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, 2023

 

Becky L. Park

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, 2023

 

 

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 over 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 F-2 shares. Class A share results are shown at net asset value unless otherwise indicated. If a sales charge (maximum 2.50%) had been deducted from Class A shares, 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, refer to capitalgroup.com.

 

Here are the total returns on a $1,000 investment with all distributions reinvested for the period ended June 30, 2023 (the most recent calendar quarter-end):

 

   1 year  5 years  10 years
                
Class F-2 shares   –3.83%   2.27%   2.16%
Class A shares Reflecting 2.50% maximum sales charge   –6.58    1.46    1.69 

 

The total annual fund operating expense ratios were 0.40% for Class F-2 shares and 0.67% for Class A shares as of the prospectus dated February 1, 2023 (as supplemented to date). The expense ratios are restated to reflect current fees.

 

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

 

Class F-2 shares were first offered for this fund on January 23, 2015. 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. Refer to capitalgroup.com for more information on specific expense adjustments and the actual dates of first sale.

 

The fund’s 30-day yield as of May 31, 2023, was 5.47% for Class F-2 shares and 5.04% for Class A shares calculated in accordance with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission formula. The Class A share results reflect the 2.50% maximum sales charge.

 

The return of principal for bond funds and for funds with significant underlying bond holdings is not guaranteed. Fund shares are subject to the same interest rate, inflation and credit risks associated with the underlying bond holdings. The values of inflation-linked bonds generally fluctuate in response to changes in real interest rates. Inflation-linked bonds may experience greater losses than other debt securities with similar durations. There can be no assurance that the value of inflation-linked securities will be directly correlated to changes in interest rates. Refer to the fund prospectus and the Risk Factors section of this report for more information on these and other risks associated with investing in the fund.

 

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, 2023, 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, refer to capitalgroup.com/individual/investments/fund/bfigx. 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
   
11 Financial statements
   
15 Notes to financial statements
   
29 Financial highlights

 

Results at a glance

 

For periods ended May 31, 2023, with all distributions reinvested

 

   Cumulative total returns  Average annual total returns
   6 months  1 year  5 years  10 years  Lifetime
(since 12/14/12)
                          
American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund (Class F-2 shares)   0.14%   –5.28%   2.67%   1.87%   1.41%
American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund (Class A shares)   –0.06    –5.60    2.38    1.66    1.22 
Bloomberg U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS) Index*   1.17    –4.20    2.64    1.75    1.23 
Lipper Inflation Protected Bond Funds Average   0.98    –3.85    2.32    1.25    0.83 

 

Past results are not predictive of results in future periods.

 

* The market index is unmanaged and, therefore, has no expenses. Investors cannot invest directly in an index. Bloomberg source: Bloomberg Index Services Ltd. Bloomberg U.S. Treasury Inflation Protected Securities (TIPS) Index consists of investment-grade, fixed-rate, publicly placed, dollar-denominated and non-convertible inflation-protected securities issued by the U.S. Treasury that have at least one year remaining to maturity, and have at least $250 million par amount outstanding. This index is unmanaged, and its results include reinvested distributions but do not reflect the effect of sales charges, commissions, account fees, expenses or U.S. federal income taxes.
Source: Refinitiv. Lipper Inflation Protected Bond Funds Average is composed of funds that invest primarily in inflation-indexed fixed income securities. The results of the underlying funds in the average include the reinvestment of dividends and capital gain distributions, as well as brokerage commissions paid by the fund for portfolio transactions and other fund expenses, but do not reflect the effect of sales charges, account fees or U.S. federal income taxes. Lipper categories are dynamic and averages may have few funds, especially over longer periods. To review the number of funds included in the Lipper category for each fund’s lifetime, please review the Quarterly Statistical Update, available on our website.

 

American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund 1
 
Investment portfolio May 31, 2023 unaudited
   
Portfolio by type of security Percent of net assets

 

 

Portfolio quality summary*  Percent of
net assets
U.S. Treasury   91.47%
AAA/Aaa   1.41 
AA/Aa   1.38 
A/A   2.62 
BBB/Baa   2.25 
Short-term securities & other assets less liabilities   .87 
* 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 99.13%  Principal amount
(000)
   Value
(000)
 
U.S. Treasury bonds & notes 91.47%        
U.S. Treasury inflation-protected securities 91.47%        
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.625% 1/15/20241  USD145,773   $143,295 
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.50% 4/15/20241,2   216,568    211,329 
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.125% 7/15/20241   333,543    323,805 
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.125% 10/15/20241,2   302,137    292,279 
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.25% 1/15/20251   239,239    230,500 
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 2.375% 1/15/20251   37,546    37,429 
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.125% 4/15/20251   433,694    415,440 
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.375% 7/15/20251,2   409,461    394,935 
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.125% 10/15/20251   99,567    95,197 
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.625% 1/15/20261   208,941    201,340 
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 2.00% 1/15/20261,2   158,142    157,846 
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.125% 4/15/20261   1,058,431    1,002,067 
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.125% 7/15/20261   240,484    228,065 
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.125% 10/15/20261   318,253    300,878 
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.375% 1/15/20271   374,320    355,173 
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 2.375% 1/15/20271,2   227,776    231,802 
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.125% 4/15/20271   628,684    588,745 
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.375% 7/15/20271   102,210    96,969 
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 1.625% 10/15/20271   642,169    640,958 
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.50% 1/15/20281   280,678    265,707 
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 1.75% 1/15/20281   87,878    88,025 
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.875% 1/15/20291   81,755    78,499 
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 2.50% 1/15/20291   2,811    2,938 
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.25% 7/15/20291,2   259,807    240,633 
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.125% 1/15/20301   636,435    579,414 
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.125% 7/15/20301,2   793,379    721,001 
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.125% 1/15/20311,2   1,283,417    1,156,809 
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.125% 7/15/20311   225,210    202,376 
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.125% 1/15/20321   271,921    242,608 
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.625% 7/15/20321   539,537    502,413 
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 1.125% 1/15/20331   182,374    176,949 
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 2.125% 2/15/20401   62,835    67,777 
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 2.125% 2/15/20411   59,950    64,736 

 

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 0.75% 2/15/20421  USD66,783   $56,884 
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.625% 2/15/20431   178,658    146,871 
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 1.375% 2/15/20441   84,303    79,532 
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.75% 2/15/20451   143,545    118,798 
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 1.00% 2/15/20461   123,354    107,244 
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.875% 2/15/20471   199,917    168,005 
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 1.00% 2/15/20481,2   318,821    274,744 
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 1.00% 2/15/20491   55,891    48,052 
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.25% 2/15/20501   264,324    184,531 
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.125% 2/15/20511,2   462,534    307,364 
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.125% 2/15/20521,2   274,184    181,421 
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 1.50% 2/15/20531   425,415    413,707 
         12,425,090 
           
U.S. Treasury 0.00%          
U.S. Treasury 2.00% 8/15/2051   1    3 
           
Total U.S. Treasury bonds & notes        12,425,090 
           
Corporate bonds, notes & loans 3.62%          
Energy 0.77%          
Energy Transfer, LP 6.00% 6/15/2048   9,257    8,537 
Enterprise Products Operating, LLC 5.35% 1/31/2033   5,990    6,110 
Equinor ASA 3.625% 9/10/2028   13,165    12,731 
MPLX, LP 4.00% 3/15/2028   2,430    2,309 
MPLX, LP 4.70% 4/15/2048   10,000    8,025 
ONEOK, Inc. 6.35% 1/15/2031   7,508    7,744 
ONEOK, Inc. 7.15% 1/15/2051   2,782    2,880 
Petroleos Mexicanos 7.47% 11/12/2026  MXN30    1 
Qatar Energy 2.25% 7/12/20314  USD17,300    14,617 
Qatar Energy 3.125% 7/12/20414   13,495    10,197 
Qatar Energy 3.30% 7/12/20514   12,200    8,789 
Sabine Pass Liquefaction, LLC 4.50% 5/15/2030   8,109    7,672 
TransCanada Pipelines, Ltd. 4.10% 4/15/2030   6,315    5,865 
Williams Companies, Inc. 3.50% 11/15/2030   8,448    7,579 
Williams Companies, Inc. 2.60% 3/15/2031   1,450    1,200 
         104,256 
           
Consumer discretionary 0.75%          
Alibaba Group Holding, Ltd. 2.125% 2/9/2031   1,062    874 
Alibaba Group Holding, Ltd. 4.50% 11/28/2034   1,663    1,554 
Alibaba Group Holding, Ltd. 4.00% 12/6/2037   2,286    1,941 
Alibaba Group Holding, Ltd. 2.70% 2/9/2041   4,394    2,941 
Alibaba Group Holding, Ltd. 3.15% 2/9/2051   10,297    6,674 
Amazon.com, Inc. 3.10% 5/12/2051   40,000    29,293 
Boston University 4.061% 10/1/2048   2,075    1,819 
Duke University 2.832% 10/1/2055   5,000    3,389 
Home Depot, Inc. 2.95% 6/15/2029   8,408    7,738 
Home Depot, Inc. 4.50% 12/6/2048   1,240    1,137 
Massachusetts Institute of Technology 2.294% 7/1/2051   22,000    13,857 
Stellantis Finance US, Inc. 1.711% 1/29/20274   8,525    7,541 
Stellantis Finance US, Inc. 2.691% 9/15/20314   7,425    5,908 
The Board of Trustees of The Leland Stanford Junior University 1.289% 6/1/2027   4,950    4,402 
Yale University 1.482% 4/15/2030   15,000    12,398 
         101,466 
           
