * Amount less than one thousand.

 

Trustees’ deferred compensation — Trustees who are unaffiliated with CRMC may elect to defer the cash payment of part or all of their compensation. These deferred amounts, which remain as liabilities of the fund, are treated as if invested in shares of the fund or other American Funds. These amounts represent general, unsecured liabilities of the fund and vary according to the total returns of the selected funds. Trustees’ compensation in the fund’s statement of operations includes the current fees (either paid in cash or deferred) and the net increase or decrease in the value of the deferred amounts.

 

Affiliated officers and trustees — Officers and certain trustees of the fund are or may be considered to be affiliated with CRMC, AFD and AFS. No affiliated officers or trustees received any compensation directly from the fund.

 

8. Capital share transactions

 

There were no capital share transactions in the fund for neither the year ended May 31, 2015, nor the year ended May 31, 2014.

 

16 American Funds Corporate Bond Fund
 

9. Investment transactions

 

The fund made purchases and sales of investment securities, excluding short-term securities and U.S. government obligations, if any, of $91,039,000 and $90,655,000, respectively, during the year ended May 31, 2015.

 

10. Ownership concentration

 

At May 31, 2015, CRMC held 100% of the fund’s outstanding shares. The ownership represents the seed money invested in the fund when it began operations on December 14, 2012.

 

American Funds Corporate Bond Fund 17
 

Financial highlights

 

      Income from
investment operations1
    Dividends and distributions                                  
    Net asset
value,
beginning
of period
  Net
investment
income2
  Net gains
(losses) on
securities
(both
realized and
unrealized)
    Total from
investment
operations
    Dividends
(from net
investment
income)
    Distributions
(from capital
gains)
    Total
dividends
and
distributions
    Net asset
value,
end
of period
  Total
return2,3,4,5
    Net assets,
end of period
(in thousands)
  Ratio of
expenses to
average net
assets before
reimbursements2
    Ratio of
expenses to
average net
assets after
reimbursements2,5
    Ratio of
net income
to average
net assets2,5
 
Class A:                                                                                                
Year ended 5/31/2015   $ 10.11   $ .26   $ .08     $ .34     $ (.25 )   $     $ (.25 )   $ 10.20     3.44 %   $ 51,010     .71 %     .53 %     2.52 %
Year ended 5/31/2014     9.85     .26     .25       .51       (.25 )     6     (.25 )     10.11     5.36       50,537     .69       .53       2.65  
Period from 12/14/2012 to 5/31/20137,8     10.00     .09     (.15 )     (.06 )     (.09 )           (.09 )     9.85     (.60 )     49,245     .33 3     .24 3     .91 3

 

    Year ended
May 31, 2015
  Year ended
May 31, 2014
  For the period
12/14/2012 to 5/31/20137,8
Portfolio turnover rate for all share classes   204%   178%   65%

 

1 Based on average shares outstanding.
2 Although the fund has a plan of distribution, fees for distribution services are not paid by the fund on amounts invested in the fund by CRMC and/or its affiliates. If fees for distribution services were charged on these assets, fund expenses would have been higher and net income and total return would have been lower.
3 Not annualized.
4 Total returns exclude any applicable sales charges, including contingent deferred sales charges.
5 This column reflects the impact of a reimbursement from CRMC. During the periods shown, CRMC reimbursed other fees and expenses.
6 Amount less than $.01.
7 Based on operations for the period shown and, accordingly, is not representative of a full year.
8 For the period December 14, 2012, commencement of operations, through May 31, 2013.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

18 American Funds Corporate Bond Fund
 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Board of Trustees and Shareholders of American Funds Corporate Bond Fund

 

In our opinion, the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the investment portfolio, 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 American Funds Corporate Bond Fund (the “Fund”) at May 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 periods presented, 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 May 31, 2015 by correspondence with the custodian and brokers, provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP

 

Los Angeles, California
July 15, 2015

 

American Funds Corporate Bond Fund 19
 
Expense example unaudited

 

As a fund shareholder, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, such as initial sales charges on purchase payments and contingent deferred sales charges on redemptions (loads), and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution and service (12b-1) fees, and other expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the fund so you can compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire six-month period (December 1, 2014, through May 31, 2015).

