N-CSRS 1 ilbf_ncsrs.htm N-CSRS

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: 811-22746

 

American Funds Inflation Linked 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: (949) 975-5000

 

Date of fiscal year end: November 30

 

Date of reporting period: May 31, 2021

 

Brian C. Janssen

American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund

6455 Irvine Center Drive

Irvine, California 92618

(Name and Address of Agent for Service)

 
 

 

ITEM 1 – Reports to Stockholders

 

 

American Funds Inflation
Linked Bond Fund
®

 

Semi-annual report
for the six months ended
May 31, 2021

 

 

Invest with the goal of preserving purchasing power

 

 

American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund seeks to provide inflation protection and income consistent with investment in inflation linked securities.

 

This fund is one of more than 40 offered by Capital Group, home of American Funds, one of the nation’s largest mutual fund families. For nearly 90 years, Capital Group 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 2.50%) 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. Prices and returns will vary, so investors may lose money. Investing for short periods makes losses more likely. For current information and month-end results, visit capitalgroup.com.

 

Here are the total returns on a $1,000 investment with all distributions reinvested for the period ended June 30, 2021 (the most recent calendar quarter-end):

 

Class A shares 1 year 5 years Lifetime
(since 12/14/12)
       
Reflecting 2.50% maximum sales charge  2.72% 3.78% 2.24%
       

The total annual fund operating expense ratio is 0.70% for Class A shares as of the prospectus dated February 1, 2021.

 

Investment results assume all distributions are reinvested and reflect applicable fees and expenses. When applicable, investment results reflect fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements, without which results would have been lower.

 

The fund’s 30-day yield for Class A shares as of June 30, 2021, reflecting the 2.50% maximum sales charge and calculated in accordance with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission formula, was 5.71%.

 

Investments are not FDIC-insured, nor are they deposits of or guaranteed by a bank or any other entity, so they may lose value.

 

Fellow investors:

 

Results for American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund for the periods ended May 31, 2021, are shown in the table below, as well as results of the fund’s benchmark and peer group average.

 

For additional information about the fund, its investment results, holdings and portfolio managers, visit capitalgroup.com/individual/investments/fund/bfiax. You can also access information about Capital Group’s American Funds and read our insights about the markets, retirement, saving for college, investing fundamentals and more at capitalgroup.com.

 

Contents
 
1   Results at a glance
     
2   Investment portfolio
     
10   Financial statements
     
14   Notes to financial statements
     
27   Financial highlights

 

Results at a glance

 

For periods ended May 31, 2021, with all distributions reinvested

 

    Cumulative total returns   Average annual total returns
    6 months   1 year   3 years   5 years   Lifetime
(since 12/14/12)
American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund (Class A shares)     1.16 %     6.09 %     6.91 %     4.64 %     2.52 %    
Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS) Index *     2.28       7.05       6.46       4.48       2.21  
Lipper Inflation Protected Bond Funds Average     2.88       8.44       5.69       4.00       1.68  
                                         
* The market index is unmanaged and, therefore, has no expenses. Investors cannot invest directly in an index. Bloomberg Barclays source: Bloomberg Index Services Ltd.
Source: Refinitiv Lipper. Lipper categories are dynamic and averages may have few funds, especially over longer periods. To see the number of funds included in the Lipper category for each fund’s lifetime, please see the Quarterly Statistical Update, available on our website.
   
American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund 1
 
Investment portfolio May 31, 2021 unaudited
   
Portfolio by type of security Percent of net assets
   

 

Portfolio quality summary*   Percent of
net assets
U.S. Treasury     83.03 %
AAA/Aaa     3.36  
AA/Aa     2.53  
A/A     6.23  
BBB/Baa     3.73  
Short-term securities & other assets less liabilities     1.12  
* 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.
These securities are guaranteed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government.
   
Bonds, notes & other debt instruments 98.88%   Principal amount
(000)
    Value
(000)
 
U.S. Treasury bonds & notes 83.03%            
U.S. Treasury inflation-protected securities 82.46%            
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.625% 20211,2   $ 229,117     $ 231,881  
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.125% 20222     111,854       114,664  
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.125% 20222     18,310       19,080  
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.125% 20232     34,361       36,080  
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.375% 20232     30,724       32,931  
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.125% 20241,2     34,061       37,072  
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.125% 20242     669       727  
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.50% 20241,2     193,618       210,595  
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.625% 20242     108,954       118,396  
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.125% 20252     431,806       470,876  
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.125% 20252     306,183       336,877  
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.25% 20252     128,465       140,474  
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.375% 20251,2     289,558       321,701  
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 2.375% 20252     32,945       38,732  
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.125% 20262     257,496       283,069  
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.125% 20262     139,202       154,154  
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.625% 20262     183,335       205,946  
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 2.00% 20261,2     138,761       165,298  
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.375% 20272     195,945       220,606  
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.375% 20272     109,190       122,185  
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 2.375% 20271,2     199,863       247,798  
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.50% 20282     246,282       278,579  
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 1.75% 20282     77,108       94,085  
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.25% 20291,2     227,969       254,749  
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.875% 20292     71,736       83,547  
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 2.50% 20292     2,467       3,201  
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.125% 20301,2     696,148       769,258  
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.125% 20302     558,438       614,681  
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.125% 20312     1,431,322       1,572,911  
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 2.125% 20402     55,134       81,242  
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 2.125% 20412     52,603       78,205  
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.75% 20422     58,598       70,025  
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.625% 20432     156,763       183,020  
                 
2 American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund
 
Bonds, notes & other debt instruments (continued)   Principal amount
(000)
    Value
(000)
 
U.S. Treasury bonds & notes (continued)            
U.S. Treasury inflation-protected securities (continued)            
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 1.375% 20442   $ 73,971     $ 99,738  
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.75% 20452     125,953       151,045  
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 1.00% 20462     108,237       137,390  
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.875% 20472     159,400       198,630  
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 1.00% 20482     161,835       208,935  
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 1.00% 20492     49,041       63,771  
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.25% 20502     65,374       71,013  
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.125% 20511,2     553,356       581,242  
              9,104,409  
                 
U.S. Treasury 0.57%                
U.S. Treasury 4.375% 20391     29,000       39,380  
U.S. Treasury 1.875% 2041     12,000       11,404  
U.S. Treasury 2.875% 2043     6,260       6,992  
U.S. Treasury 3.375% 2044     4,100       4,966  
              62,742  
                 
Total U.S. Treasury bonds & notes             9,167,151  
                 
Bonds & notes of governments & government agencies outside the U.S. 5.80%                
China (People’s Republic of), Series INBK, 2.85% 2027   CNY 73,280       11,404  
China (People’s Republic of), Series IMBK, 3.28% 2027     256,090       40,800  
China (People’s Republic of), Series INBK, 2.68% 2030     657,940       99,654  
China (People’s Republic of), Series INBK, 3.27% 2030     164,690       26,271  
China Development Bank Corp., Series 2004, 3.43% 2027     66,990       10,574  
China Development Bank Corp., Series 1805, 4.04% 2028     267,870       43,668  
China Development Bank Corp., Series 1805, 4.88% 2028     146,140       24,911  
Colombia (Republic of) 5.00% 2045   $ 600       622  
European Stability Mechanism 2.125% 20223     40,000       41,111  
European Stability Mechanism 0.375% 20253     26,412       26,010  
Italy (Republic of) 0.10% 20232   73,006       91,607  
Japan, Series 18, 0.10% 20242   ¥ 2,244,600       20,762  
Japan, Series 20, 0.10% 20252     4,322,250       40,088  
Peru (Republic of) 2.392% 2026   $ 2,730       2,817  
PETRONAS Capital, Ltd. 3.50% 20303     5,490       5,983  
PETRONAS Capital, Ltd. 4.55% 20503     5,775       6,924  
Philippines (Republic of) 1.648% 2031     18,830       18,163  
Philippines (Republic of) 2.65% 2045     18,235       16,679  
Spain (Kingdom of) 1.25% 2030   24,490       32,207  
United Kingdom 0.125% 20412   £ 8,527       19,621  
United Mexican States, Series M20, 10.00% 2024   MXN 110,000       6,259  
United Mexican States, Series M, 5.75% 2026     521,500       25,783  
United Mexican States, Series M, 7.50% 2027     110,000       5,849  
United Mexican States, Series M, 8.00% 2047     418,544       21,954  
              639,721  
                 
Corporate bonds, notes & loans 5.08%                
Consumer discretionary 1.38%                
Alibaba Group Holding, Ltd. 2.125% 2031   $ 15,196       14,738  
Amazon.com, Inc. 2.10% 2031     40,000       40,144  
Amazon.com, Inc. 3.10% 2051     40,000       39,969  
Boston University 4.061% 2048     2,075       2,485  
Duke University 2.832% 2055     5,000       4,908  
Home Depot, Inc. 2.95% 2029     8,408       9,074  
Home Depot, Inc. 4.50% 2048     1,240       1,548  
Massachusetts Institute of Technology 2.294% 2051     22,000       19,974  
The Board of Trustees of The Leland Stanford Junior University 1.289% 2027     4,950       4,967  
Yale University 1.482% 2030     15,000       14,561  
              152,368  
                 
Energy 1.05%                
Energy Transfer Partners LP 6.00% 2048     10,000       12,121  
Equinor ASA 3.625% 2028     13,165       14,666  
MPLX LP 4.00% 2028     2,430       2,697  
MPLX LP 4.70% 2048     10,000       11,171  
ONEOK, Inc. 6.35% 2031     15,014       19,042  
ONEOK, Inc. 7.15% 2051     5,564       7,816  
                 
American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund 3
 
Bonds, notes & other debt instruments (continued)   Principal amount
(000)
    Value
(000)
 
Corporate bonds, notes & loans (continued)            
Energy (continued)            
Petróleos Mexicanos 7.47% 2026   MXN 30     $ 1  
Sabine Pass Liquefaction, LLC 4.20% 2028   $ 2,225       2,483  
Sabine Pass Liquefaction, LLC 4.50% 2030     12,053       13,677  
TransCanada PipeLines, Ltd. 4.10% 2030     19,103       21,695  
Williams Companies, Inc. 3.50% 2030     9,898       10,623  
              115,992  
                 
Utilities 0.66%                
Consumers Energy Co. 4.05% 2048     8,570       10,091  
Duke Energy Corp. 0.90% 2025     6,850       6,798  
Entergy Corp. 2.80% 2030     4,425       4,531  
Entergy Corp. 3.75% 2050     4,700       4,936  
Exelon Corp. 4.05% 2030     4,725       5,300  
Exelon Corp. 4.70% 2050     1,300       1,583  
Mississippi Power Co. 4.25% 2042     1,660       1,901  
Public Service Electric and Gas Co. 2.05% 2050     5,365       4,420  
Public Service Enterprise Group, Inc. 3.20% 2049     8,250       8,536  
Tampa Electric Co. 4.45% 2049     8,070       9,929  
Virginia Electric and Power Co. 3.80% 2028     7,925       8,896  
Virginia Electric and Power Co. 2.875% 2029     2,800       2,979  
Wisconsin Electric Power Co. 4.30% 2048     2,600       3,119  
              73,019  
                 
Information technology 0.65%                
Apple, Inc. 2.40% 2050     30,000       26,565  
Broadcom, Inc. 5.00% 2030     17,063       19,715  
Global Payments, Inc. 2.90% 2030     6,972       7,157  
PayPal Holdings, Inc. 1.65% 2025     11,647       12,045  
PayPal Holdings, Inc. 3.25% 2050     6,210       6,327  
              71,809  
                 
Health care 0.44%                
Becton, Dickinson and Company 3.70% 2027     7,700       8,587  
Cigna Corp. 4.90% 2048     7,175       8,955  
Sharp HealthCare 2.68% 2050     17,500       16,165  
Summa Health 3.511% 2051     9,945       10,154  
Trinity Health Corp. 2.632% 2040     5,000       4,784  
              48,645  
                 
Consumer staples 0.35%                
Anheuser-Busch InBev NV 3.50% 2030     7,500       8,218  
Anheuser-Busch InBev NV 4.60% 2048     8,519       9,886  
Anheuser-Busch InBev NV 4.50% 2050     1,481       1,702  
Conagra Brands, Inc. 4.85% 2028     6,400       7,551  
Keurig Dr Pepper, Inc. 4.057% 2023     5,354       5,728  
Keurig Dr Pepper, Inc. 5.085% 2048     4,291       5,488  
              38,573  
                 
Communication services 0.20%                
SBA Tower Trust 1.631% 20263     22,469       22,638  
                 
Industrials 0.19%                
General Electric Co. 3.625% 2030     2,625       2,886  
General Electric Co. 4.25% 2040     6,400       7,246  
General Electric Co. 4.35% 2050     6,275       7,161  
United Technologies Corp. 4.125% 2028     3,265       3,724  
              21,017  
                 
Materials 0.09%                
Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. 1.50% 2025     6,427       6,589  
Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. 2.05% 2030     3,284       3,295  
              9,884  
   
4 American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund
 
Bonds, notes & other debt instruments (continued)   Principal amount
(000)
    Value
(000)
 
Corporate bonds, notes & loans (continued)                
Real estate 0.07%                
American Campus Communities, Inc. 3.875% 2031   $ 2,892     $ 3,161  
Corporacion Inmobiliaria Vesta SAB de CV 3.625% 20313     4,080       4,091  
              7,252  
                 