Health care 0.53%          
Amgen, Inc. 3.00% 2/22/2029   450    410 
Amgen, Inc. 4.05% 8/18/2029   12,050    11,488 
Amgen, Inc. 4.20% 3/1/2033   13,350    12,526 
Amgen, Inc. 4.875% 3/1/2053   10,600    9,593 
Becton, Dickinson and Company 3.70% 6/6/2027   7,700    7,390 
Pfizer Investment Enterprises Pte., Ltd. 5.30% 5/19/2053   8,654    8,916 
Sharp HealthCare 2.68% 8/1/2050   17,500    11,227 
Summa Health 3.511% 11/15/2051   9,945    6,964 
Trinity Health Corp. 2.632% 12/1/2040   5,000    3,526 
         72,040 

 

American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund 3
 

Bonds, notes & other debt instruments (continued)  Principal amount
(000)
   Value
(000)
 
Corporate bonds, notes & loans (continued)        
Financials 0.36%          
American Express Co. 4.42% 8/3/2033 (USD-SOFR + 1.76% on 8/3/2032)5  USD10,449   $9,886 
Bank of America Corp. 5.015% 7/22/2033 (USD-SOFR + 2.16% on 7/22/2032)5   7,018    6,867 
Global Payments, Inc. 2.90% 5/15/2030   6,972    5,885 
Morgan Stanley 2.239% 7/21/2032 (USD-SOFR + 1.178% on 7/21/2031)5   14,149    11,298 
PayPal Holdings, Inc. 1.65% 6/1/2025   11,647    10,960 
PayPal Holdings, Inc. 3.25% 6/1/2050   6,210    4,368 
         49,264 
           
Utilities 0.33%          
Consumers Energy Co. 4.05% 5/15/2048   8,570    7,233 
Duke Energy Corp. 0.90% 9/15/2025   6,850    6,238 
Entergy Corp. 2.80% 6/15/2030   4,425    3,801 
Entergy Corp. 3.75% 6/15/2050   4,700    3,453 
Exelon Corp. 4.05% 4/15/2030   700    657 
Exelon Corp. 4.10% 3/15/2052   1,300    1,029 
Mississippi Power Co. 4.25% 3/15/2042   1,660    1,383 
Public Service Electric and Gas Co. 3.20% 8/1/2049   8,250    6,059 
Public Service Electric and Gas Co. 2.05% 8/1/2050   5,365    3,062 
Tampa Electric Co. 4.45% 6/15/2049   8,070    6,857 
Virginia Electric & Power 2.875% 7/15/2029   2,800    2,513 
Wisconsin Electric Power Co. 4.30% 10/15/2048   2,600    2,254 
         44,539 
           
Communication services 0.29%          
SBA Tower Trust 1.631% 11/15/20264   22,469    19,618 
Tencent Holdings, Ltd. 2.39% 6/3/2030   11,207    9,450 
Tencent Holdings, Ltd. 3.68% 4/22/2041   2,857    2,211 
Tencent Holdings, Ltd. 3.84% 4/22/2051   11,480    8,495 
         39,774 
           
Consumer staples 0.24%          
Anheuser-Busch InBev Worldwide, Inc. 3.50% 6/1/2030   7,500    7,044 
Anheuser-Busch InBev Worldwide, Inc. 4.60% 4/15/2048   8,519    7,836 
Anheuser-Busch InBev Worldwide, Inc. 4.50% 6/1/2050   1,481    1,343 
BAT Capital Corp. 5.65% 3/16/2052   11,876    10,169 
Conagra Brands, Inc. 1.375% 11/1/2027   1,156    988 
Conagra Brands, Inc. 4.85% 11/1/2028   5,499    5,419 
         32,799 
           
Information technology 0.24%          
Apple, Inc. 2.40% 8/20/2050   30,000    19,773 
Broadcom, Inc. 3.187% 11/15/20364   17,063    12,780 
         32,553 
           
Materials 0.06%          
Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. 1.50% 10/15/2025   6,427    5,973 
Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. 2.05% 5/15/2030   3,284    2,814 
         8,787 
           
Real estate 0.03%          
Corp. Inmobiliaria Vesta, SAB de CV 3.625% 5/13/20314   4,080    3,469 
           
Industrials 0.02%          
Raytheon Technologies Corp. 4.125% 11/16/2028   3,265    3,161 
           
Total corporate bonds, notes & loans        492,108 
           
Asset-backed obligations 1.55%          
Allegro CLO, Ltd., Series 2016-1A, Class AR2, (3-month USD-LIBOR + 0.95%) 6.21% 1/15/20304,6,7   2,413    2,393 
Allegro CLO, Ltd., Series 2017-1A, Class AR, (3-month USD-LIBOR + 0.95%) 6.21% 10/16/20304,6,7   2,000    1,965 
Ares CLO, Ltd., Series 2017-42A, Class AR, (3-month USD-LIBOR + 0.92%) 6.193% 1/22/20284,6,7   2,371    2,353 
Ballyrock CLO, Ltd., Series 2019-2A, Class A1AR, (3-month USD-LIBOR + 1.00%) 6.379% 11/20/20304,6,7   5,119    5,073 

 

4American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund
 

Bonds, notes & other debt instruments (continued)  Principal amount
(000)
   Value
(000)
 
Asset-backed obligations (continued)          
Bankers Healthcare Group Securitization Trust, Series 2020-A, Class A, 2.56% 9/17/20314,6  USD630   $616 
Cent CLO, Ltd., Series 2014-21A, Class AR, (3-month USD-LIBOR + 0.97%) 6.262% 7/27/20304,6,7   5,596    5,529 
CF Hippolyta, LLC, Series 2020-1, Class A1, 1.69% 7/15/20604,6   4,673    4,224 
CF Hippolyta, LLC, Series 2020-1, Class A2, 1.99% 7/15/20604,6   751    632 
Dryden Senior Loan Fund, CLO, Series 2017-47A, Class A1R, (3-month USD-LIBOR + 0.98%) 6.24% 4/15/20284,6,7   5,846    5,803 
FirstKey Homes Trust, Series 2020-SFR2, Class A, 1.266% 10/19/20374,6   6,498    5,886 
Global SC Finance V SRL, Series 2020-1A, Class A, 2.17% 10/17/20404,6   21,435    19,395 
Global SC Finance V SRL, Series 2020-1A, Class B, 3.55% 10/17/20404,6   2,940    2,659 
Global SC Finance VII SRL, Series 2020-2A, Class A, 2.26% 11/19/20404,6   17,746    16,016 
GoldenTree Loan Opportunities XI, Ltd., CLO, Series 2015-11A, Class AR2, (3-month USD-LIBOR + 1.07%) 6.332% 1/18/20314,6,7   3,200    3,181 
Hertz Vehicle Financing III, LLC, Series 2021-A, Class B, 3.65% 6/30/20234,6,8   17,780    17,330 
Hertz Vehicle Financing III, LLC, Series 2021-1A, Class A, 1.21% 12/26/20254,6   8,127    7,589 
Hertz Vehicle Financing III, LLC, Series 2021-1A, Class B, 1.56% 12/26/20254,6   5,490    5,128 
Hertz Vehicle Financing III, LLC, Series 2021-1A, Class C, 2.05% 12/26/20254,6   779    724 
Hertz Vehicle Financing III, LLC, Series 2021-2A, Class A, 1.68% 12/27/20274,6   8,811    7,767 
Hertz Vehicle Financing III, LLC, Series 2021-2A, Class B, 2.12% 12/27/20274,6   5,925    5,206 
Hertz Vehicle Financing III, LLC, Series 2021-2A, Class C, 2.52% 12/27/20274,6   826    719 
Madison Park Funding, Ltd., CLO, Series 2015-17A, Class AR2, (3-month USD-LIBOR + 1.00%) 6.261% 7/21/20304,6,7   6,975    6,912 
Marathon CLO, Ltd., Series 2017-9A, Class A1AR, (3-month USD-LIBOR + 1.15%) 6.41% 4/15/20294,6,7   2,878    2,854 
Navient Student Loan Trust, Series 2021-C, Class A, 1.06% 10/15/20694,6   6,102    5,322 
Nelnet Student Loan Trust, Series 2021-A, Class APT1, 1.36% 4/20/20624,6   8,610    7,759 
Newark BSL CLO 2, Ltd., Series 2017-1A, Class A1R, (3-month USD-LIBOR + 0.97%) 6.225% 7/25/20304,6,7   2,156    2,131 
OCP CLO, Ltd., Series 2018-15A, Class A1, (3-month USD-LIBOR + 1.10%) 6.35% 7/20/20314,6,7   3,400    3,371 
Palmer Square Loan Funding, CLO, Series 2020-4, Class A1, (3-month USD-LIBOR + 1.00%) 6.396% 11/25/20284,6,7   7,655    7,617 
Palmer Square Loan Funding, CLO, Series 2021-1, Class A1, (3-month USD-LIBOR + 0.90%) 6.15% 4/20/20294,6,7   3,737    3,712 
Race Point CLO, Ltd., Series 2015-9A, Class A1A2, (3-month USD-LIBOR + 0.94%) 6.20% 10/15/20304,6,7   5,763    5,698 
Research-Driven Pagaya Motor Asset Trust I, Series 2022-3, Class A, 5.38% 11/25/20304,6   10,033    9,840 
Sound Point CLO, Ltd., Series 2015-1RA, Class AR, (3-month USD-LIBOR + 1.08%) 6.34% 4/15/20304,6,7   3,318    3,289 
SuttonPark Structured Settlements, Series 2021-1, Class A, 1.95% 9/15/20754,6   14,770    13,568 
TAL Advantage V, LLC, Series 2020-1A, Class A, 2.05% 9/20/20454,6   7,499    6,670 
Textainer Marine Containers, Ltd., Series 2020-2A, Class B, 3.34% 9/20/20454,6   5,521    4,923 
Triton Container Finance VIII, LLC, Series 2020-1, Class A, 2.11% 9/20/20454,6   2,676    2,335 
Triton Container Finance VIII, LLC, Series 2020-1, Class B, 3.74% 9/20/20454,6   4,799    4,249 
         210,438 
           