 

Actual expenses:

The first line of each share class in the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses paid during period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

 

Hypothetical example for comparison purposes:

The second line of each share class in the table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the actual expense ratio for the share class and an assumed rate of return of 5.00% per year before expenses, which is not the actual return of the share class. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the fund and other funds. To do so, compare this 5.00% hypothetical example with the 5.00% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

 

Notes:

Retirement plan participants may be subject to certain fees charged by the plan sponsor, and Class F-1, F-2 and 529-F-1 shareholders may be subject to fees charged by financial intermediaries, typically ranging from 0.75% to 1.50% of assets annually depending on services offered. You can estimate the impact of these fees by adding the amount of the fees to the total estimated expenses you paid on your account during the period as calculated above. In addition, your ending account value would be lower by the amount of these fees.

 

Note that the expenses shown in the table below are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as sales charges (loads). Therefore, the second line of each share class in the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

    Beginning
account value
12/1/2014
    Ending
account value
5/31/2015
    Expenses paid
during period*
    Annualized
expense ratio
 
Class A – actual return   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,014.83     $ 2.66       .53 %
Class A – assumed 5% return     1,000.00       1,022.29       2.67       .53  

 

* The “expenses paid during period” are equal to the “annualized expense ratio,” multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days in the period, and divided by 365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

 

20 American Funds Corporate Bond Fund
 
Tax information unaudited

 

We are required to advise you of the federal tax status of certain distributions received by shareholders during the fiscal year. The fund hereby designates the following amounts for the fund’s fiscal year ended May 31, 2015:

 

Qualified dividend income   $ 27,000
Corporate dividends received deduction   $ 27,000
U.S. government income that may be exempt from state taxation   $ 18,000

 

Individual shareholders should refer to their Form 1099 or other tax information, which will be mailed in January 2016, to determine the calendar year amounts to be included on their 2015 tax returns. Shareholders should consult their tax advisors.

 

American Funds Corporate Bond Fund 21
 

Approval of Investment Advisory and Service Agreement

 

The American Funds Corporate Bond Fund’s board has approved the fund’s Investment Advisory and Service Agreement (the “agreement”) with Capital Research and Management Company (“CRMC”) through April 30, 2016. The board approved the agreement following the recommendation of the fund’s Contracts Committee (the “committee”), which is composed of all of the fund’s independent board members. The board and the committee determined that the fund’s advisory fee structure was fair and reasonable in relation to the services provided and that approving the agreement was in the best interests of the fund and its shareholders.

 

In reaching this decision, the board and the committee took into account information furnished to them throughout the year and otherwise provided to them, as well as information prepared specifically in connection with their review of the agreement, and were advised by their independent counsel. They considered the following factors, among others, but did not identify any single issue or particular piece of information that, in isolation, was the controlling factor, and each board and committee member did not necessarily attribute the same weight to each factor.

 

1. Nature, extent and quality of services

The board and the committee considered the depth and quality of CRMC’s investment management process, including its global research capabilities; the experience, capability and integrity of its senior management and other personnel; the low turnover rates of its key personnel; the overall financial strength and stability of CRMC and the Capital Group organization; and the ongoing evolution of CRMC’s organizational structure designed to maintain and strengthen these qualities. The board and the committee also considered the nature, extent and quality of administrative, compliance and shareholder services provided by CRMC to the fund under the agreement and other agreements, as well as the benefits to fund shareholders from investing in a fund that is part of a large family of funds. The board and the committee concluded that the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by CRMC have benefited and should continue to benefit the fund and its shareholders.

 

2. Investment results

The board and the committee considered the investment results of the fund in light of its objective of providing, over the long term, a high level of total return largely comprised of current income. They compared the fund’s investment results with those of other relevant funds (including funds that form the basis of the Lipper index for the category in which the fund is included),and data such as relevant market and fund indexes, over various periods through September 30, 2014. This report, including the letter to shareholders and related disclosures, contains certain information about the fund’s investment results. The board and the committee reviewed the fund’s investment results measured against the Lipper Corporate Debt Funds BBB-Rated Average, the Lipper Corporate Debt Funds A-Rated Average and the Barclays U.S. Corporate Investment Grade Index. They noted that for the fund’s short history its investment results were above the results of the Lipper and Barclays indexes for all periods covered. They also noted the overall higher quality of the fund’s portfolio compared with other funds in the Lipper category. The board and the committee concluded that the fund’s investment results have been satisfactory for renewal of the agreement and that CRMC’s record in managing the fund indicated that its continued management should benefit the fund and its shareholders.