Total corporate bonds, notes & loans             561,197  
                 
Asset-backed obligations 2.57%                
Allegro CLO, Ltd., Series 2016-1A, Class AR2, (3-month USD-LIBOR + 0.95%) 1.12% 20303,4,5     3,819       3,819  
Allegro CLO, Ltd., Series 2017-1A, Class AR, (3-month USD-LIBOR + 0.95%) 1.134% 20303,4,5     2,112       2,112  
ARES CLO, Ltd., Series 2017-42A, Class AR, (3-month USD-LIBOR + 0.92%) 1.114% 20283,4,5     4,512       4,512  
Ballyrock, Ltd., Series 2019-2A, Class A1AR, (3-month USD-LIBOR + 1.00%) 1.155% 20303,4,5     5,500       5,500  
Bankers Healthcare Group Securitization Trust, Series 2020-A, Class A, 2.56% 20313,4     2,302       2,341  
Cent CLO LP, Series 2014-21A, Class AR, (3-month USD-LIBOR + 0.97%) 1.151% 20303,4,5     6,705       6,705  
CF Hippolyta LLC, Series 2020-1, Class A1, 1.69% 20603,4     4,958       5,060  
CF Hippolyta LLC, Series 2020-1, Class A2, 1.99% 20603,4     809       819  
CLI Funding V LLC, Series 2020-3A, Class A, 2.07% 20453,4     7,257       7,362  
Dryden Senior Loan Fund, Series 2017-47A, Class A1R, CLO, (3-month USD-LIBOR + 0.98%) 1.17% 20283,4,5     7,090       7,090  
Dryden Senior Loan Fund, Series 2014-33A, Class AR3, CLO, (3-month USD-LIBOR + 1.00%) 1.184% 20293,4,5     2,266       2,266  
FirstKey Homes Trust, Series 2020-SFR2, Class A, 1.266% 20373,4     14,614       14,618  
GCI Funding I LLC, Series 2020-1, Class A, 2.82% 20453,4     4,379       4,481  
Global SC Finance V SRL, Series 2020-1A, Class A, 2.17% 20403,4     28,316       28,662  
Global SC Finance V SRL, Series 2020-1A, Class B, 3.55% 20403,4     3,884       3,903  
Global SC Finance VII SRL, Series 2020-2A, Class A, 2.26% 20403,4     23,478       23,842  
Longfellow Place CLO, Ltd., Series 2013-1A, Class AR3, (3-month USD-LIBOR + 1.00%) 1.184% 20293,4,5     5,247       5,247  
Madison Park Funding, Ltd., CLO, Series 2015-17A, Class AR2, (3-month USD-LIBOR + 1.00%) 1.186% 20303,4,5     7,175       7,175  
Marathon CLO, Ltd., Series 2017-9A, Class A1AR, (3-month USD-LIBOR + 1.15%) 1.334% 20293,4,5     6,355       6,355  
Navient Student Loan Trust, Series 2021-C, Class A, 1.06% 20693,4     10,158       10,193  
Nelnet Student Loan Trust, Series 2021-A, Class APT1, 1.36% 20623,4     14,594       14,676  
Newark BSL CLO 2, Ltd., Series 2017-1A, Class A1R, (3-month USD-LIBOR + 0.97%) 1.146% 20303,4,5     2,296       2,296  
Palmer Square Loan Funding, CLO, Series 2020-4, Class A1, (3-month USD-LIBOR + 1.00%) 1.147% 20283,4,5     20,116       20,133  
Palmer Square Loan Funding, CLO, Series 2021-1, Class A1, (3-month USD-LIBOR + 0.90%) 1.055% 20293,4,5     7,685       7,685  
Palmer Square, Ltd., Series 2015-1A, Class A1R3, (3-month USD-LIBOR + 1.00%) 1.182% 20293,4,5     3,001       3,001  
Race Point CLO, Ltd., Series 2015-9A, Class A1A2, (3-month USD-LIBOR + 0.94%) 1.181% 20303,4,5     5,997       5,997  
Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Trust, Series 2020-A, Class B, 2.26% 20253,4     6,250       6,437  
Sound Point CLO, Ltd., Series 2017-2A, Class AR, (3-month USD-LIBOR + 0.98%) 1.156% 20303,4,5     4,214       4,214  
Sound Point CLO, Ltd., Series 2017-3A, Class A1R, (3-month USD-LIBOR + 0.98%) 1.182% 20303,4,5     7,160       7,164  
Sound Point CLO, Ltd., Series 2015-1RA, Class AR, (3-month USD-LIBOR + 1.08%) 1.264% 20303,4,5     4,485       4,485  
TAL Advantage V LLC, Series 2020-1A, Class A, 2.05% 20453,4     11,081       11,223  
Textainer Marine Containers, Ltd., Series 2020-2A, Class A, 2.10% 20453,4     5,548       5,632  
Textainer Marine Containers, Ltd., Series 2020-2A, Class B, 3.34% 20453,4     6,958       7,140  
Triton Container Finance LLC, Series 2020-1A, Class A, 2.11% 20453,4     25,036       25,356  
Triton Container Finance LLC, Series 2020-1, Class B, 3.74% 20453,4     5,853       6,035  
              283,536  
   
American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund 5
 
Bonds, notes & other debt instruments (continued)   Principal amount
(000)
    Value
(000)
 
Mortgage-backed obligations 1.46%            
Collateralized mortgage-backed obligations (privately originated) 1.43%            
Legacy Mortgage Asset Trust, Series 2019-GS5, Class A1, 3.20% 20593,4,5   $ 8,213     $ 8,295  
Mello Warehouse Securitization Trust, Series 2020-2, Class A, (1-month USD-LIBOR + 0.80%) 0.892% 20533,4,5     18,650       18,728  
Mello Warehouse Securitization Trust, Series 2020-1, Class A, (1-month USD-LIBOR + 0.90%) 0.992% 20533,4,5     7,191       7,218  
MRA Issuance Trust, Series 2020-10, Class A2, (1-month USD-LIBOR + 1.70%) 1.70% 20223,4,5,6     34,117       34,117  
Provident Funding Mortgage Warehouse Securitization Trust, Series 2021-1, Class A, (1-month USD-LIBOR + 0.70%) 0.792% 20553,4,5     17,076       17,118  
Station Place Securitization Trust, Series 2021-WL1, Class A, (1-month USD-LIBOR + 0.65%) 0.756% 20543,4,5     40,721       40,788  
Towd Point Mortgage Trust, Series 2016-5, Class A1, 2.50% 20563,4,5     3,501       3,568  
Towd Point Mortgage Trust, Series 2020-4, Class A1, 1.75% 20603,4     27,337       27,824  
              157,656  
                 
Commercial mortgage-backed securities 0.03%                
Morgan Stanley Bank of America Merrill Lynch Trust, Series 2013-C9, Class A4, 3.102% 20464     3,000       3,129  
                 
Total mortgage-backed obligations             160,785  
                 
Municipals 0.94%                
California 0.24%                
Regents of the University of California, General Rev. Bonds, Series 2020-BG, 0.883% 2025     7,500       7,576  
Regents of the University of California, General Rev. Bonds, Series 2020-BG, 1.316% 2027     9,200       9,259  
Regents of the University of California, General Rev. Bonds, Series 2020-BG, 1.614% 2030     10,100       9,816  
              26,651  
                 
Florida 0.33%                
Board of Administration Fin. Corp., Rev. Bonds, Series 2020-A, 1.258% 2025     18,085       18,308  
Board of Administration Fin. Corp., Rev. Bonds, Series 2020-A, 2.154% 2030     17,885       18,040  
              36,348  
                 
Illinois 0.05%                
G.O. Bonds, Pension Funding, Series 2003, 4.95% 2023     879       910  
Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Auth., McCormick Place Expansion Project Rev. Ref. Bonds, Series 2020-C, 3.955% 2026     5,000       5,272  
              6,182  
                 
Michigan 0.09%                
Building Auth., Rev. Ref. Bonds (Facs. Program), Series 2020-II, 2.705% 2040     9,715       9,625  
                 
Ohio 0.23%                
County of Cleveland-Cuyahoga, Port Auth., Federal Lease Rev. Bonds (VA Cleveland Health Care Center Project), Series 2021, 4.425% 2031     24,710       25,315  
                 
Total municipals             104,121  
                 
Total bonds, notes & other debt instruments (cost: $10,223,639,000)             10,916,511  
                 
Short-term securities 0.65%   Shares          
                 
Money market investments 0.65%                
Capital Group Central Cash Fund 0.05%7,8     718,035       71,811  
                 
Total short-term securities (cost: $71,810,000)             71,811  
Total investment securities 99.53% (cost: $10,295,449,000)             10,988,322  
Other assets less liabilities 0.47%             52,366  
                 
Net assets 100.00%           $ 11,040,688  
                 
6 American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund
 

Futures contracts

 

Contracts   Type   Number of
contracts
    Expiration   Notional
amount
(000)
9
 
  Value at
5/31/2021
(000)
10 
 
Unrealized
appreciation
(depreciation)
at 5/31/2021
(000)
 
90 Day Euro Dollar Futures   Long     9,554     December 2022   $ 2,388,500     $ 2,379,304     $ 1,683  
90 Day Euro Dollar Futures   Long     24,193     June 2023     6,048,250       6,013,170       3,306  
90 Day Euro Dollar Futures   Long     8,760     September 2023     2,190,000       2,172,371       392  
90 Day Euro Dollar Futures   Short     32,953     December 2024     (8,238,250 )     (8,110,145 )     (7,071 )
2 Year U.S. Treasury Note Futures   Short     16     October 2021     (3,200 )     (3,532 )     11
5 Year Euro-Bobl Futures   Short     4,932     June 2021   (493,200 )     (810,370 )     1,383  
5 Year U.S. Treasury Note Futures   Long     8,612     October 2021   $ 861,200       1,066,610       112  
10 Year Euro-Bund Futures   Long     1,150     June 2021   115,000       238,318       (696 )
10 Year U.S. Treasury Note Futures   Short     8,738     September 2021   $ (873,800 )     (1,152,870 )     760  
10 Year Ultra U.S. Treasury Note Futures   Short     13,275     September 2021     (1,327,500 )     (1,924,253 )     (970 )
20 Year U.S. Treasury Bond Futures   Long     1,991     September 2021     199,100       311,654       (80 )
30 Year Euro-Buxl Futures   Long     755     June 2021   75,500       185,039       (5,956 )
30 Year Ultra U.S. Treasury Bond Futures   Short     1,980     September 2021   $ (198,000 )     (366,795 )     (348 )
                                    $ (7,485 )

 

Forward currency contracts

 

Contract amount             Unrealized
appreciation
(depreciation)
 
Purchases
(000)
    Sales
(000)
    Counterparty Settlement
date
  at 5/31/2021
(000)
 
  MXN1,906,500       USD88,419     Morgan Stanley   6/10/2021     $ 7,149  
  MXN1,906,502       USD89,919     HSBC Bank   6/10/2021       5,650  
  USD48,085       COP171,036,905     Morgan Stanley   6/10/2021       1,995  
  MXN205,065       USD9,826     Morgan Stanley   6/10/2021       454  
  COP28,695,800       USD8,040     Barclays Bank PLC   6/10/2021       (307 )
  COP171,202,000       USD47,034     Morgan Stanley   6/10/2021       (900 )
  USD69,879       PHP3,419,900     JPMorgan Chase   6/10/2021       (1,667 )
  USD71,694       PHP3,508,000     HSBC Bank   6/10/2021       (1,695 )
  COP274,859,200       USD76,105     Citibank   6/10/2021       (2,039 )
  COP266,452,000       USD74,655     Barclays Bank PLC   6/10/2021       (2,855 )
  USD120,737       IDR1,779,900,000     Citibank   6/10/2021       (3,603 )
  USD96,729       MXN2,008,100     Morgan Stanley   6/10/2021       (3,932 )
  USD131,613       MXN2,708,200     Citibank   6/10/2021       (4,143 )
  CAD62,361       NZD70,800     Morgan Stanley   6/11/2021       334  
  USD43,242       CAD52,200     Morgan Stanley   6/11/2021       33  
  USD106,620       CAD128,878     Morgan Stanley   6/11/2021       (60 )
  USD53,727       CAD65,000     Morgan Stanley   6/11/2021       (78 )
  USD176,153       AUD223,900     Morgan Stanley   6/15/2021       3,534  
  USD741       GBP525     Morgan Stanley   6/15/2021       (4 )
  USD2,449       MXN49,000     Goldman Sachs   6/15/2021       (6 )
  USD12,014       SEK100,000     Morgan Stanley   6/15/2021       (30 )
  USD20,266       GBP14,357     Morgan Stanley   6/15/2021       (109 )
  JPY1,466,000       USD13,490     Bank of New York Mellon   6/15/2021       (141 )
  USD88,776       EUR72,981     Bank of New York Mellon   6/15/2021       (251 )
  USD25,209       CLP17,867,000     Standard Chartered Bank   6/21/2021       555  
  EUR19,007       MXN460,000     Goldman Sachs   6/21/2021       159  
  JPY1,992,700       EUR15,020     Bank of America   6/21/2021       (179 )
  JPY4,942,779       USD45,283     Goldman Sachs   6/21/2021       (272 )
  USD138,017       CNH888,800     Standard Chartered Bank   6/21/2021       (1,517 )
  USD77,171       JPY8,382,000     HSBC Bank   6/22/2021       842  
  RUB6,641,000       USD89,617     JPMorgan Chase   6/22/2021       727  
  USD9,320       CNH60,112     HSBC Bank   6/22/2021       (117 )
  USD28,743       KRW32,489,550     Citibank   6/22/2021       (421 )
  USD181,723       GBP128,375     Morgan Stanley   6/22/2021       (467 )
  USD40,599       EUR33,131     HSBC Bank   6/28/2021       173  
                          $ (3,188 )
                               