Bonds & notes of governments & government agencies outside the U.S. 1.50%          
Colombia (Republic of) 5.00% 6/15/2045   600    400 
Hungary (Republic of) 2.125% 9/22/20314   13,860    10,586 
Hungary (Republic of) 3.125% 9/21/20514   17,300    10,372 
Japan, Series 18, 0.10% 3/10/20241  JPY2,345,650    17,140 
Japan, Series 20, 0.10% 3/10/20251   4,517,750    33,480 
Japan, Series 24, 0.10% 3/10/20291   110,093    835 
Peru (Republic of) 2.392% 1/23/2026  USD2,730    2,567 
PETRONAS Capital, Ltd. 3.50% 4/21/20304   5,490    5,147 
PETRONAS Capital, Ltd. 4.55% 4/21/20504   5,775    5,333 
Philippines (Republic of) 1.648% 6/10/2031   18,830    15,111 
Philippines (Republic of) 2.65% 12/10/2045   18,235    12,373 
Spain (Kingdom of) 1.25% 10/31/2030  EUR20,861    19,600 
United Kingdom 0.125% 8/10/20411  GBP10,547    11,256 
United Mexican States, Series M20, 10.00% 12/5/2024  MXN110,000    6,162 

 

American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund 5
 

Bonds, notes & other debt instruments (continued)  Principal amount
(000)
   Value
(000)
 
Bonds & notes of governments & government agencies outside the U.S. (continued)        
United Mexican States, Series M, 5.75% 3/5/2026  MXN521,500   $26,783 
United Mexican States, Series M, 7.50% 6/3/2027   110,000    5,880 
United Mexican States, Series M, 8.00% 11/7/2047   418,544    21,296 
         204,321 
           
Municipals 0.76%          
California 0.17%          
Regents of the University of California, General Rev. Bonds, Series 2020-BG, 0.883% 5/15/2025  USD  7,500    6,972 
Regents of the University of California, General Rev. Bonds, Series 2020-BG, 1.316% 5/15/2027   9,200    8,203 
Regents of the University of California, General Rev. Bonds, Series 2020-BG, 1.614% 5/15/2030   10,100    8,417 
         23,592 
           
Florida 0.24%          
Board of Administration Fin. Corp., Rev. Bonds, Series 2020-A, 1.258% 7/1/2025   18,085    16,780 
Board of Administration Fin. Corp., Rev. Bonds, Series 2020-A, 2.154% 7/1/2030   17,885    15,125 
         31,905 
           
Illinois 0.04%          
G.O. Bonds, Pension Funding, Series 2003, 4.95% 6/1/2023   338    338 
Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Auth., McCormick Place Expansion Project Rev. Ref. Bonds, Series 2020-C, 3.955% 12/15/2026   5,000    4,766 
         5,104 
           
Michigan 0.05%          
Building Auth., Rev. Ref. Bonds (Facs. Program), Series 2020-II, 2.705% 10/15/2040   9,715    7,419 
           
Ohio 0.16%          
Cleveland-Cuyahoga Port Auth., Federal Lease Rev. Bonds (VA Cleveland Health Care Center Project), Series 2021, 4.425% 5/1/2031   24,215    21,028 
           
Wisconsin 0.10%          
Public Fin. Auth., Federal Lease Rev. Bonds (Fort Sam Acquisition Fncg.), Series 2022, 4.95% 3/1/2034   14,645    13,847 
           
Total municipals        102,895 
           
Mortgage-backed obligations 0.23%          
Collateralized mortgage-backed obligations (privately originated) 0.23%          
Arroyo Mortgage Trust, Series 2022-1, Class A1A, 2.495% 12/25/2056 (3.495% on 2/25/2026)4,5,6   3,107    2,854 
Mello Warehouse Securitization Trust, Series 2021-3, Class A, (1-month USD-LIBOR + 0.85%) 5.988% 11/25/20554,6,7   12,120    11,973 
Towd Point Mortgage Trust, Series 2016-5, Class A1, 2.50% 10/25/20564,6,7   558    549 
Towd Point Mortgage Trust, Series 2020-4, Class A1, 1.75% 10/25/20604,6   17,475    15,370 
         30,746 
           
Total bonds, notes & other debt instruments (cost: $14,893,420,000)        13,465,598 
           
Short-term securities 0.76%   Shares      
Money market investments 0.76%          
Capital Group Central Cash Fund 5.11%9,10   1,038,080    103,797 
           
Total short-term securities (cost: $103,804,000)        103,797 
Total investment securities 99.89% (cost: $14,997,224,000)        13,569,395 
Other assets less liabilities 0.11%        15,131 
           
Net assets 100.00%       $13,584,526 

 

6 American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund
 

Futures contracts                 
                  
Contracts  Type  Number of
contracts
  Expiration   Notional amount
(000)
   Value and
unrealized
(depreciation)
 appreciation
at 5/31/2023
(000)
 
30 Day Federal Funds Futures  Long  16,123  May 2023   USD6,378,836           $   (1,704)
30 Day Federal Funds Futures  Long  1,576  July 2023   622,701    201 
30 Day Federal Funds Futures  Short  1,531  October 2023   (604,634)   (1,192)
30 Day Federal Funds Futures  Long  1,531  November 2023   605,559    1,828 
3 Month SOFR Futures  Long  11,305  December 2023   2,680,133    (129,280)
3 Month SOFR Futures  Short  11,280  March 2024   (2,683,371)   116,172 
3 Month SOFR Futures  Short  4,679  March 2025   (1,131,792)   21,942 
2 Year U.S. Treasury Note Futures  Long  49,368  September 2023   10,161,323    (16,753)
5 Year U.S. Treasury Note Futures  Long  13,460  September 2023   1,468,192    (928)
10 Year Euro-Bund Futures  Long  2,502  June 2023   363,850    1,909 
10 Year Italy Government Bond Futures  Short  3,132  June 2023   (388,210)   (6,008)
10 Year Japanese Government Bond Futures  Short  880  June 2023   (938,583)   (20,265)
10 Year U.S. Treasury Note Futures  Short  4,173  September 2023   (477,678)   (2,170)
10 Year Ultra U.S. Treasury Note Futures  Short  12,207  September 2023   (1,470,371)   (8,016)
20 Year U.S. Treasury Bond Futures  Long  3,191  September 2023   409,545    5,343 
30 Year Euro-Buxl Futures  Long  62  June 2023   9,192    447 
30 Year Ultra U.S. Treasury Bond Futures  Short  6,039  September 2023   (826,588)   (13,272)
                  $ (51,746)

 

Forward currency contracts

 

Contract amount        Unrealized
(depreciation)
appreciation
 
Currency purchased  Currency sold     Settlement  at 5/31/2023 
(000) (000)  Counterparty  date    (000) 
JPY  13,141,800  USD  98,393  Morgan Stanley  6/12/2023              $(3,893)
USD  9,705  SEK  100,000  Bank of America  6/15/2023     482 
USD  24,314  KRW   32,489,550  Bank of America  6/15/2023     (267)
JPY  1,992,700  EUR  13,661  UBS AG  6/15/2023     (279)
CLP  27,879,900  USD  35,466  Goldman Sachs  6/15/2023     (1,119)
JPY  10,466,255  USD  78,432  Morgan Stanley  6/15/2023     (3,134)
NOK  2,628,795  USD  247,672  Morgan Stanley  6/15/2023     (10,671)
COP  570,316,094  USD  124,954  Morgan Stanley  6/16/2023     2,658 
USD  74,762  NZD  120,300  Morgan Stanley  6/16/2023     2,311 
NZD  175  USD  108  Morgan Stanley  6/16/2023     (3)
JPY  9,151,100  USD  68,486  Barclays Bank PLC  6/22/2023     (2,575)
USD  21,074  GBP  16,829  Morgan Stanley  6/23/2023     130 
USD  15,773  GBP  12,647  UBS AG  6/26/2023     32 
USD  83,860  MXN  1,491,588  Morgan Stanley  6/26/2023     20 
USD  655  GBP  525  UBS AG  6/26/2023     1 
EUR  34,332  USD  37,214  Bank of New York Mellon  6/26/2023     (459)
EUR  23,530  MXN  460,000  Goldman Sachs  6/28/2023     (651)
USD  139,504  EUR  129,139  Citibank  7/7/2023     1,166 
USD  21  CAD  28  Morgan Stanley  7/7/2023     3 
CAD  43,898  USD  32,437  Bank of America  7/7/2023     (68)
USD  172,156  MXN  3,096,884  Citibank  7/7/2023     (1,527)
                    $(17,846)