 

3. Advisory fees and total expenses

The board and the committee reviewed the advisory fees and total expense levels of the fund. They noted that the fund’s advisory fees and total expenses were below the median level of other funds in the Lipper Corporate Debt Funds BBB-Rated category. They also noted the limited usefulness of comparative expense data because the fund was not yet available for purchase by the public. In addition, they reviewed information regarding the effective advisory fees charged to non-mutual fund clients by CRMC and its affiliates. They noted that, to the extent there were differences between the advisory fees paid by the fund and the advisory fees paid by those clients, the differences appropriately reflected the investment, operational and regulatory differences between advising the fund and the other clients. The board and the committee concluded that the fund’s cost structure was fair and reasonable in relation to the services provided, and that the fund’s shareholders receive reasonable value in return for the advisory fees and other amounts paid to CRMC by the fund.

 

22 American Funds Corporate Bond Fund
 

4. Ancillary benefits

The board and the committee considered a variety of other benefits that CRMC and its affiliates receive as a result of CRMC’s relationship with the fund and the other American Funds, including fees for administrative services provided to certain share classes; fees paid to CRMC’s affiliated transfer agent; sales charges and distribution fees received and retained by the fund’s principal underwriter, an affiliate of CRMC; and possible ancillary benefits to CRMC and its institutional management affiliates in managing other investment vehicles. The board and the committee reviewed CRMC’s portfolio trading practices, noting the potential benefits CRMC receives from the research obtained with commissions from portfolio transactions made on behalf of the fund. The board and the committee took these ancillary benefits into account in evaluating the reasonableness of the advisory fees and other amounts paid to CRMC by the fund.

 

5. Adviser financial information

The board and the committee reviewed information regarding CRMC’s costs of providing services to the American Funds, including personnel, systems and resources of investment, compliance, trading, accounting and other administrative operations. They considered CRMC’s costs and willingness to invest in technology, infrastructure and staff to maintain and expand services and capabilities, respond to industry and regulatory developments, and attract and retain qualified personnel. They noted information regarding the compensation structure for CRMC’s investment professionals. The board and the committee also compared CRMC’s profitability and compensation data to the reported results and data of several large, publicly held investment management companies. The board and the committee noted the competitiveness and cyclicality of both the mutual fund industry and the capital markets, and the importance in that environment of CRMC’s long-term profitability for maintaining its independence, company culture and management continuity. They further considered the breakpoint discounts in the fund’s advisory fee structure. The board and the committee concluded that the fund’s advisory fee structure reflected a reasonable sharing of benefits between CRMC and the fund’s shareholders.

 

American Funds Corporate Bond Fund 23
 

Board of trustees and other officers

 

Independent trustees1

 

Name and year of birth   Year first
elected
a trustee
of the fund2
  Principal occupation(s) during past five years   Number of
portfolios in fund
complex overseen
by trustee
  Other directorships3
held by trustee
William H. Baribault, 1945   2012   CEO and President, Richard Nixon Foundation; former Chairman of the Board and CEO, Oakwood Enterprises (private investment and consulting)   79   None
James G. Ellis, 1947   2012   Dean and Professor of Marketing, Marshall School of Business, University of Southern California   79   Mercury General Corporation
Leonard R. Fuller, 1946   2012   President and CEO, Fuller Consulting (financial management consulting firm)   79   None
Mary Davis Holt, 1950   2015   Partner, Flynn Heath Holt Leadership, LLC (leadership consulting); former COO, Time Life Inc. (1993-2003)   76   None
R. Clark Hooper, 1946
Chairman of the Board
(Independent and
Non-Executive)
  2012   Private investor   81   The Swiss Helvetia Fund, Inc.
Merit E. Janow, 1958   2012   Dean and Professor, Columbia University, School of International and Public Affairs   78   MasterCard Incorporated The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC; Trimble Navigation Limited
Laurel B. Mitchell, PhD, 1955   2012   Distinguished Professor of Accounting, University of Redlands; former Director, Accounting Program, University of Redlands   75   None
Frank M. Sanchez, 1943   2012   Principal, The Sanchez Family Corporation dba McDonald’s Restaurants (McDonald’s licensee)   75   None
Margaret Spellings, 1957   2012   President, George W. Bush Foundation; former President and CEO, Margaret Spellings & Company (public policy and strategic consulting); former President, U.S. Chamber Foundation and Senior Advisor to the President and CEO, U.S. Chamber of Commerce   79   None
Steadman Upham, PhD, 1949   2012   President and University Professor, The University of Tulsa   78   None