American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund 7
 

Swap contracts

 

Interest rate swaps

 

Receive   Pay   Expiration
date
  Notional
(000)
  Value at
5/31/2021
(000)
  Upfront
premium
paid (received)
(000)
  Unrealized
appreciation
(depreciation)
at 5/31/2021
(000)
 
1.5675%   3-month USD-LIBOR   8/17/2023   $270,000   $ 7,038     $ 11    $ 7,038  
0.207%   U.S. EFFR   2/26/2024   2,517,000     (2,706 )     30       (2,736 )
0.2505%   U.S. EFFR   3/1/2024   125,500     10       2       8  
U.S. EFFR   0.11%   5/18/2024   978,900     4,682       11      4,682  
6.23%   28-day MXN-TIIE   3/28/2025   MXN1,280,750     801       (44 )     845  
U.S. EFFR   0.126%   6/25/2025   $148,300     2,355       (1 )     2,356  
U.S. EFFR   0.1275%   6/25/2025   148,300     2,345       (1 )     2,346  
U.S. EFFR   0.106%   6/30/2025   165,539     2,792       (1 )     2,793  
3-month USD-LIBOR   1.867%   7/11/2025   274,100     (8,090 )     11      (8,090 )
(0.445)%   6-month EURIBOR   12/3/2025   €344,500     (2,812 )     2       (2,814 )
(0.452)%   6-month EURIBOR   12/3/2025   344,500     (2,947 )     2       (2,949 )
3-month SEK-STIBOR   0.154%   2/5/2026   SKr724,100     721       (60 )     781  
3-month SEK-STIBOR   0.159%   2/8/2026   726,200     710       (60 )     770  
3-month SEK-STIBOR   0.1625%   2/8/2026   722,800     692       (60 )     752  
6-month JPY-LIBOR   0.228%   2/8/2026   ¥4,250,000     (411 )     2       (413 )
3-month SEK-STIBOR   0.175%   2/9/2026   SKr1,134,200     1,007       (94 )     1,101  
3-month SEK-STIBOR   0.179%   2/9/2026   567,200     491       (47 )     538  
3-month SEK-STIBOR   0.185%   2/11/2026   568,700     476       (47 )     523  
3-month SEK-STIBOR   0.189%   2/11/2026   568,800     463       (47 )     510  
5.39%   28-day MXN-TIIE   3/6/2026   MXN300,000     (443 )     (13 )     (430 )
5.395%   28-day MXN-TIIE   3/6/2026   1,000,000     (1,467 )     (43 )     (1,424 )
5.43%   28-day MXN-TIIE   3/10/2026   540,000     (755 )     (23 )     (732 )
5.455%   28-day MXN-TIIE   3/11/2026   202,000     (272 )     (9 )     (263 )
5.4167%   28-day MXN-TIIE   3/11/2026   620,000     (887 )     (27 )     (860 )
5.55%   28-day MXN-TIIE   3/12/2026   200,000     (230 )     (9 )     (221 )
5.50%   28-day MXN-TIIE   3/12/2026   260,000     (326 )     (11 )     (315 )
5.6275%   28-day MXN-TIIE   3/12/2026   405,000     (397 )     (17 )     (380 )
5.63%   28-day MXN-TIIE   3/13/2026   205,000     (200 )     (9 )     (191 )
5.62%   28-day MXN-TIIE   3/13/2026   305,000     (304 )     (13 )     (291 )
5.6412%   28-day MXN-TIIE   3/13/2026   463,000     (441 )     (20 )     (421 )
6.20%   28-day MXN-TIIE   3/19/2026   182,000     44       (7 )     51  
6.17%   28-day MXN-TIIE   3/19/2026   184,000     33       (7 )     40  
6.105%   28-day MXN-TIIE   3/19/2026   176,000     6       (7 )     13  
6.08%   28-day MXN-TIIE   3/19/2026   188,000     (4 )     (8 )     4  
6.05%   28-day MXN-TIIE   3/19/2026   184,000     (16 )     (8 )     (8 )
6.03%   28-day MXN-TIIE   3/19/2026   840,000     (105 )     (34 )     (71 )
6.08%   28-day MXN-TIIE   3/20/2026   182,300     (3 )     (7 )     4  
5.815%   28-day MXN-TIIE   4/9/2026   455,000     (282 )     (19 )     (263 )
5.82%   28-day MXN-TIIE   4/9/2026   1,355,000     (823 )     (56 )     (767 )
5.73%   28-day MXN-TIIE   4/10/2026   666,700     (537 )     (28 )     (509 )
5.734%   28-day MXN-TIIE   4/10/2026   1,125,000     (896 )     (47 )     (849 )
3-month USD-LIBOR   0.64%   3/30/2027   $127,000     2,859       (2 )     2,861  
U.S. EFFR   2.045%   11/2/2027   33,700     (2,336 )     (5 )     (2,331 )
2.91%   3-month USD-LIBOR   2/1/2028   70,300     4,757       11      4,757  
2.908%   3-month USD-LIBOR   2/1/2028   70,300     4,750       11      4,750  
2.925%   3-month USD-LIBOR   2/1/2028   56,200     3,844       11      3,844  
2.92%   3-month USD-LIBOR   2/2/2028   53,200     3,623       11      3,623  
28-day MXN-TIIE   6.95%   3/22/2030   MXN775,250     (766 )     25       (791 )
U.S. EFFR   0.666%   11/19/2030   $118,200     7,078       (6 )     7,084  
3-month USD-LIBOR   1.83%   8/17/2031   58,000     (1,273 )     11      (1,273 )
3-month USD-LIBOR   2.986%   2/1/2038   33,900     (1,649 )     11      (1,649 )
3-month USD-LIBOR   2.9625%   2/1/2038   42,100     (1,965 )     11      (1,965 )
3-month USD-LIBOR   2.963%   2/1/2038   42,200     (1,971 )     11      (1,971 )
3-month USD-LIBOR   2.967%   2/2/2038   32,800     (1,543 )     11      (1,543 )
U.S. EFFR   0.6193%   4/6/2050   30,300     8,257       (1 )     8,258  
U.S. EFFR   0.60602%   4/6/2050   13,870     3,822       (1 )     3,823  
U.S. EFFR   0.61692%   4/6/2050   12,500     3,413       (1 )     3,414  
6-month EURIBOR   0.0897%   6/4/2050   €22,000     3,222       29       3,193  
1.1295%   3-month USD-LIBOR   10/19/2050   $27,400     (5,468 )     1       (5,469 )
6-month EURIBOR   0.0175%   12/3/2050   €57,050     9,874       72       9,802  
6-month EURIBOR   0.006%   12/3/2050   5,400     956       7       949  
   
8 American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund
 
Receive   Pay   Expiration
date
  Notional
(000)
  Value at
5/31/2021
(000)
  Upfront
premium
paid (received)
(000)
  Unrealized
appreciation
(depreciation)
at 5/31/2021
(000)
 
6-month EURIBOR   0.071%   1/14/2051   €    51,920   $ 8,045     $ 68     $ 7,977  
6-month EURIBOR   0.068%   1/15/2051   56,080     8,747       73       8,674  
                        $ (587 )   $ 56,175  

 

Credit default swaps

 

Centrally cleared credit default swaps on credit indices — buy protection

 

Receive   Pay/
Payment frequency
  Expiration
date
  Notional
(000)
  Value at
5/31/2021
(000)
  Upfront
premium
received
(000)
  Unrealized
depreciation
at 5/31/2021
(000)
 
CDX.NA.IG.36   1.00%/Quarterly   6/20/2026   $  3,008,655   $ (73,531 )   $    (65,241 )   $ (8,290 )

 

Investments in affiliates8

 

    Value of
affiliate at
12/1/2020
(000)
    Additions
(000)
    Reductions
(000)
    Net
realized
loss
(000)
    Net
unrealized
appreciation
(000)
    Value of
affiliate at
5/31/2021
(000)
    Dividend
income
(000)
 
Short-term securities 0.65%                                                        
Money market investments 0.65%                                                        
Capital Group Central Cash Fund 0.05%7   $ 357,194     $ 3,058,402     $ 3,343,785     $ 11    $ 11    $ 71,811     $ 152  
                                                         
1 All or a portion of this security was pledged as collateral. The total value of pledged collateral was $206,319,000, which represented 1.87% of the net assets of the fund.
2 Index-linked bond whose principal amount moves with a government price index.
3 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 $547,949,000, which represented 4.96% of the net assets of the fund.
4 Principal payments may be made periodically. Therefore, the effective maturity date may be earlier than the stated maturity date.
5 Coupon rate may change periodically. Reference rate and spread are as of the most recent information available. Some coupon rates are determined by the issuer or agent based on current market conditions; therefore, the reference rate and spread are not available.
6 Valued under fair value procedures adopted by authority of the board of trustees. The total value of the security was $34,117,000, which represented .31% of the net assets of the fund.
7 Rate represents the seven-day yield at 5/31/2021.
8 Part of the same group of investment companies as the fund as defined under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
9 Notional amount is calculated based on the number of contracts and notional contract size.
10 Value is calculated based on the notional amount and current market price.
11 Amount less than one thousand.

 

Key to abbreviations and symbols

AUD = Australian dollars

Auth. = Authority

CAD = Canadian dollars

CLO = Collateralized Loan Obligations

CLP = Chilean pesos

CNH/CNY = Chinese yuan renminbi

COP = Colombian pesos

EFFR = Effective Federal Funds Rate

EUR/€ = Euros

EURIBOR = Euro Interbank Offered Rate

Facs. = Facilities

Fin. = Finance

G.O. = General Obligation

GBP/£ = British pounds

IDR = Indonesian rupiah

JPY/¥ = Japanese yen

KRW = South Korean won

LIBOR = London Interbank Offered Rate

MXN = Mexican pesos

NZD = New Zealand dollars

PHP = Philippine pesos

Ref. = Refunding

Rev. = Revenue

RUB = Russian rubles

SEK/SKr = Swedish kronor

STIBOR = Stockholm Interbank Offered Rate

TIIE = Equilibrium Interbank Interest Rate

USD/$ = U.S. dollars

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

 American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund 9
 

Financial statements

 

Statement of assets and liabilities
at May 31, 2021
unaudited
(dollars in thousands)

 

Assets:                
Investment securities, at value:                
Unaffiliated issuers (cost: $10,223,639)   $ 10,916,511          
Affiliated issuers (cost: $71,810)     71,811     $ 10,988,322  
Cash denominated in currencies other than U.S. dollars (cost: $188)             188  
Unrealized appreciation on open forward currency contracts             21,605  
Receivables for:                
Sales of investments     3,295          
Sales of fund’s shares     44,258          
Dividends and interest     22,250          
Variation margin on futures contracts     3,157          
Variation margin on swap contracts     7,865          
Other     76       80,901  
              11,091,016  
                 
Liabilities:                
Unrealized depreciation on open forward currency contracts             24,793  
Payables for:                
Purchases of investments     18          
Repurchases of fund’s shares     5,338          
Investment advisory services     2,410          
Services provided by related parties     885          
Trustees’ deferred compensation     59          
Variation margin on futures contracts     9,551          
Variation margin on swap contracts     5,064          
Bank overdraft     2,088          
Other     122       25,535  
Net assets at May 31, 2021           $ 11,040,688  
                 
Net assets consist of:                
Capital paid in on shares of beneficial interest           $ 10,245,749  
Total distributable earnings             794,939  
Net assets at May 31, 2021           $ 11,040,688  

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

10 American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund
 
Statement of assets and liabilities
at May 31, 2021 (continued)
unaudited
(dollars and shares in thousands, except per-share amounts)

 

Shares of beneficial interest issued and outstanding (no stated par value) —
unlimited shares authorized (1,006,731 total shares outstanding)

 

          Shares     Net asset value  
    Net assets     outstanding     per share  
Class A   $ 1,410,550       129,231     $ 10.91  
Class C     50,110       4,631       10.82  
Class T     11       1       10.93  
Class F-1     201,160       18,433       10.91  
Class F-2     1,207,453       110,083       10.97  
Class F-3     654,935       59,834       10.95  
Class 529-A     52,352       4,794       10.92  
Class 529-C     2,009       184       10.90  
Class 529-E     2,577       238       10.85  
Class 529-T     12       1       10.93  
Class 529-F-1     13       1       10.96  
Class 529-F-2     7,735       709       10.92  
Class 529-F-3     10       1       10.91  
Class R-1     3,426       318       10.78  
Class R-2     11,398       1,062       10.73  
Class R-2E     1,954       179       10.89  
Class R-3     23,510       2,173       10.82  
Class R-4     55,979       5,132       10.91  
Class R-5E     14,088       1,289       10.93  
Class R-5     11,127       1,014       10.97  
Class R-6     7,330,279       667,423       10.98  

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund 11
 

Financial statements (continued)

 

Statement of operations
for the six months ended May 31, 2021
unaudited
(dollars in thousands)
     
Investment income:                
Income:                
Interest   $ 157,532          
Dividends from affiliated issuers     152     $ 157,684  
Fees and expenses*:                
Investment advisory services     12,705          
Distribution services     2,426          
Transfer agent services     1,113          
Administrative services     1,445          
Reports to shareholders     65          
Registration statement and prospectus     642          
Trustees’ compensation     26          
Auditing and legal     50          
Custodian     232          
Other     65          
Total fees and expenses before waiver/reimbursements     18,769          
Less waiver/reimbursements of fees and expenses:                
Investment advisory services waiver     3          
Transfer agent services reimbursements            
Total fees and expenses after waiver/reimbursements             18,766  
Net investment income             138,918  
                 
Net realized loss and unrealized appreciation:                
Net realized (loss) gain on:                
Investments:                
Unaffiliated issuers     (77,528 )        
Affiliated issuers            
Futures contracts     71,638          
Forward currency contracts     (19,706 )        
Swap contracts     (28,259 )        
Currency transactions     (348 )     (54,203 )
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:                
Investments:                
Unaffiliated issuers     3,525          
Affiliated issuers            
Futures contracts     (5,355 )        
Forward currency contracts     (2,069 )        
Swap contracts     60,924          
Currency translations     1       57,026  
Net realized loss and unrealized appreciation             2,823  
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations           $ 141,741  
   
* Additional information related to class-specific fees and expenses is included in the notes to financial statements.
Amount less than one thousand.