 

American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund 7
 

Swap contracts

 

Interest rate swaps

 

Centrally cleared interest rate swaps

 

                      Upfront   Unrealized 
                       premium   (depreciation) 
Receive  Pay     Notional   Value at   paid   appreciation  
Rate  Payment
frequency
  Rate  Payment
frequency
  Expiration
date
  amount
(000)
  5/31/2023
(000)
  (received)
(000)
   at 5/31/2023
(000)
 
3.755%  At maturity  U.S. Urban CPI  At maturity  8/5/2023  USD 97,700  $(224)  $   $(224)
1.2475%  Semi-annual  3-month NZD-BBR-FRA  Quarterly  8/20/2023  NZD 34,659   (210)       (210)
1.234974%  Semi-annual  3-month NZD-BBR-FRA  Quarterly  8/20/2023    295,353   (1,793)       (1,793)
1.2375%  Semi-annual  3-month NZD-BBR-FRA  Quarterly  8/26/2023    108,854   (696)       (696)
1.264%  Semi-annual  3-month NZD-BBR-FRA  Quarterly  8/27/2023    272,097   (1,735)       (1,735)
1.26%  Semi-annual  3-month NZD-BBR-FRA  Quarterly  8/30/2023    44,882   (294)       (294)
1.28%  Semi-annual  3-month NZD-BBR-FRA  Quarterly  8/31/2023    44,882   (294)       (294)
1.30%  Semi-annual  3-month NZD-BBR-FRA  Quarterly  9/3/2023    49,273   (333)       (333)
2.26%  Semi-annual  3-month NZD-BBR-FRA  Quarterly  11/2/2023    346,075   (2,964)       (2,964)
2.215%  Semi-annual  3-month NZD-BBR-FRA  Quarterly  11/3/2023    691,568   (6,039)       (6,039)
0.207%  Annual  U.S. EFFR  Annual  2/26/2024  USD 2,517,000   (90,353)   3    (90,353)
U.S. EFFR  Annual  0.11%  Annual  5/18/2024    978,900   45,416        45,416 
U.S. Urban CPI  At maturity  3.3775%  At maturity  8/5/2024    97,700   (683)       (683)
U.S. Urban CPI  At maturity  3.04%  At maturity  9/6/2024    98,643   (1,014)       (1,014)
U.S. Urban CPI  At maturity  3.05%  At maturity  9/6/2024    293,000   (3,070)       (3,070)
U.S. Urban CPI  At maturity  3.02%  At maturity  9/7/2024    48,833   (481)       (481)
U.S. Urban CPI  At maturity  3.03%  At maturity  9/7/2024    488,333   (4,908)       (4,908)
U.S. Urban CPI  At maturity  2.9975%  At maturity  9/8/2024    244,167   (2,292)       (2,292)
U.S. Urban CPI  At maturity  2.91%  At maturity  9/9/2024    244,167   (1,869)       (1,869)
U.S. Urban CPI  At maturity  2.8471%  At maturity  9/12/2024    564,357   (3,572)       (3,572)
U.S. Urban CPI  At maturity  2.73%  At maturity  9/29/2024    564,721   (1,951)       (1,951)
U.S. Urban CPI  At maturity  3.127%  At maturity  10/1/2024    976,700   (10,795)       (10,795)
U.S. EFFR  Annual  0.126%  Annual  6/25/2025    148,300   11,979        11,979 
U.S. EFFR  Annual  0.1275%  Annual  6/25/2025    148,300   11,975        11,975 
U.S. EFFR  Annual  0.106%  Annual  6/30/2025    165,539   13,493        13,493 
SOFR  Annual  3.916%  Annual  7/11/2025    259,600   1,622        1,622 
(0.445)%  Annual  6-month EURIBOR  Semi-annual  12/3/2025  EUR 344,500   (33,143)       (33,143)
(0.452)%  Annual  6-month EURIBOR  Semi-annual  12/3/2025    344,500   (33,204)       (33,204)
4.27%  Annual  SOFR  Annual  2/16/2026  USD 244,880   1,844        1,844 
4.265%  Annual  SOFR  Annual  2/16/2026    121,528   900        900 
4.3035%  Annual  SOFR  Annual  2/17/2026    72,950   611        611 
4.2675%  Annual  SOFR  Annual  2/17/2026    70,420   526        526 
4.2515%  Annual  SOFR  Annual  2/17/2026    72,242   510        510 
4.3005%  Annual  SOFR  Annual  2/17/2026    50,589   420        420 
4.288%  Annual  SOFR  Annual  2/17/2026    51,392   410        410 
5.395%  28-day  28-day MXN-TIIE  28-day  3/6/2026  MXN 311,688   (1,629)       (1,629)
6.435%  28-day  28-day MXN-TIIE  28-day  6/15/2026    365,000   (1,427)       (1,427)
6.50%  28-day  28-day MXN-TIIE  28-day  6/17/2026    131,300   (501)       (501)
6.50%  28-day  28-day MXN-TIIE  28-day  6/18/2026    262,700   (1,003)       (1,003)
6.64%  28-day  28-day MXN-TIIE  28-day  6/25/2026    140,500   (508)       (508)
6.633%  28-day  28-day MXN-TIIE  28-day  6/25/2026    387,400   (1,404)       (1,404)
TONAR  Annual  (0.01246731)%  Annual  10/1/2026  JPY 3,447,100   156    (8)   164 
7.55%  28-day  28-day MXN-TIIE  28-day  10/23/2026  MXN 276,000   (614)       (614)
7.64%  28-day  28-day MXN-TIIE  28-day  10/28/2026    191,100   (396)       (396)
SOFR  Annual  3.232%  Annual  3/30/2027  USD 110,600   1,774        1,774 
U.S. Urban CPI  At maturity  2.87%  At maturity  7/27/2027    1,000   (8)       (8)
2.5895%  Annual  SOFR  Annual  7/27/2027    1,000   (40)       (40)
U.S. EFFR  Annual  2.045%  Annual  11/2/2027    33,700   2,100        2,100 
3.45%  Annual  SOFR  Annual  2/1/2028    192,300   (941)       (941)
3.47%  Annual  SOFR  Annual  2/2/2028    50,700   (204)       (204)
3.16%  Annual  SOFR  Annual  6/20/2028    78,500   (1,238)       (1,238)
28-day MXN-TIIE  28-day  6.95%  28-day  3/22/2030  MXN 775,250   3,166        3,166 
3.18%  Annual  SOFR  Annual  4/17/2030  USD 66,800   (995)       (995)
3.275%  Annual  SOFR  Annual  4/18/2030    66,800   (610)       (610)
3.353%  Annual  SOFR  Annual  4/19/2030    66,800   (294)       (294)
3.342%  Annual  SOFR  Annual  4/19/2030    66,800   (339)       (339)
3.344%  Annual  SOFR  Annual  4/20/2030    66,800   (330)       (330)
3.128%  Annual  SOFR  Annual  4/28/2030    66,700   (1,203)       (1,203)
3.285%  Annual  SOFR  Annual  5/1/2030    66,700   (565)       (565)

 

8 American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund
 

Swap contracts (continued)

 

Interest rate swaps (continued)

 

Centrally cleared interest rate swaps (continued)

 

Receive  Pay     Notional  Value at   Upfront
premium
paid
   Unrealized
(depreciation)
appreciation
 
Rate  Payment
frequency
  Rate  Payment
frequency
  Expiration
date
  amount
(000)
  5/31/2023
(000)
   (received)
(000)
  at 5/31/2023
(000)
 