 

Interested trustee4,5

 

Name, year of birth and
position with fund
  Year first
elected
a trustee
or officer
of the fund2
  Principal occupation(s) during past five years
and positions held with affiliated entities or
the principal underwriter of the fund
  Number of
portfolios in fund
complex overseen
by trustee
  Other directorships3
held by trustee
John H. Smet, 1956
Vice Chairman of the Board
  2012   Partner — Capital Fixed Income Investors, Capital Research and Management Company; Director, Capital Research and Management Company   21   None

 

The fund’s statement of additional information includes further details about fund trustees and is available without charge upon request by calling American Funds Service Company at (800) 421-4225 or by visiting the American Funds website at americanfunds.com. The address for all trustees and officers of the fund is 333 South Hope Street, Los Angeles, CA 90071, Attention: Secretary.

 

See page 26 for footnotes.

 

24 American Funds Corporate Bond Fund
 

Other officers5

 

Name, year of birth and
position with fund
  Year first
elected
an officer
of the fund2
  Principal occupation(s) during past five years and positions held with affiliated entities
or the principal underwriter of the fund
Andrew F. Barth, 1961
President
  2012   Partner — Capital Fixed Income Investors, Capital Research and Management Company; Director, Capital Group International, Inc.;6 Chairman of the Board, Capital Guardian Trust Company;6 Partner — Capital Fixed Income Investors, Capital Guardian Trust Company6
Kristine M. Nishiyama, 1970
Senior Vice President
  2012   Senior Vice President and Senior Counsel — Fund Business Management Group, Capital Research and Management Company; Senior Vice President and General Counsel, Capital Bank and Trust Company6
Steven I. Koszalka, 1964
Secretary
  2012   Vice President — Fund Business Management Group, Capital Research and Management Company
Brian C. Janssen, 1972
Treasurer
  2012   Vice President — Investment Operations, Capital Research and Management Company
Jane Y. Chung, 1974
Assistant Secretary
  2014   Associate — Fund Business Management Group, Capital Research and Management Company
Dori Laskin, 1951
Assistant Treasurer
  2012   Vice President — Investment Operations, Capital Research and Management Company
Gregory F. Niland, 1971
Assitant Treasurer
  2015   Vice President — Investment Operations, Capital Research and Management Company

 

1 The term independent trustee refers to a trustee who is not an “interested person” of the fund within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940.
2 Trustees and officers of the fund serve until their resignation, removal or retirement.
3 This includes all directorships/trusteeships (other than those in the American Funds or other funds managed by Capital Research and Management Company or its affiliates) that are held by each trustee as a trustee or director of a public company or a registered investment company.
4 The term interested trustee refers to a trustee who is an “interested person” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, on the basis of their affiliation with the fund’s investment adviser, Capital Research and Management Company, or affiliated entities (including the fund’s principal underwriter).
5 All of the directors/trustees and/or officers listed are officers and/or directors/trustees of one or more of the other funds for which Capital Research and Management Company serves as investment adviser.
6 Company affiliated with Capital Research and Management Company.

 

American Funds Corporate Bond Fund 25
 

Offices of the fund and of the investment adviser

Capital Research and Management Company
333 South Hope Street
Los Angeles, CA 90071-1406

 

6455 Irvine Center Drive
Irvine, CA 92618-4518

 

Transfer agent for shareholder accounts

American Funds Service Company
(Write to the address near you.)

 

P.O. Box 6007
Indianapolis, IN 46206-6007

 

P.O. Box 2280
Norfolk, VA 23501-2280

 

Custodian of assets

Bank of New York Mellon
One Wall Street
New York, NY 10286

 

Counsel

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
355 South Grand Avenue, Suite 4400
Los Angeles, CA 90071-3106

 

Independent registered public accounting firm

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
601 South Figueroa Street
Los Angeles, CA 90017-3874

 

Principal underwriter

American Funds Distributors, Inc.
333 South Hope Street
Los Angeles, CA 90071-1406

 

Investors should carefully consider investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. This and other important information is contained in the fund prospectus and summary prospectus, which can be obtained from your financial professional and should be read carefully before investing. You may also call American Funds Service Company (AFS) at (800) 421-4225 or visit the American Funds website at americanfunds.com.