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

12 American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund
 

Financial statements (continued)

 

Statements of changes in net assets  
  (dollars in thousands)
   
    Six months ended     Year ended  
    May 31,     November 30,  
    2021*     2020  
Operations:                
Net investment income   $ 138,918     $ 103,953  
Net realized (loss) gain     (54,203 )     263,500  
Net unrealized appreciation     57,026       542,049  
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations     141,741       909,502  
                 
Distributions paid to shareholders     (331,461 )     (77,374 )
                 
Net capital share transactions     2,834,362       1,486,707  
                 
Total increase in net assets     2,644,642       2,318,835  
                 
Net assets:                
Beginning of period     8,396,046       6,077,211  
End of period   $ 11,040,688     $ 8,396,046  
   
* Unaudited.

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund 13
 
Notes to financial statements unaudited

 

1. Organization

 

American Funds Inflation Linked 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 inflation protection and income consistent with investment in inflation linked securities.

 

The fund has 21 share classes consisting of six retail share classes (Classes A, C, T, F-1, F-2 and F-3), seven 529 college savings plan share classes (Classes 529-A, 529-C, 529-E, 529-T, 529-F-1, 529-F-2 and 529-F-3) and eight retirement plan share classes (Classes R-1, R-2, R-2E, R-3, R-4, R-5E, 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 2.50%   None (except 1% for certain redemptions within 18 months of purchase without an initial sales charge)   None  
Classes C and 529-C*   None   1% for redemptions within one year of purchase   Class C converts to Class A after eight years and Class 529-C converts to Class 529-A after five years  
Class 529-E   None   None   None  
Classes T and 529-T*   Up to 2.50%   None   None  
Classes F-1, F-2, F-3, 529-F-1, 529-F-2 and 529-F-3   None   None   None  
Classes R-1, R-2, R-2E, R-3, R-4, R-5E, R-5 and R-6   None   None   None  
* Class C, T, 529-C and 529-T shares are not available for purchase.

 

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. Dividend income is recognized on the ex-dividend date and 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.

 

Class allocations — Income, fees and expenses (other than class-specific fees and expenses), realized gains and losses and unrealized appreciation and depreciation 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.

 

Distributions paid to shareholders — Income dividends and capital gain distributions are recorded on the ex-dividend date.

 

14 American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund
 

Currency translation — Assets and liabilities, including investment securities, denominated in currencies other than U.S. dollars are translated into U.S. dollars at the exchange rates supplied by one or more pricing vendors on the valuation date. Purchases and sales of investment securities and income and expenses are translated into U.S. dollars at the exchange rates on the dates of such transactions. The effects of changes in exchange rates on investment securities are included with the net realized gain or loss and net unrealized appreciation or depreciation on investments in the fund’s statement of operations. The realized gain or loss and unrealized appreciation or depreciation resulting from all other transactions denominated in currencies other than U.S. dollars are disclosed separately.

 

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 per share is calculated once daily as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange, normally 4 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 & loans; 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. The Capital Group Central Cash Fund (“CCF”), a fund within the Capital Group Central Fund Series (“Central Funds”), is valued based upon a floating net asset value, which fluctuates with changes in the value of CCF’s portfolio securities. The underlying securities are valued based on the policies and procedures in CCF’s statement of additional information.

 

Exchange-traded futures are generally valued at the official settlement price of the exchange or market on which such instruments are traded, as of the close of business on the day the futures are being valued. Forward currency contracts are valued based on the spot and forward exchange rates obtained from one or more pricing vendors. Interest rate swaps and credit default 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

 

  American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund 15
 

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.

 

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. 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. The following tables present the fund’s valuation levels as of May 31, 2021 (dollars in thousands):

 

    Investment securities
    Level 1     Level 2     Level 3     Total  
Assets:                                
Bonds, notes & other debt instruments:                                
U.S. Treasury bonds & notes   $     $ 9,167,151     $     $ 9,167,151  
Bonds & notes of governments & government agencies outside the U.S.           639,721             639,721  
Corporate bonds, notes & loans           561,197             561,197  
Asset-backed obligations           283,536             283,536  
Mortgage-backed obligations           160,785             160,785  
Municipals           104,121             104,121  
Short-term securities     71,811                   71,811  
Total   $ 71,811     $ 10,916,511     $     $ 10,988,322  
 
    Other investments*
    Level 1     Level 2     Level 3     Total  
Assets:                                
Unrealized appreciation on futures contracts   $ 7,636     $     $     $ 7,636  
Unrealized appreciation on open forward currency contracts           21,605             21,605  
Unrealized appreciation on interest rate swaps           98,164             98,164  
Liabilities:                                
Unrealized depreciation on futures contracts     (15,121 )                 (15,121 )
Unrealized depreciation on open forward currency contracts           (24,793 )           (24,793 )
Unrealized depreciation on interest rate swaps           (41,989 )           (41,989 )
Unrealized depreciation on credit default swaps           (8,290 )           (8,290 )
Total   $ (7,485 )   $ 44,697     $     $ 37,212  
   
* Futures contracts, forward currency contracts, interest rate swaps and credit default swaps are not included in the investment portfolio.
   
16 American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund
 

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, governmental agency or central bank responses to economic conditions; and currency exchange rate, interest rate and commodity price fluctuations.

 

Economies and financial markets throughout the world are highly interconnected. Economic, financial or political events, trading and tariff arrangements, wars, terrorism, cybersecurity events, natural disasters, public health emergencies (such as the spread of infectious disease) and other circumstances in one country or region, including actions taken by governmental or quasi-governmental authorities in response to any of the foregoing, could have impacts on global economies or markets. As a result, whether or not the fund invests in securities of issuers located in or with significant exposure to the countries affected, the value and liquidity of the fund’s investments may be negatively affected by developments in other countries and regions.

 

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, major litigation, investigations or other controversies related to the issuer, changes in government regulations affecting the issuer or its competitive environment 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 factors such as the interest rates, maturities and credit ratings of these securities.

 

Rising interest rates will generally cause the prices of bonds and other debt securities to fall. A general rise in interest rates may cause investors to sell debt securities on a large scale, which could also adversely affect the price and liquidity of debt securities and could also result in increased redemptions from the fund. 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 failing to recoup the full amount of its initial investment and 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 or guarantor will weaken or be perceived to be weaker, 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. A downgrade or default affecting any of the fund’s securities could cause the value of the fund’s shares to decrease. 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 assess credit and default risks.

 

Investing in inflation-linked bonds — The values of inflation-linked bonds generally fluctuate in response to changes in real interest rates — i.e., rates of interest after factoring in inflation. A rise in real interest rates may cause the prices of inflation-linked securities to fall, while a decline in real interest rates may cause the prices to increase. Inflation-linked bonds may experience greater losses than other debt securities with similar durations when real interest rates rise faster than nominal interest rates. There can be no assurance that the value of an inflation-linked security will be directly correlated to changes in interest rates; for example, if interest rates rise for reasons other than inflation, the increase may not be reflected in the security’s inflation measure.

 

Investing in inflation-linked bonds may also reduce the fund’s distributable income during periods of deflation. If prices for goods and services decline throughout the economy, the principal and income on inflation-linked securities may decline and result in losses to the 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 and the credit rating of the U.S. government. 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.

 

  American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund 17
 

Liquidity risk — Certain fund holdings may be or may become difficult or impossible to sell, particularly during times of market turmoil. Liquidity may be impacted by the lack of an active market for a holding, legal or contractual restrictions on resale, or the reduced number and capacity of market participants to make a market in such holding. Market prices for less liquid or illiquid holdings may be volatile, and reduced liquidity may have an adverse impact on the market price of such holdings. Additionally, the sale of less liquid or illiquid holdings may involve substantial delays (including delays in settlement) and additional costs and the fund may be unable to sell such holdings when necessary to meet its liquidity needs or may be forced to sell at a loss.

 

Investing in derivatives — The use of derivatives involves a variety of risks, which may be different from, or greater than, the risks associated with investing in traditional securities, such as stocks and bonds. Changes in the value of a derivative may not correlate perfectly with, and may be more sensitive to market events than, the underlying asset, rate or index, and a derivative instrument may expose the fund to losses in excess of its initial investment. Derivatives may be difficult to value, difficult for the fund to buy or sell at an opportune time or price and difficult, or even impossible, to terminate or otherwise offset. The fund’s use of derivatives may result in losses to the fund, and investing in derivatives may reduce the fund’s returns and increase the fund’s price volatility. The fund’s counterparty to a derivative transaction (including, if applicable, the fund’s clearing broker, the derivatives exchange or the clearinghouse) may be unable or unwilling to honor its financial obligations in respect of the transaction. In certain cases, the fund may be hindered or delayed in exercising remedies against or closing out derivative instruments with a counterparty, which may result in additional losses.

 

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 nationalization, currency blockage or the imposition of price controls or punitive taxes, each of which could adversely impact the value of these securities. 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.

 

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, including models, tools and data, employed by the investment adviser in this process may be flawed or incorrect and 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.

 

Futures contracts — The fund has entered into futures contracts, which provide for the future sale by one party and purchase by another party of a specified amount of a specific financial instrument for a specified price, date, time and place designated at the time the contract is made. Futures contracts are used to strategically manage the fund’s interest rate sensitivity by increasing or decreasing the duration of the fund or a portion of the fund’s portfolio.

 

Upon entering into futures contracts, and to maintain the fund’s open positions in futures contracts, the fund is required to deposit with a futures broker, known as a futures commission merchant (“FCM”), in a segregated account in the name of the FCM an amount of cash, U.S. government securities or other liquid securities, known as initial margin. The margin required for a particular futures contract is set by the exchange on which the contract is traded to serve as collateral, and may be significantly modified from time to time by the exchange during the term of the contract.

 

On a daily basis, the fund pays or receives variation margin based on the increase or decrease in the value of the futures contracts and records variation margin on futures contracts in the statement of assets and liabilities. In addition, the fund segregates liquid assets equivalent to the fund’s outstanding obligations under the contract in excess of the initial margin and variation margin, if any. Futures contracts may involve a risk of loss in excess of the variation margin shown on the fund’s statement of assets and liabilities. The fund records realized gains or losses at the time the futures contract is closed or expires. Net realized gains or losses and net unrealized

 

18 American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund
 

appreciation or depreciation from futures contracts are recorded in the fund’s statement of operations. The average month-end notional amount of futures contracts while held was $12,712,886,000.

 

Forward currency contracts — The fund has entered into forward currency contracts, which represent agreements to exchange currencies on specific future dates at predetermined rates. The fund’s investment adviser uses forward currency contracts to manage the fund’s exposure to changes in exchange rates. Upon entering into these contracts, risks may arise from the potential inability of counterparties to meet the terms of their contracts and from possible movements in exchange rates.

 

On a daily basis, the fund’s investment adviser values forward currency contracts and records unrealized appreciation or depreciation for open forward currency contracts in the fund’s statement of assets and liabilities. Realized gains or losses are recorded at the time the forward currency contract is closed or offset by another contract with the same broker for the same settlement date and currency.

 

Closed forward currency contracts that have not reached their settlement date are included in the respective receivables or payables for closed forward currency contracts in the fund’s statement of assets and liabilities. Net realized gains or losses from closed forward currency contracts and net unrealized appreciation or depreciation from open forward currency contracts are recorded in the fund’s statement of operations. The average month-end notional amount of open forward currency contracts while held was $1,399,978,000.

 

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 seek 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.

 

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 average month-end notional amount of interest rate swaps while held was $16,811,742,000.

 

Credit default swap indices — The fund has entered into centrally cleared credit default swap agreements on credit indices (“CDSI”) that involve one party (the protection buyer) making a stream of payments to another party (the protection seller) in exchange for the right to receive a specified return upon the occurrence of a credit event, such as a default or restructuring, with respect to any of the underlying issuers (reference obligations) in the referenced index. The fund’s investment adviser uses credit default swaps to assume exposure to a diversified portfolio of credits or to hedge against existing credit risks.