3.259%  Annual  SOFR  Annual  5/1/2030  USD 66,800    $(671)   $    $(671)
3.186%  Annual  SOFR  Annual  5/9/2030    66,800     (966)           (966)
3.215%  Annual  SOFR  Annual  5/10/2030    66,700     (847)           (847)
3.29%  Annual  SOFR  Annual  5/19/2030    80,000     (646)           (646)
U.S. EFFR  Annual  0.666%  Annual  11/19/2030    118,200     21,040            21,040 
SOFR  Annual  3.055%  Annual  4/6/2031    54,100     1,269            1,269 
SOFR  Annual  3.2903%  Annual  1/12/2033    235,000     1,723            1,723 
SOFR  Annual  3.4815%  Annual  2/17/2033    284,000     (2,371)           (2,371)
SOFR  Annual  3.501%  Annual  2/17/2033    284,000     (2,825)           (2,825)
3.2545%  Annual  SOFR  Annual  5/18/2033    346,000     (3,542)           (3,542)
SOFR  Annual  3.10%  Annual  6/20/2033    42,300     940            940 
SOFR  Annual  3.175%  Annual  2/1/2038    106,900     846            846 
SOFR  Annual  2.99%  Annual  2/2/2038    32,000     682            682 
U.S. EFFR  Annual  0.6193%  Annual  4/6/2050    30,300     13,838            13,838 
U.S. EFFR  Annual  0.60602%  Annual  4/6/2050    13,870     6,367            6,367 
U.S. EFFR  Annual  0.616917%  Annual  4/6/2050    12,500     5,714            5,714 
6-month EURIBOR  Semi-annual  0.0897%  Annual  6/4/2050  EUR 22,000     11,403            11,403 
2.92%  Annual  SOFR  Annual  10/19/2050  USD 20,500     (1,080)           (1,080)
6-month EURIBOR  Semi-annual  0.0175%  Annual  12/3/2050  EUR 51,650     27,751            27,751 
6-month EURIBOR  Semi-annual  0.071%  Annual  1/14/2051    51,920     27,324            27,324 
6-month EURIBOR  Semi-annual  0.068%  Annual  1/15/2051    56,080     29,543            29,543 
0.702%  Annual  6-month EURIBOR  Semi-annual  3/3/2052    27,500     (11,062)           (11,062)
0.672%  Annual  6-month EURIBOR  Semi-annual  3/3/2052    27,500     (11,236)           (11,236)
0.649%  Annual  6-month EURIBOR  Semi-annual  3/3/2052    32,325     (13,365)           (13,365)
SOFR  Annual  3.01413%  Annual  1/12/2053  USD 35,399     1,063            1,063 
SOFR  Annual  3.02%  Annual  1/12/2053    35,400     1,024            1,024 
SOFR  Annual  2.974%  Annual  4/17/2053    21,000     772            772 
SOFR  Annual  3.044%  Annual  4/18/2053    21,100     496            496 
SOFR  Annual  3.0875%  Annual  4/19/2053    21,100     322            322 
SOFR  Annual  3.1035%  Annual  4/19/2053    21,200     259            259 
SOFR  Annual  3.0895%  Annual  4/20/2053    21,100     314            314 
SOFR  Annual  2.9405%  Annual  4/28/2053    21,200     912            912 
SOFR  Annual  3.0535%  Annual  5/1/2053    42,300     913            913 
SOFR  Annual  3.085%  Annual  5/9/2053    21,300     330            330 
SOFR  Annual  3.1135%  Annual  5/10/2053    21,300     215            215 
SOFR  Annual  3.1605%  Annual  5/19/2053    25,500     27            27 
                      $(12,788)     $(8)    $(12,780)

 

Credit default swaps

 

Centrally cleared credit default swaps on credit indices — buy protection

 

Reference
index
   Financing
rate paid
  Payment
frequency
  Expiration
date
  Notional
amount
(000)
  Value at
5/31/2023
(000)
   Upfront
premium
received
(000)
   Unrealized
depreciation
at 5/31/2023
(000)
 
CDX.NA.IG.40    1.00%  Quarterly  6/20/2028  USD5,502,828     $(60,558)       $(34,522)           $(26,036)

 

Investments in affiliates10

 

   Value of
affiliate at
12/1/2022
(000)
   Additions
(000)
   Reductions
(000)
   Net
realized
gain
(000)
   Net
unrealized
depreciation
(000)
   Value of
affiliate at
5/31/2023
(000)
   Dividend
income
(000)
 
Short-term securities 0.76%                                   
Money market investments 0.76%                                  
Capital Group Central Cash Fund 5.11%9     $199,432     $1,270,078      $1,365,702             $15               $(26)    $103,797       $4,009 

 

American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund 9
 

1 Index-linked bond whose principal amount moves with a government price index.
2 All or a portion of this security was pledged as collateral. The total value of pledged collateral was $347,394,000, which represented 2.56% of the net assets of the fund.
3 Amount less than one thousand.
4 Acquired in a transaction exempt from registration under Rule 144A or, for commercial paper, Section 4(a)(2) 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 $355,541,000, which represented 2.62% of the net assets of the fund.
5 Step bond; coupon rate may change at a later date.
6 Principal payments may be made periodically. Therefore, the effective maturity date may be earlier than the stated maturity date.
7 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.
8 Value determined using significant unobservable inputs.
9 Rate represents the seven-day yield at 5/31/2023.
10 Part of the same “group of investment companies” as the fund as defined under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

Key to abbreviations

Auth. = Authority

BBR = Bank Base Rate

CAD = Canadian dollars

CLO = Collateralized Loan Obligations

CLP = Chilean pesos

COP = Colombian pesos

CPI = Consumer Price Index

EFFR = Effective Federal Funds Rate

EUR = Euros

EURIBOR = Euro Interbank Offered Rate

Facs. = Facilities

Fin. = Finance

Fncg. = Financing

FRA = Forward Rate Agreement

G.O. = General Obligation

GBP = British pounds

JPY = Japanese yen

KRW = South Korean won

LIBOR = London Interbank Offered Rate

MXN = Mexican pesos

NOK = Norwegian kroner

NZD = New Zealand dollars

Ref. = Refunding

Rev. = Revenue

SEK = Swedish kronor

SOFR = Secured Overnight Financing Rate

TIIE = Equilibrium Interbank Interest Rate

TONAR = Tokyo Overnight Average Rate

USD = U.S. dollars

 

Refer to the notes to financial statements.

 

10 American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund
 

Financial statements

 

Statement of assets and liabilities unaudited
at May 31, 2023 (dollars in thousands)

 

Assets:        
Investment securities, at value:        
Unaffiliated issuers (cost: $14,893,420)  $13,465,598      
Affiliated issuers (cost: $103,804)   103,797   $13,569,395 
Cash        5,295 
Cash collateral pledged for forward currency contracts        330 
Cash collateral pledged for swap contracts        821 
Cash denominated in currencies other than U.S. dollars (cost: $73)        73 
Unrealized appreciation on open forward currency contracts        6,800 
Receivables for:          
Sales of fund’s shares   5,345      
Dividends and interest   29,409      
Variation margin on futures contracts   30,637      
Variation margin on centrally cleared swap contracts   18,336      
Other   71    83,798 
         13,666,512 
Liabilities:          
Unrealized depreciation on open forward currency contracts        24,646 
Payables for:          
Purchases of investments   1,025      
Repurchases of fund’s shares   9,940      
Investment advisory services   2,946      
Services provided by related parties   1,061      
Trustees’ deferred compensation   87      
Variation margin on futures contracts   26,477      
Variation margin on centrally cleared swap contracts   15,771      
Other   33    57,340 
Net assets at May 31, 2023       $13,584,526 
           
Net assets consist of:          
Capital paid in on shares of beneficial interest       $15,235,953 
Total accumulated loss        (1,651,427)
Net assets at May 31, 2023       $13,584,526 

 

Refer to the notes to financial statements.

 

American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund 11
 

Financial statements (continued)

 

Statement of assets and liabilities unaudited
at May 31, 2023 (continued) (dollars and shares in thousands, except per-share amounts)

 

Shares of beneficial interest issued and outstanding (no stated par value) —
unlimited shares authorized (1,475,815 total shares outstanding)

 

   Net assets   Shares
outstanding
   Net asset value
per share
 
Class A  $1,730,918    189,167   $9.15 
Class C   65,281    7,215    9.05 
Class T   9    1    9.17 
Class F-1   89,018    9,713    9.17 
Class F-2   958,932    104,165    9.21 
Class F-3   657,260    71,563    9.18 
Class 529-A   65,403    7,144    9.15 
Class 529-C   2,464    270    9.13 
Class 529-E   3,225    355    9.09 
Class 529-T   11    1    9.17 
Class 529-F-1   12    1    9.19 
Class 529-F-2   9,899    1,081    9.15 
Class 529-F-3   10    1    9.15 
Class R-1   4,642    514    9.03 
Class R-2   17,109    1,905    8.98 
Class R-2E   3,090    339    9.13 
Class R-3   27,235    3,004    9.07 
Class R-4   51,428    5,623    9.15 
Class R-5E   27,917    3,046    9.16 
Class R-5   9,476    1,029    9.21 
Class R-6   9,861,187    1,069,678    9.22 

 

Refer to the notes to financial statements.

  

12 American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund
 

Financial statements (continued)

 

Statement of operations unaudited
for the six months ended May 31, 2023 (dollars in thousands)

 

Investment income:        
Income:        
Interest from unaffiliated issuers  $257,897      
Dividends from affiliated issuers   4,009   $261,906 
Fees and expenses*:          
Investment advisory services   17,333      
Distribution services   3,662      
Transfer agent services   1,705      
Administrative services   2,064      
529 plan services   26      
Reports to shareholders   123      
Registration statement and prospectus   555      
Trustees’ compensation   34      
Auditing and legal   18      
Custodian   84      
Other   29    25,633 
Net investment income        236,273 
           
Net realized loss and unrealized depreciation:          
Net realized (loss) gain on:          
Investments:          
Unaffiliated issuers   (53,457)     
Affiliated issuers   15      
Futures contracts   71,114      
Forward currency contracts   (2,526)     
Swap contracts   (180,444)     
Currency transactions   36    (165,262)
Net unrealized (depreciation) appreciation on:          
Investments:          
Unaffiliated issuers   (48,062)     
Affiliated issuers   (26)     
Futures contracts   (163,223)     
Forward currency contracts   (23,826)     
Swap contracts   174,910      
Currency translations   8    (60,219)
Net realized loss and unrealized depreciation        (225,481)
           
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations       $10,792 

 

* Additional information related to class-specific fees and expenses is included in the notes to financial statements.

 

Refer to the notes to financial statements.