 

“American Funds Proxy Voting Procedures and Principles” — which describes how we vote proxies relating to portfolio securities — is available on the American Funds website or upon request by calling AFS. The fund files its proxy voting record with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for the 12 months ended June 30 by August 31. The proxy voting record is available free of charge on the SEC website at sec.gov and on the American Funds website.

 

American Funds Corporate Bond Fund files a complete list of its portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q. This filing is available free of charge on the SEC website. You may also review or, for a fee, copy this filing at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. Additional information regarding the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the SEC’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy at (800) SEC-0330. Additionally, the list of portfolio holdings is available by calling AFS.

 

This report is for the information of shareholders of American Funds Corporate Bond Fund, but it also may be used as sales literature when preceded or accompanied by the current prospectus or summary prospectus, which gives details about charges, expenses, investment objectives and operating policies of the fund. If used as sales material after September 30, 2015, this report must be accompanied by an American Funds statistical update for the most recently completed calendar quarter.

 

The American Funds Advantage

 

Since 1931, American Funds, part of Capital Group, has helped investors pursue long-term investment success. Our consistent approach — in combination with The Capital SystemSM — has resulted in a superior long-term track record.

 

  Aligned with investor success
  We base our decisions on a long-term perspective, which we believe aligns our goals with the interests of our clients. Our portfolio managers average 27 years of investment experience, including 22 years at our company, reflecting a career commitment to our long-term approach.1
   
  The Capital SystemSM
  Our investment process, The Capital System, combines individual accountability with teamwork. Each fund is divided into portions that are managed independently by investment professionals with diverse backgrounds, ages and investment approaches. An extensive global research effort is the backbone of our system.
   
  Superior long-term track record
  Our equity funds have beaten their Lipper peer indexes in 91% of 10-year periods and 96% of 20-year periods. Our fixed-income funds have beaten their Lipper indexes in 54% of 10-year periods and 57% of 20-year periods.2 Our fund management fees have been among the lowest in the industry.3

 

  1 Portfolio manager experience as of December 31, 2014.
  2 Based on Class A share results for rolling periods through December 31, 2014. Periods covered are the shorter of the fund’s lifetime or since the comparable Lipper index inception date (except SMALLCAP World Fund, for which the Lipper average was used).
  3 On average, our management fees were in the lowest quintile 70% of the time, based on the 20-year period ended December 31, 2014, versus comparable Lipper categories, excluding funds of funds.

 

Lit. No. MFGEARX-032-0715[O]   CT/10275-S49886

 

 

 

ITEM 2 – Code of Ethics

 

The Registrant has adopted a Code of Ethics that applies to its Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer. The Registrant undertakes to provide to any person without charge, upon request, a copy of the Code of Ethics. Such request can be made to American Funds Service Company at 800/421-9225 or to the Secretary of the Registrant, 6455 Irvine Center Drive, Irvine, California 92618.

 

 

ITEM 3 – Audit Committee Financial Expert

 

The Registrant’s board has determined that Laurel B. Mitchell, a member of the Registrant’s audit committee, is an “audit committee financial expert” and "independent," as such terms are defined in this Item. This designation will not increase the designee’s duties, obligations or liability as compared to his or her duties, obligations and liability as a member of the audit committee and of the board, nor will it reduce the responsibility of the other audit committee members. There may be other individuals who, through education or experience, would qualify as "audit committee financial experts" if the board had designated them as such. Most importantly, the board believes each member of the audit committee contributes significantly to the effective oversight of the Registrant’s financial statements and condition.

 

 

ITEM 4 – Principal Accountant Fees and Services

 

  Registrant:
    a)  Audit Fees:
      2014 $53,000
      2015 $71,000
       
    b)  Audit-Related Fees:
      2014 None
      2015 None
       
    c)  Tax Fees:
      2014 $7,000
      2015 $7,000
      The tax fees consist of professional services relating to the preparation of the Registrant’s tax returns.
       
    d)  All Other Fees:
      2014 None
      2015 None
       

  Adviser and affiliates (includes only fees for non-audit services billed to the adviser and affiliates for engagements that relate directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Registrant and were subject to the pre-approval policies described below):
    a)  Audit Fees:
      Not Applicable
       
    b)  Audit-Related Fees:
      2014 None
      2015 None
       
    c)  Tax Fees:
      2014 $27,000
      2015 $79,000
      The tax fees consist of consulting services relating to the Registrant’s investments.
       
    d)  All Other Fees:
      2014 $2,000
      2015 $2,000
      The other fees consist of subscription services related to an accounting research tool.
       