 

CDSI are portfolios of credit instruments or exposures designed to be representative of some part of the credit market, such as the high-yield or investment-grade credit market. CDSI are generally traded using standardized terms, including a fixed spread and standard maturity dates, and reference all the names in the index. If there is a credit event, it is settled based on that name’s weight in the index. The composition of the underlying issuers or obligations within a particular index may change periodically, usually every six months. A specified credit event may affect all or individual underlying reference obligations included in the index, and will be settled based upon the relative weighting of the affected obligation(s) within the index. The value of each CDSI can be used as a measure of the current payment/performance risk of the CDSI and represents the likelihood of an expected liability or profit should the notional amount of the CDSI be closed or sold as of the period end. An increasing value, as compared to the notional amount of the CDSI, represents a deterioration of the referenced indices’ credit soundness and a greater likelihood of risk of default or other credit event occurring as defined under the terms of the agreement. When the fund provides sell protection, its maximum exposure is the notional amount of the credit default swap agreement.

 

Upon entering into a centrally cleared CDSI contract, the fund is required to deposit with a derivatives clearing member (“DCM”) in a segregated account in the name of the DCM an amount of cash, U.S. government securities or other liquid securities, which is known as initial margin. Generally, the initial margin required for a particular credit default swap is set and held as collateral by the clearinghouse on

 

  American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund 19
 

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, interest accruals related to the exchange of future payments are recorded 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 CDSI, and records variation margin 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 swap is closed or expires. Net realized gains or losses, as well as any net unrealized appreciation or depreciation, from credit default swaps are recorded in the fund’s statement of operations. The average month-end notional amount of credit default swaps while held was $1,575,497,000.

 

The following tables identify the location and fair value amounts on the fund’s statement of assets and liabilities and the effect on the fund’s statement of operations resulting from the fund’s use of futures contracts, forward currency contracts, interest rate swaps and credit default swaps as of, or for the six months ended, May 31, 2021 (dollars in thousands):

 

        Assets     Liabilities  
Contracts   Risk type   Location on statement of
assets and liabilities
Value     Location on statement of
assets and liabilities
Value  
Futures   Interest   Unrealized appreciation*   $ 7,636     Unrealized depreciation*   $ 15,121  
Forward currency   Currency   Unrealized appreciation on open forward currency contracts     21,605     Unrealized depreciation on open forward currency contracts     24,793  
Swap   Interest   Unrealized appreciation*     98,164     Unrealized depreciation*     41,989  
Swap   Credit   Unrealized appreciation*         Unrealized depreciation*     8,290  
            $ 127,405         $ 90,193  
                         
        Net realized gain (loss)     Net unrealized (depreciation) appreciation  
Contracts   Risk type   Location on statement of operations Value     Location on statement of operations Value  
Futures   Interest   Net realized gain on futures contracts   $ 71,638     Net unrealized depreciation on futures contracts   $ (5,355 )
Forward currency   Currency   Net realized loss on forward currency contracts     (19,706 )   Net unrealized depreciation on forward currency contracts     (2,069 )
Swap   Interest   Net realized loss on swap contracts     (19,553 )   Net unrealized appreciation on swap contracts     68,648  
Swap   Credit   Net realized loss on swap contracts     (8,706 )   Net unrealized depreciation on swap contracts     (7,724 )
            $ 23,673         $ 53,500  
   
* Includes cumulative appreciation/depreciation on futures contracts, interest rate swaps and credit default swaps as reported in the applicable tables following the fund’s investment portfolio. Only current day’s variation margin is reported within the statement of assets and liabilities.

 

Collateral — The fund receives or pledges highly liquid assets, such as cash or U.S. government securities, as collateral due to its use of futures contracts, forward currency contracts, interest rate swaps and credit default swaps. For futures contracts, interest rate swaps and credit default swaps, the fund pledges collateral for initial and variation margin by contract. For forward currency contracts, the fund either receives or pledges collateral based on the net gain or loss on unsettled forward currency contracts by counterparty. The purpose of the collateral is to cover potential losses that could occur in the event that either party cannot meet its contractual obligation. Non-cash collateral pledged by the fund, if any, is disclosed in the fund’s investment portfolio, and cash collateral pledged by the fund, if any, is held in a segregated account with the fund’s custodian, which is reflected as pledged cash collateral in the fund’s statement of assets and liabilities.

 

Rights of offset — The fund has entered into enforceable master netting agreements with certain counterparties for forward currency contracts, where on any date amounts payable by each party to the other (in the same currency with respect to the same transaction) may be closed or offset by each party’s payment obligation. If an early termination date occurs under these agreements following an event of default or termination event, all obligations of each party to its counterparty are settled net through a single payment in a single currency (“close-out netting”). For financial reporting purposes, the fund does not offset financial assets and financial liabilities that are subject to these master netting arrangements in the statement of assets and liabilities.

 

20 American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund
 

The following table presents the fund’s forward currency contracts by counterparty that are subject to master netting agreements but that are not offset in the fund’s statement of assets and liabilities. The net amount column shows the impact of offsetting on the fund’s statement of assets and liabilities as of May 31, 2021, if close-out netting was exercised (dollars in thousands):

 

            Gross amounts not offset in the        
    Gross amounts     statement of assets and liabilities and        
    recognized in the     subject to a master netting agreement        
    statement of assets     Available     Non-cash     Cash     Net  
Counterparty   and liabilities     to offset     collateral*     collateral*     amount  
Assets:                                        
Goldman Sachs   $ 159     $ (159 )   $     $     $  
HSBC Bank     6,665       (1,812 )     (3,344 )     (1,370 )     139  
JPMorgan Chase     727       (727 )                  
Morgan Stanley     13,499       (5,580 )           (6,540 )     1,379  
Standard Chartered Bank     555       (555 )                  
Total   $ 21,605     $ (8,833 )   $ (3,344 )   $ (7,910 )   $ 1,518  
Liabilities:                                        
Bank of America   $ 179     $     $     $     $ 179  
Bank of New York Mellon     392             (392 )            
Barclays Bank PLC     3,162             (3,162 )            
Citibank     10,206             (10,206 )            
Goldman Sachs     278       (159 )                 119  
HSBC Bank     1,812       (1,812 )                  
JPMorgan Chase     1,667       (727 )     (632 )           308  
Morgan Stanley     5,580       (5,580 )                  
Standard Chartered Bank     1,517       (555 )     (440 )           522  
Total   $ 24,793     $ (8,833 )   $ (14,832 )   $     $ 1,128  
   
* Collateral is shown on a settlement basis.

 

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, 2021, 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 significant interest or penalties.

 

The fund’s tax returns are generally not subject to examination by federal, state and, if applicable, non-U.S. tax authorities after the expiration of each jurisdiction’s statute of limitations, which is typically three years after the date of filing but can be extended in certain jurisdictions.

 

Non-U.S. taxation — Dividend and interest income are recorded net of non-U.S. taxes paid. The fund may file withholding tax reclaims in certain jurisdictions to recover a portion of amounts previously withheld. These reclaims are recorded when the amount is known and there are no significant uncertainties on collectability. Gains realized by the fund on the sale of securities in certain countries, if any, may be subject to non-U.S. taxes. If applicable, the fund records an estimated deferred tax liability based on unrealized gains to provide for potential non-U.S. taxes payable upon the sale of these securities.

 

Distributions — Distributions determined on a tax basis 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 currency gains and losses; short-term capital gains and losses; capital losses related to sales of certain securities within 30 days of purchase; cost of investments sold and income on certain investments. 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.

 

  American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund 21
 

The components of distributable earnings on a tax basis are reported as of the fund’s most recent year-end. As of November 30, 2020, the components of distributable earnings on a tax basis were as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

Undistributed ordinary income   $ 281,722  
Undistributed long-term capital gains     32,307  

 

As of May 31, 2021, the tax basis unrealized appreciation (depreciation) and cost of investments were as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

Gross unrealized appreciation on investments   $ 835,202  
Gross unrealized depreciation on investments     (110,457 )
Net unrealized appreciation on investments     724,745  
Cost of investments     10,366,617  

 

Distributions paid were characterized for tax purposes as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

    Six months ended May 31, 2021     Year ended November 30, 2020  
                Total                 Total  
    Ordinary     Long-term     distributions     Ordinary     Long-term     distributions  
Share class   income     capital gains     paid     income     capital gains     paid  
Class A   $ 35,040     $ 4,083     $ 39,123     $ 6,152     $     $ 6,152  
Class C     544       75       619       15             15  
Class T     *     *     *     *           *
Class F-1     4,888       547       5,435       299             299  
Class F-2     28,356       3,082       31,438       5,134             5,134  
Class F-3     13,146       1,405       14,551       2,645             2,645  
Class 529-A     1,357       160       1,517       245             245  
Class 529-C     31       6       37       5             5  
Class 529-E     78       9       87       9             9  
Class 529-T     *     *     *     *           *
Class 529-F-1     *     *     *     54             54  
Class 529-F-2     226       25       251                    
Class 529-F-3     *     *     *                  
Class R-1     108       12       120       *           *
Class R-2     269       38       307       19             19  
Class R-2E     41       6       47       11             11  
Class R-3     599       73       672       75             75  
Class R-4     511       59       570       88             88  
Class R-5E     275       30       305       49             49  
Class R-5     260       28       288       44             44  
Class R-6     213,300       22,794       236,094       62,530             62,530  
Total   $ 299,029     $ 32,432     $ 331,461     $ 77,374     $     $ 77,374  
   
* Amount less than one thousand.
Class 529-F-2 and 529-F-3 shares began investment operations on October 30, 2020.

 

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 a series of decreasing annual rates beginning with 0.360% on the first $500 million of daily net assets and decreasing to 0.240% on such assets in excess of $6.5 billion. During the six months ended May 31, 2021, CRMC waived investment advisory services fees of $3,000. CRMC does not intend to recoup this waiver. As a result, the fees shown on the statement of operations of $12,705,000 were reduced to $12,702,000, both of which were equivalent to an annualized rate of 0.264% of average daily net assets.

 

22 American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund
 

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, F-3, 529-F-2, 529-F-3, R-5E, 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.

 

Share class   Currently approved limits   Plan limits
Class A     0.30 %     0.30 %
Class 529-A     0.50       0.50  
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 T, F-1, 529-T, 529-F-1 and R-4     0.25       0.50  

 

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 limits are not exceeded. As of May 31, 2021, unreimbursed expenses subject to reimbursement totaled $1,197,000 for Class A shares. There were no unreimbursed expenses subject to reimbursement for Class 529-A shares.

 

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. For the six months ended May 31, 2021, CRMC reimbursed transfer agent services fees of less than $1,000 total for Class 529-F-2, 529-F-3 and R-2E shares. CRMC does not intend to recoup these reimbursements.

 

Administrative services — The fund has an administrative services agreement with CRMC under which the fund compensates CRMC for providing administrative services to all share classes. Administrative services are provided by CRMC and its affiliates to help assist third parties providing non-distribution services to fund shareholders. These services include providing in-depth information on the fund and market developments that impact fund investments. Administrative services also include, but are not limited to, coordinating, monitoring and overseeing third parties that provide services to fund shareholders. The agreement provides the fund the ability to charge an administrative services fee at the annual rate of 0.05% of the average daily net assets attributable to each share class of the fund. Currently the fund pays CRMC an administrative services fee at the annual rate of 0.03% of the average daily net assets attributable to each share class of the fund for CRMC’s provision of administrative services.

 

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 CollegeAmerica 529 college savings plan. The fee is based on the combined net assets invested in Class 529 and ABLE shares of the American Funds. Class ABLE shares are offered on other American Funds by Virginia529 through ABLEAmerica®, a tax-advantaged savings program for individuals with disabilities. The quarterly fee is based on a series of decreasing annual rates beginning with 0.09% on the first $20 billion of the combined net assets invested in the American Funds and decreasing to 0.03% on such assets in excess of $100 billion. The fee for any given calendar quarter is accrued and calculated on the basis of the average net assets of Class 529 and ABLE 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.

 

American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund 23
 

For the six months ended May 31, 2021, 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     $1,815       $483       $182     Not applicable  
  Class C     171       13       5     Not applicable  
  Class T           *     *   Not applicable  
  Class F-1     218       94       26     Not applicable  
  Class F-2     Not applicable       428       146     Not applicable  
  Class F-3     Not applicable       4       74     Not applicable  
  Class 529-A     51       17       7     $14  
  Class 529-C     9       1       *   *
  Class 529-E     6       *     *   1  
  Class 529-T           *     *   *
  Class 529-F-1           *     *   *
  Class 529-F-2     Not applicable       2       1     2  
  Class 529-F-3     Not applicable       *     *   *
  Class R-1     16       3       1     Not applicable  
  Class R-2     39       17       2     Not applicable  
  Class R-2E     5       2       *   Not applicable  
  Class R-3     50       15       3     Not applicable  
  Class R-4     46       15       6     Not applicable  
  Class R-5E     Not applicable       7       1     Not applicable  
  Class R-5     Not applicable       3       2     Not applicable  
  Class R-6     Not applicable       9       989     Not applicable  
  Total class-specific expenses     $2,426       $1,113       $1,445     $17  
     
  * 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 of $26,000 in the fund’s statement of operations reflects $16,000 in current fees (either paid in cash or deferred) and a net increase of $10,000 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.