 

American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund 13
 

Financial statements (continued)

 

Statements of changes in net assets  
  (dollars in thousands)

 

   Six months ended
May 31, 2023*
   Year ended
November 30, 2022
 
Operations:        
Net investment income  $236,273   $902,780 
Net realized loss   (165,262)   (92,314)
Net unrealized depreciation   (60,219)   (2,390,625)
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations   10,792    (1,580,159)
           
Distributions paid to shareholders   (837,220)   (460,382)
           
Net capital share transactions   573,398    2,640,924 
           
Total (decrease) increase in net assets   (253,030)   600,383 
           
Net assets:          
Beginning of period   13,837,556    13,237,173 
End of period  $13,584,526   $13,837,556 

 

* Unaudited.

 

Refer to the notes to financial statements.

 

14 American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund
 
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 amended (the “1940 Act”), 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 1.00% for certain redemptions within 18 months of purchase without an initial sales charge)   None
Classes C and 529-C*   None   1.00% 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.

 

American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund 15
 

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 evaluated prices obtained from third-party 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

 

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 a third-party pricing vendor. Swaps are generally valued using evaluated prices obtained from third-party pricing vendors who calculate these values based on market inputs that may include the yields of the indices referenced in the instrument and the relevant curve, dealer quotes, default probabilities and recovery rates, other reference data, and terms of the contract.

 

16 American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund
 

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 the fund’s investment adviser and approved by the board of trustees as further described. The investment adviser follows fair valuation guidelines, consistent with U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission rules and guidance, to consider relevant principles and factors when making fair value determinations. The investment adviser considers relevant indications of value that are reasonably and timely available to it in determining the fair value to be assigned to a particular security, such as the type and cost of the security, contractual or legal restrictions on resale of the security, relevant financial or business developments of the issuer, actively traded similar or related securities, dealer or broker quotes, 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 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 designated 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 “Committee”) to administer, implement and oversee the fair valuation process and to make fair value decisions. The Committee regularly reviews its own fair value decisions, as well as decisions made under its standing instructions to the investment adviser’s valuation team. The Committee reviews changes in fair value measurements from period to period, pricing vendor information and market data, and may, as deemed appropriate, update the fair valuation guidelines to better reflect the results of back testing and address new or evolving issues. Pricing decisions, processes and controls over security valuation are also subject to additional internal reviews facilitated by the investment adviser’s global risk management group. The Committee reports 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.

 

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, 2023 (dollars in thousands):

 

   Investment securities 
   Level 1   Level 2   Level 3   Total 
Assets:                
Bonds, notes & other debt instruments:                    
U.S. Treasury bonds & notes  $   $12,425,090   $   $12,425,090 
Corporate bonds, notes & loans       492,108        492,108 
Asset-backed obligations       193,108    17,330    210,438 
Bonds & notes of governments & government agencies outside the U.S.       204,321        204,321 
Municipals       102,895        102,895 
Mortgage-backed obligations       30,746        30,746 
Short-term securities   103,797            103,797 
Total  $103,797   $13,448,268   $17,330   $13,569,395 

 

American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund 17
 
   Other investments* 
   Level 1  Level 2  Level 3  Total 
Assets:             
Unrealized appreciation on futures contracts  $147,842   $   $   $147,842 
Unrealized appreciation on open forward currency contracts       6,800        6,800 
Unrealized appreciation on centrally cleared interest rate swaps       251,997        251,997 
Liabilities:                    
Unrealized depreciation on futures contracts   (199,588)           (199,588)
Unrealized depreciation on open forward currency contracts       (24,646)       (24,646)
Unrealized depreciation on centrally cleared interest rate swaps       (264,777)       (264,777)
Unrealized depreciation on centrally cleared credit default swaps       (26,036)       (26,036)
Total  $(51,746)  $(56,662)  $   $(108,408)

 

* Futures contracts, forward currency contracts, interest rate swaps and credit default swaps are not included in the fund’s investment portfolio.

 

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 or companies; 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 financial condition or credit rating, 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 quality of these securities.

 

Rising interest rates will generally cause the prices of bonds and other debt securities to fall. Also, when interest rates rise, issuers are less likely to refinance existing debt securities, causing the average life of such securities to extend. 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. Changes in actual or perceived creditworthiness may occur quickly. 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 assessing credit and default risks.

 

18 American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund
 

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 U.S. 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. U.S. government securities are subject to market risk, interest rate risk and credit risk.

 

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 or difficult to determine, 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 to try to limit losses, 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 cause the fund to lose significantly more than 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. Derivatives are also subject to operational risk (such as documentation issues, settlement issues and systems failures) and legal risk (such as insufficient documentation, insufficient capacity or authority of a counterparty, and issues with the legality or enforceability of a contract).

 

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, sanctions, 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 regulatory, legal, accounting, auditing, financial reporting and recordkeeping requirements, 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, which could impact the liquidity of the fund’s portfolio. 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.

 

American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund 19
 

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. 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 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 $29,417,738,000.

 

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 $1,331,297,000.

 

Swap contracts — The fund has entered into swap agreements, which are two-party contracts entered into primarily by institutional investors for a specified time period. In a typical swap transaction, two parties agree to exchange the returns earned or realized from one or more underlying assets or rates of return. Swap agreements can be traded on a swap execution facility (SEF) and cleared through a central clearinghouse (cleared), traded over-the-counter (OTC) and cleared, or traded bilaterally and not cleared. Because clearing interposes a central clearinghouse as the ultimate counterparty to each participant’s swap, and margin is required to be exchanged under the rules of the clearinghouse, central clearing is intended to decrease (but not eliminate) counterparty risk relative to uncleared bilateral swaps. To the extent the fund enters into bilaterally negotiated swap transactions, the fund will enter into swap agreements only with counterparties that meet certain credit standards and subject to agreed collateralized procedures. The term of a swap can be days, months or years and certain swaps may be less liquid than others.

 

Upon entering into a centrally cleared 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 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.

 

20 American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund
 

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 for centrally cleared swaps and as unrealized appreciation or depreciation in the fund’s statement of assets and liabilities for bilateral swaps. For centrally cleared swaps, the fund also pays or receives a variation margin based on the increase or decrease in the value of the swaps, including accrued interest as applicable, 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 swaps are recorded in the fund’s statement of operations.

 

Swap agreements can take different forms. The fund has entered into the following types of swap agreements:

 

Interest rate swaps — The fund has entered into interest rate swaps, which 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. An interest rate swap is an agreement between two parties to exchange or swap payments based on changes in an interest rate or rates. Typically, one interest rate is fixed and the other is variable based on a designated short-term interest rate such as the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR), prime rate or other benchmark, or on an inflation index such as the U.S. Consumer Price Index (which is a measure that examines the weighted average of prices of a basket of consumer goods and services and measures changes in the purchasing power of the U.S. dollar and the rate of inflation). In other types of interest rate swaps, known as basis swaps, the parties agree to swap variable interest rates based on different designated short-term interest rates. Interest rate swaps generally do not involve the delivery of securities or other principal amounts. Rather, cash payments are exchanged by the parties based on the application of the designated interest rates to a notional amount, which is the predetermined dollar principal of the trade upon which payment obligations are computed. Accordingly, the fund’s current obligation or right under the swap agreement is generally equal to the net amount to be paid or received under the swap agreement based on the relative value of the position held by each party. The average month-end notional amount of interest rate swaps while held was $18,292,652,000.

 

Credit default swap indices — The fund has entered into centrally cleared credit default swap indices, including CDX and iTraxx indices (collectively referred to as “CDSI”), in order to assume exposure to a diversified portfolio of credits or to hedge against existing credit risks. A CDSI is based on a portfolio of credit default swaps with similar characteristics, such as credit default swaps on high-yield bonds. In a typical CDSI transaction, one party (the protection buyer) is obligated to pay the other party (the protection seller) a stream of periodic payments over the term of the contract. If a credit event, such as a default or restructuring, occurs with respect to any of the underlying reference obligations, the protection seller must pay the protection buyer the loss on those credits.

 

The fund may enter into a CDSI transaction as either protection buyer or protection seller. If the fund is a protection buyer, it would pay the counterparty a periodic stream of payments over the term of the contract and would not recover any of those payments if no credit events were to occur with respect to any of the underlying reference obligations. However, if a credit event did occur, the fund, as a protection buyer, would have the right to deliver the referenced debt obligations or a specified amount of cash, depending on the terms of the applicable agreement, and to receive the par value of such debt obligations from the counterparty protection seller. As a protection seller, the fund would receive fixed payments throughout the term of the contract if no credit events were to occur with respect to any of the underlying reference obligations. If a credit event were to occur, however, the value of any deliverable obligation received by the fund, coupled with the periodic payments previously received by the fund, may be less than the full notional value that the fund, as a protection seller, pays to the counterparty protection buyer, effectively resulting in a loss of value to the fund. Furthermore, as a protection seller, the fund would effectively add leverage to its portfolio because it would have investment exposure to the notional amount of the swap transaction. The average month-end notional amount of credit default swaps while held was $4,602,936,000.

 

American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund 21
 

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, 2023 (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*  $147,842   Unrealized depreciation*  $199,588 
Forward currency  Currency  Unrealized appreciation on open forward currency contracts   6,800   Unrealized depreciation on open forward currency contracts   24,646 
Swap (centrally cleared)  Interest  Unrealized appreciation*   251,997   Unrealized depreciation*   264,777 
Swap (centrally cleared)  Credit  Unrealized appreciation*      Unrealized depreciation*   26,036 
         $406,639      $515,047 
                
      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  $71,114   Net unrealized depreciation on futures contracts  $(163,223)
Forward currency  Currency  Net realized loss on forward currency contracts   (2,526)  Net unrealized depreciation on forward currency contracts   (23,826)
Swap  Interest  Net realized loss on swap contracts   (139,602)  Net unrealized appreciation on swap contracts   160,487 
Swap  Credit  Net realized loss on swap contracts   (40,842)  Net unrealized appreciation on swap contracts   14,423 
         $(111,856)     $(12,139)

 

* Includes cumulative appreciation/depreciation on futures contracts, centrally cleared interest rate swaps and centrally cleared 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 fund’s 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, centrally cleared interest rate swaps and centrally cleared 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 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.