 

All audit and permissible non-audit services that the Registrant’s audit committee considers compatible with maintaining the independent registered public accounting firm’s independence are required to be pre-approved by the committee. The pre-approval requirement will extend to all non-audit services provided to the Registrant, the investment adviser, and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the investment adviser that provides ongoing services to the Registrant, if the engagement relates directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Registrant. The committee will not delegate its responsibility to pre-approve these services to the investment adviser. The committee may delegate to one or more committee members the authority to review and pre-approve audit and permissible non-audit services. Actions taken under any such delegation will be reported to the full committee at its next meeting. The pre-approval requirement is waived with respect to non-audit services if certain conditions are met. The pre-approval requirement was not waived for any of the non-audit services listed above provided to the Registrant, adviser and affiliates.

 

Aggregate non-audit fees paid to the Registrant’s auditors, including fees for all services billed to the Registrant, adviser and affiliates that provide ongoing services to the Registrant, were $36,000 for fiscal year 2014 and $88,000 for fiscal year 2015. The non-audit services represented by these amounts were brought to the attention of the committee and considered to be compatible with maintaining the auditors’ independence.

 

 

ITEM 5 – Audit Committee of Listed Registrants

 

Not applicable to this Registrant, insofar as the Registrant is not a listed issuer as defined in Rule 10A-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 
 

 

ITEM 6 – Schedule of Investments

 

Not applicable, insofar as the schedule is included as part of the report to shareholders filed under Item 1 of this Form.

 

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Board of Trustees and Shareholders of American Funds Corporate Bond Fund

 

In our opinion, the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the investment portfolio, 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 American Funds Corporate Bond Fund (the "Fund") at May 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 periods presented, 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 May 31, 2015 by correspondence with the custodian and brokers, provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

 

 

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Los Angeles, California

July 15, 2015

 

 

 

 

ITEM 7 – Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies

 

Not applicable to this Registrant, insofar as the Registrant is not a closed-end management investment company.

 

 

ITEM 8 – Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies

 

Not applicable to this Registrant, insofar as the Registrant is not a closed-end management investment company.

 

 

ITEM 9 – Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers

 

Not applicable to this Registrant, insofar as the Registrant is not a closed-end management investment company.

 

 

ITEM 10 – Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

 

There have been no material changes to the procedures by which shareholders may recommend nominees to the Registrant’s board of trustees since the Registrant last submitted a proxy statement to its shareholders. The procedures are as follows. The Registrant has a nominating and governance committee comprised solely of persons who are not considered ‘‘interested persons’’ of the Registrant within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. The committee periodically reviews such issues as the board’s composition, responsibilities, committees, compensation and other relevant issues, and recommends any appropriate changes to the full board of trustees. While the committee normally is able to identify from its own resources an ample number of qualified candidates, it will consider shareholder suggestions of persons to be considered as nominees to fill future vacancies on the board. Such suggestions must be sent in writing to the nominating and governance committee of the Registrant, c/o the Registrant’s Secretary, and must be accompanied by complete biographical and occupational data on the prospective nominee, along with a written consent of the prospective nominee for consideration of his or her name by the nominating and governance committee.

 
 

 

 

ITEM 11 – Controls and Procedures

 

(a) The Registrant’s Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer have concluded, based on their evaluation of the Registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 30a-3 under the Investment Company Act of 1940), that such controls and procedures are adequate and reasonably designed to achieve the purposes described in paragraph (c) of such rule.
   
(b) There were no changes in the Registrant’s internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) 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) The Code of Ethics that is the subject of the disclosure required by Item 2 is attached as an exhibit hereto.
   
(a)(2) The certifications required by Rule 30a-2 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 and Sections 302 and 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 are attached as exhibits hereto.

 

 
 

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.

 

  AMERICAN FUNDS CORPORATE BOND FUND
   
  By /s/ Andrew F. Barth
 

Andrew F. Barth, President and

Principal Executive Officer

   
  Date: July 31, 2015

 

 

 

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 /s/ Andrew F. Barth

Andrew F. Barth, President and

Principal Executive Officer

 
Date: July 31, 2015

 

 

 

/
By /s/ Brian C. Janssen

Brian C. Janssen, Treasurer and

Principal Financial Officer

 
Date: July 31, 2015