 

Investment in CCF — The fund holds shares of CCF, an institutional prime money market fund managed by CRMC. CCF invests in high-quality, short-term money market instruments. CCF is used as the primary investment vehicle for the fund’s short-term investments. CCF shares are only available for purchase by CRMC, its affiliates, and other funds managed by CRMC or its affiliates, and are not available to the public. CRMC does not receive an investment advisory services fee from CCF.

 

Security transactions with related funds — The fund may purchase securities from, or sell securities to, other funds managed by CRMC (or funds managed by certain affiliates of CRMC) under procedures adopted by the fund’s board of trustees. The funds involved in such transactions are considered related by virtue of having a common investment adviser (or affiliated investment advisers), common trustees and/or common officers. When such transactions occur, each transaction is executed at the current market price of the security and no brokerage commissions or fees are paid in accordance with Rule 17a-7 of the 1940 Act. During the six months ended May 31, 2021, the fund did not engage in any such purchase or sale transactions with any related funds.

 

Interfund lending — Pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the SEC, the fund, along with other CRMC-managed funds (or funds managed by certain affiliates of CRMC), may participate in an interfund lending program. The program provides an alternate credit facility that permits the funds to lend or borrow cash for temporary purposes directly to or from one another, subject to the conditions of the exemptive order. The fund did not lend or borrow cash through the interfund lending program at any time during the six months ended May 31, 2021.

 

24 American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund
 

8. Indemnifications

 

The fund’s organizational documents provide board members and officers with indemnification against certain liabilities or expenses in connection with the performance of their duties to the fund. In the normal course of business, the fund may also enter into contracts that provide general indemnifications. The fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown since it is dependent on future claims that may be made against the fund. The risk of material loss from such claims is considered remote. Insurance policies are also available to the fund’s board members and officers.

 

9. Capital share transactions

 

Capital share transactions in the fund were as follows (dollars and shares in thousands):

 

    Sales1     Reinvestments of
distributions
    Repurchases1     Net increase  
Share class   Amount     Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount     Shares  
                                             
Six months ended May 31, 2021                                            
                                             
Class A   $ 476,610       43,983     $ 38,953       3,591     $ (131,434 )     (12,167 )   $ 384,129       35,407  
Class C     38,356       3,575       617       57       (6,747 )     (630 )     32,226       3,002  
Class T                                                
Class F-1     141,240       13,038       5,426       500       (76,296 )     (7,048 )     70,370       6,490  
Class F-2     666,328       61,251       31,163       2,862       (261,040 )     (24,044 )     436,451       40,069  
Class F-3     342,544       31,633       13,755       1,266       (51,727 )     (4,780 )     304,572       28,119  
Class 529-A     15,390       1,419       1,517       140       (5,711 )     (526 )     11,196       1,033  
Class 529-C     941       87       36       3       (431 )     (40 )     546       50  
Class 529-E     596       56       87       8       (367 )     (34 )     316       30  
Class 529-T                 2     2                 2     2
Class 529-F-1                 2     2                 2     2
Class 529-F-2     1,754       162       251       23       (866 )     (79 )     1,139       106  
Class 529-F-3                 2     2                 2     2
Class R-1     570       53       119       11       (442 )     (40 )     247       24  
Class R-2     4,678       438       306       29       (2,879 )     (271 )     2,105       196  
Class R-2E     1,155       107       46       4       (598 )     (55 )     603       56  
Class R-3     10,721       995       669       62       (5,413 )     (504 )     5,977       553  
Class R-4     43,852       4,062       570       53       (3,819 )     (354 )     40,603       3,761  
Class R-5E     7,478       690       305       28       (1,596 )     (147 )     6,187       571  
Class R-5     4,636       426       288       26       (1,742 )     (158 )     3,182       294  
Class R-6     1,440,259       132,470       236,098       21,660       (141,844 )     (13,040 )     1,534,513       141,090  
Total net increase (decrease)   $ 3,197,108       294,445     $ 330,206       30,323     $ (692,952 )     (63,917 )   $ 2,834,362       260,851  

 

See end of table for footnotes.

 

American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund 25
 
    Sales1     Reinvestments of
distributions
    Repurchases1     Net (decrease)
increase
 
Share class   Amount     Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount     Shares  
                                                                 
Year ended November 30, 2020                                            
                                                                 
Class A   $ 461,575       42,754     $ 6,118       622     $ (166,438 )     (15,841 )   $ 301,255       27,535  
Class C     12,290       1,148       15       2       (7,075 )     (666 )     5,230       484  
Class T                                                
Class F-1     126,517       11,552       299       30       (31,790 )     (2,964 )     95,026       8,618  
Class F-2     523,987       48,447       5,063       513       (229,864 )     (21,837 )     299,186       27,123  
Class F-3     185,111       17,065       2,395       243       (64,576 )     (6,191 )     122,930       11,117  
Class 529-A     19,615       1,838       245       25       (7,668 )     (729 )     12,192       1,134  
Class 529-C     825       78       5       1       (2,086 )     (197 )     (1,256 )     (118 )
Class 529-E     1,303       123       9       1       (290 )     (28 )     1,022       96  
Class 529-T                 2     2                 2     2
Class 529-F-1     2,546       239       54       5       (8,088 )     (737 )     (5,488 )     (493 )
Class 529-F-23     6,747       612                   (100 )     (9 )     6,647       603  
Class 529-F-33     10       1                               10       1  
Class R-1     3,179       287       2     2     (300 )     (29 )     2,879       258  
Class R-2     6,409       611       19       2       (3,148 )     (300 )     3,280       313  
Class R-2E     795       74       10       1       (1,205 )     (117 )     (400 )     (42 )
Class R-3     11,811       1,112       75       8       (5,208 )     (499 )     6,678       621  
Class R-4     10,060       944       88       9       (4,464 )     (425 )     5,684       528  
Class R-5E     8,175       770       49       5       (4,841 )     (452 )     3,383       323  
Class R-5     5,574       522       44       4       (1,573 )     (150 )     4,045       376  
Class R-6     1,575,028       146,847       62,530       6,335       (1,013,154 )     (96,809 )     624,404       56,373  
Total net increase (decrease)   $ 2,961,557       275,024     $ 77,018       7,806     $ (1,551,868 )     (147,980 )   $ 1,486,707       134,850  
   
1 Includes exchanges between share classes of the fund.
2 Amount less than one thousand.
3 Class 529-F-2 and 529-F-3 shares began investment operations on October 30, 2020.

 

10. Investment transactions

 

The fund made purchases and sales of investment securities, excluding short-term securities and U.S. government obligations, if any, of $672,867,000 and $227,915,000, respectively, during the six months ended May 31, 2021.

 

11. Ownership concentration

 

At May 31, 2021, three shareholders held more than 10% of the fund’s outstanding shares. The three shareholders were American Funds 2025 Target Date Retirement Fund, American Funds 2030 Target Date Retirement Fund and American Funds 2020 Target Date Retirement Fund, with aggregate ownership of the fund’s outstanding shares of 16%, 14% and 12%, respectively. CRMC is the investment adviser to the three target date retirement funds.

 

26 American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund
 

Financial highlights

 

          Income (loss) from
investment operations1
    Dividends and distributions                                      
Period ended   Net asset
value,
beginning
of period
    Net
investment
income
    Net (losses)
gains 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     Net assets,
end of period
(in millions)
    Ratio of
expenses to
average net
assets before
waivers/
reimbursements4
    Ratio of
expenses to
average net
assets after
waivers/
reimbursements3,4
    Ratio of
net income
to average
net assets3
 
Class A:                                                                                              
5/31/20215,6   $ 11.19     $ .14     $ (.01 )   $ .13     $ (.22 )   $ (.19 )   $ (.41 )   $ 10.91       1.16 %7    $ 1,411       .70 %8      .70 %8      2.58 % 
11/30/2020     9.89       .13       1.26       1.39       (.09 )           (.09 )     11.19       14.22       1,050       .70       .70       1.23  
11/30/2019     9.54       .16       .44       .60       (.21 )     (.04 )     (.25 )     9.89       6.43       656       .72       .72       1.61  
11/30/2018     9.77       .22       (.31 )     (.09 )     (.11 )     (.03 )     (.14 )     9.54       (.86 )     635       .71       .71       2.25  
11/30/2017     9.70       .19       (.03 )     .16       (.09 )           (.09 )     9.77       1.64       533       .73       .73       1.96  
11/30/2016     9.45       .13       .24       .37       (.04 )     (.08 )     (.12 )     9.70       3.94       267       .75       .74       1.31  
Class C:                                                                                              
5/31/20215,6     11.08       .13       (.04 )     .09       (.16 )     (.19 )     (.35 )     10.82       .84 7      50       1.39 8      1.39 8      2.37 8 
11/30/2020     9.78       .05       1.26       1.31       (.01 )           (.01 )     11.08       13.44       18       1.40       1.40       .47  
11/30/2019     9.42       .08       .45       .53       (.13 )     (.04 )     (.17 )     9.78       5.67       11       1.44       1.44       .82  
11/30/2018     9.64       .14       (.29 )     (.15 )     (.04 )     (.03 )     (.07 )     9.42       (1.55 )     14       1.45       1.45       1.49  
11/30/2017     9.60       .11       (.02 )     .09       (.05 )           (.05 )     9.64       .90       15       1.48       1.48       1.19  
11/30/2016     9.39       .06       .24       .30       (.01 )     (.08 )     (.09 )     9.60       3.15       10       1.49       1.48       .60  
Class T:                                                                                              
5/31/20215,6     11.21       .14       .01       .15       (.24 )     (.19 )     (.43 )     10.93       1.36 7,9      10      .41 8,9      .41 8,9      2.67 8,9 
11/30/2020     9.90       .15       1.28       1.43       (.12 )           (.12 )     11.21       14.51 9      10      .41 9      .41 9      1.44 9 
11/30/2019     9.55       .18       .44       .62       (.23 )     (.04 )     (.27 )     9.90       6.81 9      10      .44 9      .44 9      1.90 9 
11/30/2018     9.78       .24       (.30 )     (.06 )     (.14 )     (.03 )     (.17 )     9.55       (.63) 9      10      .47 9      .47 9      2.46 9 
11/30/20175,11     9.70       .15       (.07 )     .08                         9.78       .82 7,9      10      .46 8,9      .46 8,9      2.29 8,9 
Class F-1:                                                                                              
5/31/20215,6     11.21       .15       (.03 )     .12       (.23 )     (.19 )     (.42 )     10.91       1.11 7      201       .67 8      .67 8      2.70 8 
11/30/2020     9.89       .18       1.23       1.41       (.09 )           (.09 )     11.21       14.26       134       .67       .67       1.67  
11/30/2019     9.53       .16       .44       .60       (.20 )     (.04 )     (.24 )     9.89       6.54       33       .72       .72       1.60  
11/30/2018     9.76       .21       (.29 )     (.08 )     (.12 )     (.03 )     (.15 )     9.53       (.85 )     39       .73       .73       2.17  
11/30/2017     9.70       .19       (.04 )     .15       (.09 )           (.09 )     9.76       1.57       49       .75       .75       1.95  
11/30/2016     9.45       .18       .19       .37       (.04 )     (.08 )     (.12 )     9.70       3.93       29       .70       .70       1.82  
Class F-2:                                                                                              
5/31/20215,6     11.26       .16       (.01 )     .15       (.25 )     (.19 )     (.44 )     10.97       1.30 7      1,208       .40 8      .40 8      2.96 8 
11/30/2020     9.94       .17       1.27       1.44       (.12 )           (.12 )     11.26       14.54       788       .41       .41       1.55  
11/30/2019     9.59       .17       .46       .63       (.24 )     (.04 )     (.28 )     9.94       6.81       426       .44       .44       1.75  
11/30/2018     9.81       .25       (.30 )     (.05 )     (.14 )     (.03 )     (.17 )     9.59       (.54 )     518       .46       .46       2.55  
11/30/2017     9.73       .22       (.04 )     .18       (.10 )           (.10 )     9.81       1.88       339       .49       .49       2.21  
11/30/2016     9.47       .18       .21       .39       (.05 )     (.08 )     (.13 )     9.73       4.16       207       .46       .46       1.86  
Class F-3:                                                                                              
5/31/20215,6     11.24       .17       (.02 )     .15       (.25 )     (.19 )     (.44 )     10.95       1.37 7      655       .32 8      .32 8      3.21 8 
11/30/2020     9.93       .17       1.27       1.44       (.13 )           (.13 )     11.24       14.69       356       .33       .32       1.64  
11/30/2019     9.57       .20       .44       .64       (.24 )     (.04 )     (.28 )     9.93       6.89       204       .36       .34       2.08  
11/30/2018     9.80       .25       (.31 )     (.06 )     (.14 )     (.03 )     (.17 )     9.57       (.56 )     133       .39       .39       2.57  
11/30/20175,12     9.66       .20       (.06 )     .14                         9.80       1.45 7      99       .38 8      .38 8      2.45 8 
Class 529-A:                                                                                              
5/31/20215,6     11.19       .14       (.01 )     .13       (.21 )     (.19 )     (.40 )     10.92       1.20 7      52       .67 8      .67 8      2.55 8 
11/30/2020     9.89       .13       1.26       1.39       (.09 )           (.09 )     11.19       14.10       42       .73       .73       1.20  
11/30/2019     9.54       .16       .44       .60       (.21 )     (.04 )     (.25 )     9.89       6.57       26       .72       .72       1.65  
11/30/2018     9.77       .22       (.30 )     (.08 )     (.12 )     (.03 )     (.15 )     9.54       (.84 )     24       .71       .71       2.30  
11/30/2017     9.71       .19       (.04 )     .15       (.09 )           (.09 )     9.77       1.58       16       .72       .72       1.97  
11/30/2016     9.45       .14       .25       .39       (.05 )     (.08 )     (.13 )     9.71       4.10       8       .65       .64       1.44  

 

See end of table for footnotes.