 

22 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, 2023, if close-out netting was exercised (dollars in thousands):

 

   Gross amounts
recognized in the
   Gross amounts not offset in the
statement of assets and liabilities and
subject to a master netting agreement
    
Counterparty  statement of assets
and liabilities
   Available
to offset
   Non-cash
collateral*
   Cash
collateral*
   Net
amount
 
Assets:                         
Bank of America  $482   $(335)  $   $   $147 
Citibank   1,166    (1,166)            
Morgan Stanley   5,119    (5,119)            
UBS AG   33    (33)            
Total  $6,800   $(6,653)  $   $   $147 
Liabilities:                         
Bank of America  $335   $(335)  $   $   $ 
Bank of New York Mellon   459            (330)   129 
Barclays Bank PLC   2,575        (2,575)        
Citibank   1,527    (1,166)   (361)        
Goldman Sachs   1,770        (1,450)       320 
Morgan Stanley   17,701    (5,119)   (12,582)        
UBS AG   279    (33)   (246)        
Total  $24,646   $(6,653)  $(17,214)  $(330)  $449 

 

* 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 regulated investment companies 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, 2023, 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. The fund generally 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; net capital losses; amortization of premiums and discounts 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 23
 

The components of distributable earnings on a tax basis are reported as of the fund’s most recent year-end. As of November 30, 2022, the components of distributable earnings on a tax basis were as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

Undistributed ordinary income  $829,123 
Capital loss carryforward*   (73,924)

 

* The capital loss carryforward will be used to offset any capital gains realized by the fund in the current year or in subsequent years. The fund will not make distributions from capital gains while a capital loss carryforward remains.

 

As of May 31, 2023, the tax basis unrealized appreciation (depreciation) and cost of investments were as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

Gross unrealized appreciation on investments  $420,850 
Gross unrealized depreciation on investments   (1,979,804)
Net unrealized depreciation on investments   (1,558,954)
Cost of investments   15,054,471 

 

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

 

Share class  Six months ended
May 31, 2023
  Year ended
November 30, 2022
Class A  $118,519   $74,029 
Class C   4,034    3,054 
Class T   1     
Class F-1   6,585    8,436 
Class F-2   72,768    58,663 
Class F-3   52,000    36,467 
Class 529-A   4,378    2,387 
Class 529-C   146    79 
Class 529-E   201    91 
Class 529-T   1     
Class 529-F-1   1     
Class 529-F-2   666    322 
Class 529-F-3   1     
Class R-1   240    96 
Class R-2   720    346 
Class R-2E   147    70 
Class R-3   1,546    859 
Class R-4   3,233    2,229 
Class R-5E   1,790    583 
Class R-5   591    497 
Class R-6   569,652    272,174 
Total  $837,220   $460,382 

 

Amount less than one thousand.

 

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 0.252% on the first $15 billion of daily net assets and decreasing to 0.230% on such assets in excess of $15 billion. For the six months ended May 31, 2023, the investment advisory services fees were $17,333,000, which were equivalent to an annualized rate of 0.252% of average daily net assets.

 

24 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, 2023, unreimbursed expenses subject to reimbursement totaled $1,275,000 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.

 

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 fees are 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. Virginia529 is not considered a related party to the fund.

 

The quarterly fees are 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 $75 billion. The fees for any given calendar quarter are 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. For the six months ended May 31, 2023, the 529 plan services fees were $26,000, which were equivalent to 0.060% of the average daily net assets of each 529 share class.

 

American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund 25
 

For the six months ended May 31, 2023, class-specific expenses under the agreements were as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

Share class  Distribution
services
  Transfer agent
services
  Administrative
services
  529 plan
services
 
Class A  $2,848  $916  $285  Not applicable  
Class C  367  36  11  Not applicable  
Class T      * Not applicable  
Class F-1  128  61  15  Not applicable  
Class F-2  Not applicable  542  162  Not applicable  
Class F-3  Not applicable  1  115  Not applicable  
Class 529-A  78  31  11  $21  
Class 529-C  14  1  * 1  
Class 529-E  9  1  1  1  
Class 529-T    * * *
Class 529-F-1    * * *
Class 529-F-2  Not applicable  1  2  3  
Class 529-F-3  Not applicable    * *
Class R-1  23  2  1  Not applicable  
Class R-2  51  21  2  Not applicable  
Class R-2E  8  3  * Not applicable  
Class R-3  69  20  4  Not applicable  
Class R-4  67  27  8  Not applicable  
Class R-5E  Not applicable  21  4  Not applicable  
Class R-5  Not applicable  3  1  Not applicable  
Class R-6  Not applicable  18  1,442  Not applicable  
Total class-specific expenses  $3,662  $1,705  $2,064  $26  

 

* 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 $34,000 in the fund’s statement of operations reflects $27,000 in current fees (either paid in cash or deferred) and a net increase of $7,000 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 instruments. 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 investment securities from, or sell investment 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, 2023, 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, 2023.

 

26 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):

 

   Sales*  Reinvestments of
distributions
  Repurchases*  Net (decrease)
increase
 
Share class  Amount  Shares  Amount  Shares  Amount  Shares  Amount  Shares  
                         
Six months ended May 31, 2023                           
                            
Class A  $72,344    7,805   $117,860    12,937   $(444,322)   (47,909)  $(254,118)   (27,167)
Class C   3,010    329    4,024    446    (20,623)   (2,248)   (13,589)   (1,473)
Class T                                
Class F-1   3,814    410    6,552    719    (34,926)   (3,773)   (24,560)   (2,644)
Class F-2   174,534    18,688    72,134    7,884    (469,299)   (50,256)   (222,631)   (23,684)
Class F-3   71,459    7,677    50,775    5,567    (283,166)   (30,424)   (160,932)   (17,180)
Class 529-A   3,956    425    4,377    481    (15,178)   (1,637)   (6,845)   (731)
Class 529-C   423    46    146    16    (1,051)   (113)   (482)   (51)
Class 529-E   223    25    200    22    (609)   (66)   (186)   (19)
Class 529-T           1                1     
Class 529-F-1           1                1     
Class 529-F-2   1,164    124    666    73    (2,183)   (236)   (353)   (39)
Class 529-F-3           1                1     
Class R-1   491    54    240    27    (434)   (48)   297    33 
Class R-2   6,744    740    720    80    (3,025)   (335)   4,439    485 
Class R-2E   579    63    147    16    (204)   (22)   522    57 
Class R-3   4,900    534    1,541    170    (5,506)   (601)   935    103 
Class R-4   5,900    635    3,233    355    (10,249)   (1,108)   (1,116)   (118)
Class R-5E   4,109    442    1,790    197    (5,447)   (595)   452    44 
Class R-5   1,413    153    591    65    (1,716)   (184)   288    34 
Class R-6   908,897    97,481    569,653    62,189    (227,276)   (24,421)   1,251,274    135,249 
Total net increase (decrease)  $1,263,960    135,631   $834,652    91,244   $(1,525,214)   (163,976)  $573,398    62,899 

 

Refer to the end of the table for footnotes.

 

American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund 27
 
   Sales*  Reinvestments of
distributions
  Repurchases*  Net increase
(decrease)
 
Share class  Amount  Shares  Amount  Shares  Amount  Shares  Amount  Shares  
                         
Year ended November 30, 2022                           
                                         
Class A  $995,574    93,872   $73,729    6,802   $(785,337)   (77,020)  $283,966    23,654 
Class C   43,595    4,133    3,043    283    (46,523)   (4,592)   115    (176)
Class T                                
Class F-1   40,367    3,770    8,412    776    (162,120)   (15,415)   (113,341)   (10,869)
Class F-2   789,717    74,563    58,343    5,358    (1,017,275)   (98,793)   (169,215)   (18,872)
Class F-3   478,217    45,250    35,642    3,282    (492,434)   (48,015)   21,425    517 
Class 529-A   38,301    3,651    2,387    220    (25,045)   (2,430)   15,643    1,441 
Class 529-C   2,648    253    78    7    (1,938)   (189)   788    71 
Class 529-E   2,204    209    91    8    (1,037)   (101)   1,258    116 
Class 529-T                                
Class 529-F-1                                
Class 529-F-2   6,223    596    322    30    (2,724)   (265)   3,821    361 
Class 529-F-3                                
Class R-1   2,494    239    96    9    (1,122)   (112)   1,468    136 
Class R-2   8,754    852    346    33    (6,006)   (599)   3,094    286 
Class R-2E   2,478    236    70    6    (1,842)   (178)   706    64 
Class R-3   15,466    1,507    855    80    (12,361)   (1,233)   3,960    354 
Class R-4   31,084    2,986    2,229    206    (32,106)   (3,145)   1,207    47 
Class R-5E   23,069    2,228    583    54    (8,101)   (794)   15,551    1,488 
Class R-5   3,935    372    497    45    (6,736)   (651)   (2,304)   (234)
Class R-6   2,949,798    285,571    272,176    24,970    (649,192)   (62,133)   2,572,782    248,408 
Total net increase (decrease)  $5,433,924    520,288   $458,899    42,169   $(3,251,899)   (315,665)  $2,640,924    246,792 

 

* Includes exchanges between share classes of the fund.
Amount less than one thousand.