 

American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund 27
 

Financial highlights (continued)

 

          Income (loss) from
investment operations1
    Dividends and distributions                                      
Period ended   Net asset
value,
beginning
of period
    Net
investment
income
    Net (losses)
gains 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     Net assets,
end of period
(in millions)
    Ratio of
expenses to
average net
assets before
waivers/
reimbursements4 
    Ratio of
expenses to
average net
assets after
waivers/
reimbursements3,4 
    Ratio of
net income
to average
net assets3 
 
Class 529-C:                                                                                              
5/31/20215,6   $ 11.08     $ .10     $ 13    $ .10     $ (.09 )   $ (.19 )   $ (.28 )   $ 10.90       .79 %7    $ 2       1.41 % 8      1.41 %8      1.86 %8 
11/30/2020     9.79       .01       1.30       1.31       (.02 )           (.02 )     11.08       13.40       2       1.41       1.41       .14  
11/30/2019     9.43       .09       .45       .54       (.14 )     (.04 )     (.18 )     9.79       5.87       3       1.39       1.39       .93  
11/30/2018     9.62       .14       (.30 )     (.16 )           (.03 )     (.03 )     9.43       (1.64 )     3       1.51       1.51       1.43  
11/30/2017     9.60       .11       (.04 )     .07       (.05 )           (.05 )     9.62       .79       3       1.54       1.54       1.13  
11/30/2016     9.39       .05       .24       .29             (.08 )     (.08 )     9.60       3.09       2       1.53       1.53       .48  
Class 529-E:                                                                                              
5/31/20215,6     11.13       .12       13      .12       (.21 )     (.19 )     (.40 )     10.85       1.05 7      3       .90 8      .90 8      2.25 8 
11/30/2020     9.84       .11       1.26       1.37       (.08 )           (.08 )     11.13       13.96       2       .91       .91       1.04  
11/30/2019     9.49       .14       .43       .57       (.18 )     (.04 )     (.22 )     9.84       6.29       1       .93       .93       1.44  
11/30/2018     9.73       .19       (.30 )     (.11 )     (.10 )     (.03 )     (.13 )     9.49       (1.08 )     1       .96       .96       2.02  
11/30/2017     9.68       .17       (.04 )     .13       (.08 )           (.08 )     9.73       1.35       1       .99       .99       1.73  
11/30/2016     9.43       .07       .28       .35       (.02 )     (.08 )     (.10 )     9.68       3.75       10      .97       .97       .77  
Class 529-T:                                                                                              
5/31/20215,6     11.21       .14       13      .14       (.23 )     (.19 )     (.42 )     10.93       1.30 7,9      10      .47 8,9      .47 8,9      2.64 8,9 
11/30/2020     9.90       .15       1.27       1.42       (.11 )           (.11 )     11.21       14.55 9      10      .48 9      .48 9      1.37 9 
11/30/2019     9.55       .18       .44       .62       (.23 )     (.04 )     (.27 )     9.90       6.64 9      10      .50 9      .50 9      1.84 9 
11/30/2018     9.78       .23       (.30 )     (.07 )     (.13 )     (.03 )     (.16 )     9.55       (.65) 9      10      .52 9      .52 9      2.42 9 
11/30/20175,11     9.70       .14       (.06 )     .08                         9.78       .82 7,9      10      .50 8,9      .50 8,9      2.25 8,9 
Class 529-F-1:                                                                                              
5/31/20215,6     11.24       .14       .01       .15       (.24 )     (.19 )     (.43 )     10.96       1.30 7,9      10      .46 8,9      .46 8,9      2.64 8,9 
11/30/2020     9.92       .15       1.28       1.43       (.11 )           (.11 )     11.24       14.49 9      10      .46 9      .46 9      1.42 9 
11/30/2019     9.57       .17       .45       .62       (.23 )     (.04 )     (.27 )     9.92       6.81       5       .50       .50       1.78  
11/30/2018     9.80       .24       (.31 )     (.07 )     (.13 )     (.03 )     (.16 )     9.57       (.68 )     5       .50       .50       2.50  
11/30/2017     9.73       .21       (.05 )     .16       (.09 )           (.09 )     9.80       1.72       2       .53       .53       2.20  
11/30/2016     9.47       .14       .24       .38       (.04 )     (.08 )     (.12 )     9.73       4.09       1       .55       .55       1.46  
Class 529-F-2:                                                                                              
5/31/20215,6     11.20       .15       13      .15       (.24 )     (.19 )     (.43 )     10.92       1.33 7      8       .44 8      .43 8      2.76 8 
11/30/20205,14     11.03       .01       .16       .17                         11.20       1.54 7      7       .04 7      .04 7      .11 7 
Class 529-F-3:                                                                                              
5/31/20215,6     11.20       .15       13      .15       (.25 )     (.19 )     (.44 )     10.91       1.29 7      10      .46 8      .38 8      2.71 8 
11/30/2020 5,14   11.03       .01       .16       .17                         11.20       1.54 7      10      .05 7      .03 7      .12 7 
Class R-1:                                                                                              
5/31/20215,6     11.11       .09       13      .09       (.23 )     (.19 )     (.42 )     10.78       .81 7      3       1.49 8      1.49 8      1.65 8 
11/30/2020     9.80       .05       1.27       1.32       (.01 )           (.01 )     11.11       13.44       3       1.40       1.40       .54  
11/30/2019     9.46       .07       .46       .53       (.15 )     (.04 )     (.19 )     9.80       5.73       10      1.46       1.46       .77  
11/30/2018     9.70       .14       (.30 )     (.16 )     (.05 )     (.03 )     (.08 )     9.46       (1.62 )     10      1.47       1.47       1.49  
11/30/2017     9.63       .10       (.02 )     .08       (.01 )           (.01 )     9.70       .83 9      10      1.55 9      1.54 9      1.07 9 
11/30/2016     9.42       .04       .25       .29             (.08 )     (.08 )     9.63       3.08 9      10      1.50 9      1.49 9      .39 9 

 

See end of table for footnotes.

 

28 American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund
 

Financial highlights (continued)

 

          Income (loss) from
investment operations1
    Dividends and distributions                                      
Period ended   Net asset
value,
beginning
of period
    Net
investment
income
    Net (losses)
gains 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     Net assets,
end of period
(in millions)
    Ratio of
expenses to
average net
assets before
waivers/
reimbursements4
    Ratio of
expenses to
average net
assets after
waivers/
reimbursements3,4
    Ratio of
net income
to average
net assets3
 
Class R-2:                                                                                              
5/31/20215,6   $ 10.99     $ .10     $ (.01 )   $ .09     $ (.16 )   $ (.19 )   $ (.35 )   $ 10.73       .79 %7    $ 11       1.38 %8      1.38 %8      1.80 %8 
11/30/2020     9.72       .06       1.24       1.30       (.03 )           (.03 )     10.99       13.46       10       1.40       1.40       .56  
11/30/2019     9.39       .08       .45       .53       (.16 )     (.04 )     (.20 )     9.72       5.73       5       1.44       1.44       .88  
11/30/2018     9.62       .15       (.30 )     (.15 )     (.05 )     (.03 )     (.08 )     9.39       (1.54 )     4       1.41       1.41       1.57  
11/30/2017     9.59       .12       (.03 )     .09       (.06 )           (.06 )     9.62       .90       2       1.41       1.41       1.28  
11/30/2016     9.41       .06       .23       .29       (.03 )     (.08 )     (.11 )     9.59       3.12       1       1.49       1.49       .62  
Class R-2E:                                                                                              
5/31/20215,6     11.13       .13       (.01 )     .12       (.17 )     (.19 )     (.36 )     10.89       .96 7      2       1.14 8      1.13 8      2.33 8 
11/30/2020     9.85       .07       1.27       1.34       (.06 )           (.06 )     11.13       13.71       2       1.17       1.16       .70  
11/30/2019     9.50       .15       .40       .55       (.16 )     (.04 )     (.20 )     9.85       6.03       2       1.15       1.15       1.55  
11/30/2018     9.73       .17       (.29 )     (.12 )     (.08 )     (.03 )     (.11 )     9.50       (1.27 )     1       1.18       1.18       1.74  
11/30/2017     9.71       .14       (.03 )     .11       (.09 )           (.09 )     9.73       1.16       1       1.21       1.21       1.40  
11/30/2016     9.46       .17       .19       .36       (.03 )     (.08 )     (.11 )     9.71       3.88       1       .95       .94       1.79  
Class R-3:                                                                                              
5/31/2021 5,6     11.10       .12       (.01 )     .11       (.20 )     (.19 )     (.39 )     10.82       1.00 7      24       .97 8      .97 8      2.25 8 
11/30/2020     9.81       .10       1.27       1.37       (.08 )           (.08 )     11.10       13.90       18       .97       .97       .97  
11/30/2019     9.47       .14       .43       .57       (.19 )     (.04 )     (.23 )     9.81       6.22       10       .99       .99       1.50  
11/30/2018     9.70       .19       (.30 )     (.11 )     (.09 )     (.03 )     (.12 )     9.47       (1.12 )     6       1.01       1.01       2.03  
11/30/2017     9.65       .16       (.03 )     .13       (.08 )           (.08 )     9.70       1.40       4       .99       .99       1.68  
11/30/2016     9.43       .09       .25       .34       (.04 )     (.08 )     (.12 )     9.65       3.59       2       1.01       1.01       .92  
Class R-4:                                                                                              
5/31/2021 5,6     11.19       .17       (.04 )     .13       (.22 )     (.19 )     (.41 )     10.91       1.20 7      56       .65 8      .65 8      3.22 8 
11/30/2020     9.89       .13       1.27       1.40       (.10 )           (.10 )     11.19       14.33       15       .66       .66       1.26  
11/30/2019     9.54       .17       .43       .60       (.21 )     (.04 )     (.25 )     9.89       6.49       8       .69       .69       1.79  
11/30/2018     9.77       .22       (.30 )     (.08 )     (.12 )     (.03 )     (.15 )     9.54       (.85 )     5       .71       .71       2.34  
11/30/2017     9.70       .19       (.03 )     .16       (.09 )           (.09 )     9.77       1.64       3       .72       .72       1.98  
11/30/2016     9.45       .13       .24       .37       (.04 )     (.08 )     (.12 )     9.70       3.99       2       .69       .69       1.37  
Class R-5E:                                                                                              
5/31/2021 5,6     11.22       .16       (.02 )     .14       (.24 )     (.19 )     (.43 )     10.93       1.25 7      14       .46 8      .46 8      3.01 8 
11/30/2020     9.91       .15       1.28       1.43       (.12 )           (.12 )     11.22       14.51       8       .45       .45       1.38  
11/30/2019     9.57       .19       .43       .62       (.24 )     (.04 )     (.28 )     9.91       6.72       4       .47       .47       1.91  
11/30/2018     9.79       .22       (.28 )     (.06 )     (.13 )     (.03 )     (.16 )     9.57       (.56 )     2       .51       .51       2.26  
11/30/2017     9.70       .20       (.03 )     .17       (.08 )           (.08 )     9.79       1.78       1       .50       .50       2.08  
11/30/2016     9.45       .12       .27       .39       (.06 )     (.08 )     (.14 )     9.70       4.16       10      .60       .60       1.21  
Class R-5:                                                                                              
5/31/2021 5,6     11.26       .16       (.01 )     .15       (.25 )     (.19 )     (.44 )     10.97       1.33 7      11       .37 8      .37 8      2.99 8 
11/30/2020     9.95       .18       1.26       1.44       (.13 )           (.13 )     11.26       14.62       8       .36       .36       1.68  
11/30/2019     9.59       .18       .46       .64       (.24 )     (.04 )     (.28 )     9.95       6.86       3       .39       .39       1.88  
11/30/2018     9.82       .24       (.30 )     (.06 )     (.14 )     (.03 )     (.17 )     9.59       (.59 )     3       .41       .41       2.50  
11/30/2017     9.73       .24       (.05 )     .19       (.10 )           (.10 )     9.82       1.95       2       .44       .44       2.43  
11/30/2016     9.47       .14       .26       .40       (.06 )     (.08 )     (.14 )     9.73       4.21       10      .46       .46       1.45  
Class R-6:                                                                                              
5/31/20215,6     11.27       .16       (.01 )     .15       (.25 )     (.19 )     (.44 )     10.98       1.36 7      7,330       .32 8      .32 8      2.92 8 
11/30/2020     9.96       .17       1.27       1.44       (.13 )           (.13 )     11.27       14.66       5,933       .32       .32       1.57  
11/30/2019     9.60       .20       .45       .65       (.25 )     (.04 )     (.29 )     9.96       6.90       4,680       .33       .33       2.05  
11/30/2018     9.82       .25       (.30 )     (.05 )     (.14 )     (.03 )     (.17 )     9.60       (.46 )     3,405       .36       .36       2.60  
11/30/2017     9.74       .22       (.04 )     .18       (.10 )           (.10 )     9.82       1.89       2,682       .38       .38       2.29  
11/30/2016     9.47       .15       .26       .41       (.06 )     (.08 )     (.14 )     9.74       4.33       1,547       .39       .39       1.53  

 

    Six months
ended
May 31,
  Year ended November 30,
    20215,6,7   2020   2019   2018   2017   2016
Portfolio turnover rate for all share classes15     20 %     114 %     78 %     57 %     123 %     295 %

 

See end of table for footnotes.

 

American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund 29
 

Financial highlights (continued)

 

1 Based on average shares outstanding.
2 Total returns exclude any applicable sales charges, including contingent deferred sales charges.
3 This column reflects the impact, if any, of certain waivers/reimbursements from CRMC and/or AFS. During some of the periods shown, CRMC waived a portion of investment advisory services fees. In addition, during some of the periods shown, AFS waived a portion of transfer agent services fees for Class F-3 shares. In addition, during some of the periods shown, CRMC reimbursed a portion of transfer agent services fees for certain share classes.
4 Ratios do not include expenses of any Central Funds. The fund indirectly bears its proportionate share of the expenses of any Central Funds.
5 Based on operations for a period that is less than a full year.
6 Unaudited.
7 Not annualized.
8 Annualized.
9 All or a significant portion of assets in this class consisted of seed capital invested by CRMC and/or its affiliates. Fees for distribution services are not charged or accrued on these seed capital assets. If such fees were paid by the fund on seed capital assets, fund expenses would have been higher and net income and total return would have been lower.
10 Amount less than $1 million.
11 Class T and 529-T shares began investment operations on April 7, 2017.
12 Class F-3 shares began investment operations on January 27, 2017.
13 Amount less than $.01.
14 Class 529-F-2 and 529-F-3 shares began investment operations on October 30, 2020.
15 Rates do not include the fund’s portfolio activity with respect to any Central Funds.

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

30 American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund
 
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, 2020, through May 31, 2021).

 

Actual expenses:

The first line of each share class in the table on the following page 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 titled “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 on the following page 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, F-3, 529-F-1, 529-F-2 and 529-F-3 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 on the following page 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.

 

American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund 31
 

Expense example (continued)

 

    Beginning
account value
12/1/2020
    Ending
account value
5/31/2021
    Expenses paid
during period*
    Annualized
expense ratio
 
Class A – actual return   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,011.58     $ 3.51       .70 %
Class A – assumed 5% return     1,000.00       1,021.44       3.53       .70  
Class C – actual return     1,000.00       1,008.40       6.96       1.39  
Class C – assumed 5% return     1,000.00       1,018.00       6.99       1.39  
Class T – actual return     1,000.00       1,013.58       2.06       .41  
Class T – assumed 5% return     1,000.00       1,022.89       2.07       .41  
Class F-1 – actual return     1,000.00       1,011.14       3.36       .67  
Class F-1 – assumed 5% return     1,000.00       1,021.59       3.38       .67  
Class F-2 – actual return     1,000.00       1,013.02       2.01       .40  
Class F-2 – assumed 5% return     1,000.00       1,022.94       2.02       .40  
Class F-3 – actual return     1,000.00       1,013.69       1.61       .32  
Class F-3 – assumed 5% return     1,000.00       1,023.34       1.61       .32  
Class 529-A – actual return     1,000.00       1,012.03       3.36       .67  
Class 529-A – assumed 5% return     1,000.00       1,021.59       3.38       .67  
Class 529-C – actual return     1,000.00       1,007.88       7.06       1.41  
Class 529-C – assumed 5% return     1,000.00       1,017.90       7.09       1.41  
Class 529-E – actual return     1,000.00       1,010.54       4.51       .90  
Class 529-E – assumed 5% return     1,000.00       1,020.44       4.53       .90  
Class 529-T – actual return     1,000.00       1,013.04       2.36       .47  
Class 529-T – assumed 5% return     1,000.00       1,022.59       2.37       .47  
Class 529-F-1 – actual return     1,000.00       1,013.01       2.31       .46  
Class 529-F-1 – assumed 5% return     1,000.00       1,022.64       2.32       .46  
Class 529-F-2 – actual return     1,000.00       1,013.30       2.16       .43  
Class 529-F-2 – assumed 5% return     1,000.00       1,022.79       2.17       .43  
Class 529-F-3 – actual return     1,000.00       1,012.87       1.91       .38  
Class 529-F-3 – assumed 5% return     1,000.00       1,023.04       1.92       .38  
Class R-1 – actual return     1,000.00       1,008.13       7.46       1.49  
Class R-1 – assumed 5% return     1,000.00       1,017.50       7.49       1.49  
Class R-2 – actual return     1,000.00       1,007.91       6.91       1.38  
Class R-2 – assumed 5% return     1,000.00       1,018.05       6.94       1.38  
Class R-2E – actual return     1,000.00       1,009.57       5.66       1.13  
Class R-2E – assumed 5% return     1,000.00       1,019.30       5.69       1.13  
Class R-3 – actual return     1,000.00       1,010.03       4.86       .97  
Class R-3 – assumed 5% return     1,000.00       1,020.09       4.89       .97  
Class R-4 – actual return     1,000.00       1,011.97       3.26       .65  
Class R-4 – assumed 5% return     1,000.00       1,021.69       3.28       .65  
Class R-5E – actual return     1,000.00       1,012.53       2.31       .46  
Class R-5E – assumed 5% return     1,000.00       1,022.64       2.32       .46  
Class R-5 – actual return     1,000.00       1,013.26       1.86       .37  
Class R-5 – assumed 5% return     1,000.00       1,023.09       1.87       .37  
Class R-6 – actual return     1,000.00       1,013.61       1.61       .32  
Class R-6 – assumed 5% return     1,000.00       1,023.34       1.61       .32  
                                 
* 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).
   
32 American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund
 

Approval of Investment Advisory and Service Agreement

 

The fund’s board has approved the continuation of the fund’s Investment Advisory and Service Agreement (the “agreement”) with Capital Research and Management Company (“CRMC”) for an additional one-year term through April 30, 2022. The board approved the agreement following the recommendation of the fund’s Contracts Committee (the “committee”), which is composed of all the fund’s independent board members. The board and the committee determined in the exercise of their business judgment 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 their interaction with CRMC as well as 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 with respect to the matters considered. 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; the resources and systems CRMC devotes to investment management (the manner in which the fund’s assets are managed, including liquidity management), financial, investment operations, compliance, trading, proxy voting, shareholder communications, and other services; 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 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 considered the risks assumed by CRMC in providing services to the fund, including operational, business, financial, reputational, regulatory and litigation risks. 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. They compared the fund’s investment results with those of other funds (including funds that currently 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 (including the fund’s lifetime) through September 30, 2020. They generally placed greater emphasis on investment results over longer term periods. On the basis of this evaluation and the board’s and the committee’s ongoing review of investment results, and considering the relative market conditions during certain reporting periods, 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 compared the advisory fees and total expense levels of the fund to those of other relevant funds. They observed that the fund’s advisory fees and expenses were generally competitive with those of other similar funds included in the comparable Lipper category. The board and the committee also considered the breakpoint discounts in the fund’s advisory fee structure that reduce the level of fees charged by CRMC to the fund as fund assets increase. 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, regulatory and market 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, as well as in relation to the risks assumed by the adviser in sponsoring and managing the fund, and that the fund’s shareholders receive reasonable value in return for the advisory fees and other amounts paid to CRMC by the fund.

 

American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund 33
 

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 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 that through December 31, 2018, CRMC benefited from research obtained with commissions from portfolio transactions made on behalf of the fund, and since that time has undertaken to bear the cost of obtaining such research. 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 related cost allocation methodology as well as its track record of investing 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. They reviewed information on the profitability of the investment adviser and its affiliates. 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 break-point discounts in the fund’s advisory fee structure and CRMC’s sharing of potential economies of scale, or efficiencies, through breakpoints and other fee reductions and costs voluntarily absorbed. 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.

 

34 American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund
 

Liquidity Risk Management Program

 

The fund has adopted a liquidity risk management program (the “program”). The fund’s board has designated Capital Research and Management Company (“CRMC”) as the administrator of the program. Personnel of CRMC or its affiliates conduct the day-to-day operation of the program pursuant to policies and procedures administered by the Capital Group Liquidity Risk Management Committee.

 

Under the program, CRMC manages the fund’s liquidity risk, which is the risk that the fund could not meet shareholder redemption requests without significant dilution of remaining shareholders’ interests in the fund. This risk is managed by monitoring the degree of liquidity of the fund’s investments, limiting the amount of the fund’s illiquid investments, and utilizing various risk management tools and facilities available to the fund for meeting shareholder redemptions, among other means. CRMC’s process of determining the degree of liquidity of the fund’s investments is supported by one or more third-party liquidity assessment vendors.

 

The fund’s board reviewed a report prepared by CRMC regarding the operation and effectiveness of the program for the period October 1, 2019, through September 30, 2020. No significant liquidity events impacting the fund were noted in the report. In addition, CRMC provided its assessment that the program had been effective in managing the fund’s liquidity risk.

 

 American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund 35
 

Office of the fund

6455 Irvine Center Drive

Irvine, CA 92618-4518

 

Investment adviser

Capital Research and

Management Company

333 South Hope Street

Los Angeles, CA 90071-1406

 

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

State Street Bank and Trust Company

One Lincoln Street

Boston, MA 02111

 

Counsel

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP

One Federal Street

Boston, MA 02110-1726

 

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

 

36 American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund
 

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 Capital Group website at capitalgroup.com.

 

“American Funds Proxy Voting Procedures and Principles” — which describes how we vote proxies relating to portfolio securities — is available on our 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 our website.

 

American Funds Inflation Linked 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 NPORT-P. This filing is available free of charge on the SEC website at sec.gov and on our website.

 

This report is for the information of shareholders of American Funds Inflation Linked 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, 2021, this report must be accompanied by an American Funds statistical update for the most recently completed calendar quarter.

 

Bloomberg® is a trademark of Bloomberg Finance L.P. (collectively with its affiliates, “Bloomberg”). Barclays® is a trademark of Barclays Bank Plc (collectively with its affiliates, “Barclays”), used under license. Neither Bloomberg nor Barclays approves or endorses this material, guarantees the accuracy or completeness of any information herein and, to the maximum extent allowed by law, neither shall have any liability or responsibility for injury or damages arising in connection therewith.

 

American Funds Distributors, Inc., member FINRA.

 

The Capital Advantage®

 

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

 

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 industry experience, including 21 years at our company, reflecting a career commitment to our long-term approach.1

 

The Capital System

The Capital System combines individual accountability with teamwork. Funds using The Capital System are 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.

 

American Funds’ superior outcomes

Equity funds have beaten their Lipper peer indexes in 91% of 10-year periods and 98% of 20-year periods.2 Fixed income funds have helped investors achieve diversification through attention to correlation between bonds and equities.3 Fund management fees have been among the lowest in the industry.4

 

  1 Investment industry experience as of December 31, 2020.
  2 Based on Class F-2 share results for rolling periods through December 31, 2020. Periods covered are the shorter of the fund’s lifetime or since the comparable Lipper index inception date (except Capital Income Builder and SMALLCAP World Fund, for which the Lipper average was used). Expenses differ for each share class, so results will vary.
  3 Based on Class F-2 share results as of December 31, 2020. Thirteen of the 17 fixed income American Funds that have been in existence for the three-year period showed a three-year correlation below 0.3. Standard & Poor’s 500 Index was used as an equity market proxy. Correlation based on monthly total returns. Correlation is a statistical measure of how two securities move in relation to each other. A correlation ranges from –1 to 1. A positive correlation close to 1 implies that as one security moves, either up or down, the other security will move in “lockstep,” in the same direction. A negative correlation close to –1 indicates that the securities have moved in the opposite direction.
  4 On average, our management fees were in the lowest quintile 66% of the time, based on the 20-year period ended December 31, 2020, versus comparable Lipper categories, excluding funds of funds.

 

Class F-2 shares were first offered on August 1, 2008. Class F-2 share results prior to the date of first sale are hypothetical based on the results of the original share class of the fund without a sales charge, adjusted for typical estimated expenses. Results for certain funds with an inception date after August 1, 2008, also include hypothetical returns because those funds’ Class F-2 shares sold after the funds’ date of first offering. Visit capitalgroup.com for more information on specific expense adjustments and the actual dates of first sale.

 

All Capital Group trademarks mentioned are owned by The Capital Group Companies, Inc., an affiliated company or fund. All other company and product names mentioned are the property of their respective companies.

 

 

 

ITEM 2 – Code of Ethics

 

Not applicable for filing of semi-annual reports to shareholders.

 

ITEM 3 – Audit Committee Financial Expert

 

Not applicable for filing of semi-annual reports to shareholders.

 

ITEM 4 – Principal Accountant Fees and Services

 

Not applicable for filing of semi-annual reports to shareholders.

 

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.

 

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 semi-annual 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) Not applicable for filing of semi-annual reports to shareholders.
   
(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 INFLATION LINKED BOND FUND

 

   
  By __/s/ Kristine M. Nishiyama____________________
 

Kristine M. Nishiyama,

Principal Executive Officer

   
  Date: July 30, 2021

 

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/ Kristine M. Nishiyama_________________

Kristine M. Nishiyama,

Principal Executive Officer

 
Date: July 30, 2021

 

 

 

By ___/s/ Brian C. Janssen    __________

Brian C. Janssen, Treasurer and

Principal Financial Officer

 
Date: July 30, 2021