 

10. Investment transactions

 

The fund engaged in purchases and sales of investment securities, excluding short-term securities and U.S. government obligations, if any, of $50,977,000 and $106,005,000, respectively, during the six months ended May 31, 2023.

 

11. Ownership concentration

 

At May 31, 2023, 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 2035 Target Date Retirement Fund, with aggregate ownership of the fund’s outstanding shares of 17%, 17% and 11%, respectively. CRMC is the investment adviser to the three target date retirement funds.

 

28 American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund
 

Financial highlights

 

       (Loss) income from
investment operations1
   Dividends and distributions                         
Year ended  Net asset
value,
beginning
of year
   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 year
   Total return2,3   Net assets,
end of
year
(in millions)
   Ratio of
expenses to
average net
assets before
waivers/
reimburse-
ments4
   Ratio of
expenses to
average net
assets after
waivers/
reimburse-
ments3,4
   Ratio of
net income
to average
net assets3
 
Class A:                                                                 
5/31/20235,6  $9.72   $.14   $(.15)  $(.01)  $(.56)  $   $(.56)  $9.15    (.06)%7   $1,731    .69%8    .69%   3.06%
11/30/2022   11.29    .65    (1.85)   (1.20)   (.37)       (.37)   9.72    (11.00)   2,103    .67    .67    6.33 
11/30/2021   11.19    .40    .11    .51    (.22)   (.19)   (.41)   11.29    4.68    2,175    .68    .68    3.60 
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 
Class C:                                                                 
5/31/20235,6   9.57    .11    (.15)   (.04)   (.48)       (.48)   9.05    (.43)7    65    1.398    1.398    2.338 
11/30/2022   11.15    .58    (1.83)   (1.25)   (.33)       (.33)   9.57    (11.56)   83    1.37    1.37    5.67 
11/30/2021   11.08    .34    .08    .42    (.16)   (.19)   (.35)   11.15    3.92    99    1.37    1.37    3.09 
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 
Class T:                                                                 
5/31/20235,6   9.76    .16    (.15)   .01    (.60)       (.60)   9.17    .117,9    10    .308,9    .308,9     3.538,9 
11/30/2022   11.32    .68    (1.86)   (1.18)   (.38)       (.38)   9.76    (10.74)9    10    .369    .369    6.539 
11/30/2021   11.21    .41    .13    .54    (.24)   (.19)   (.43)   11.32    4.979    10    .40    .40    3.769 
11/30/2020   9.90    .15    1.28    1.43    (.12)       (.12)   11.21    14.519    10    .419    .419    1.449 
11/30/2019   9.55    .18    .44    .62    (.23)   (.04)   (.27)   9.90    6.819    10    .449    .449    1.909 
11/30/2018   9.78    .24    (.30)   (.06)   (.14)   (.03)   (.17)   9.55    (.63)9    10    .479    .479    2.469 
Class F-1:                                                                 
5/31/20235,6   9.72    .14    (.14)   11    (.55)       (.55)   9.17    (.10)7    89    .668    .66    3.018 
11/30/2022   11.28    .65    (1.85)   (1.20)   (.36)       (.36)   9.72    (10.96)   120    .68    .68    6.23 
11/30/2021   11.21    .40    .09    .49    (.23)   (.19)   (.42)   11.28    4.54    262    .67    .67    3.67 
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 
Class F-2:                                                                 
5/31/20235,6   9.79    .16    (.15)   .01    (.59)       (.59)   9.21    .147    959    .398    .398    3.358 
11/30/2022   11.36    .69    (1.87)   (1.18)   (.39)       (.39)   9.79    (10.76)   1,252    .40    .40    6.61 
11/30/2021   11.26    .44    .10    .54    (.25)   (.19)   (.44)   11.36    4.90    1,666    .40    .40    3.96 
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 
Class F-3:                                                                 
5/31/20235,6   9.78    .16    (.16)   11    (.60)       (.60)   9.18    .077    657    .298    .298    3.438 
11/30/2022   11.34    .70    (1.87)   (1.17)   (.39)       (.39)   9.78    (10.62)   868    .30    .29    6.72 
11/30/2021   11.24    .46    .08    .54    (.25)   (.19)   (.44)   11.34    4.98    1,000    .31    .31    4.13 
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 
Class 529-A:                                                             
5/31/20235,6   9.73    .14    (.15)   (.01)   (.57)       (.57)   9.15    (.11)7    65    .678    .678    3.138 
11/30/2022   11.29    .65    (1.85)   (1.20)   (.36)       (.36)   9.73    (10.93)   77    .65    .65    6.31 
11/30/2021   11.19    .40    .10    .50    (.21)   (.19)   (.40)   11.29    4.63    73    .67    .67    3.60 
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 

 

Refer to the end of the table for footnotes.

 

American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund 29
 

Financial highlights (continued)

 

       (Loss) income from
investment operations1
   Dividends and distributions                         
Year ended  Net asset
value,
beginning
of year
   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 year
   Total return2,3   Net assets,
end of
year
(in millions)
   Ratio of
expenses to
average net
assets before
waivers/
reimburse-
ments4
   Ratio of
expenses to
average net
assets after
waivers/
reimburse-
ments3,4
   Ratio of
net income
to average
net assets3
 
Class 529-C:                                                                 
5/31/20235,6  $9.66   $.11   $(.16)  $(.05)  $(.48)  $   $(.48)  $9.13    (.42)%7   $3    1.44%8    1.44%8    2.32% 
11/30/2022   11.23    .57    (1.84)   (1.27)   (.30)       (.30)   9.66    (11.68)   3    1.42    1.42    5.61 
11/30/2021   11.08    .32    .11    .43    (.09)   (.19)   (.28)   11.23    3.84    3    1.41    1.41    2.87 
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 
Class 529-E:                                                                 
5/31/20235,6   9.66    .13    (.16)   (.03)   (.54)       (.54)   9.09    (.14)7    3    .898    .898    2.908 
11/30/2022   11.21    .62    (1.83)   (1.21)   (.34)       (.34)   9.66    (11.23)   4    .88    .88    6.02 
11/30/2021   11.13    .36    .12    .48    (.21)   (.19)   (.40)   11.21    4.41    3    .89    .89    3.32 
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 
Class 529-T:                                                                 
5/31/20235,6   9.76    .16    (.16)   11    (.59)       (.59)   9.17    .167,9    10    .388,9    .388,9    3.438,9 
11/30/2022   11.31    .67    (1.84)   (1.17)   (.38)       (.38)   9.76    (10.79)9    10    .429    .429    6.489 
11/30/2021   11.21    .41    .11    .52    (.23)   (.19)   (.42)   11.31    4.839    10    .459    .459    3.729 
11/30/2020   9.90    .15    1.27    1.42    (.11)       (.11)   11.21    14.559    10    .489    .489    1.379 
11/30/2019   9.55    .18    .44    .62    (.23)   (.04)   (.27)   9.90    6.649    10    .509    .509    1.849 
11/30/2018   9.78    .23    (.30)   (.07)   (.13)   (.03)   (.16)   9.55    (.65)9    10    .529    .529    2.429 
Class 529-F-1:                                                                 
5/31/20235,6   9.78    .16    (.17)   (.01)   (.58)       (.58)   9.19    (.04)7,9    10    .478,9    .478,9    3.348,9 
11/30/2022   11.34    .66    (1.84)   (1.18)   (.38)       (.38)   9.78    (10.78)9    10    .499    .499    6.419 
11/30/2021   11.24    .41    .12    .53    (.24)   (.19)   (.43)   11.34    4.819    10    .479    .479    3.719 
11/30/2020   9.92    .15    1.28    1.43    (.11)       (.11)   11.24    14.499    10    .469    .469    1.429 
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 
Class 529-F-2:                                                                 
5/31/20235,6   9.75    .16    (.16)   11    (.60)       (.60)   9.15    (.02)7    10    .378    .378    3.478 
11/30/2022   11.30    .67    (1.84)   (1.17)   (.38)       (.38)   9.75    (10.67)   11    .39    .39    6.52 
11/30/2021   11.20    .42    .11    .53    (.24)   (.19)   (.43)   11.30    4.86    9    .42    .42    3.85 
11/30/20205,12   11.03    .01    .16    .17                11.20    1.547    7    .047    .047    .117 
Class 529-F-3:                                                                 
5/31/20235,6   9.74    .16    (.15)   .01    (.60)       (.60)   9.15    .107    10    .388    .388    3.448 
11/30/2022   11.29    .67    (1.83)   (1.16)   (.39)       (.39)   9.74    (10.66)   10    .36    .36    6.53 
11/30/2021   11.20    .42    .11    .53    (.25)   (.19)   (.44)   11.29    4.91    10    .41    .37    3.80 
11/30/20205,12   11.03    .01    .16    .17                11.20    1.547    10    .057    .037    .127 
Class R-1:                                                                 
5/31/20235,6   9.57    .11    (.15)   (.04)   (.50)       (.50)   9.03    (.33)7    5    1.408    1.408    2.428 
11/30/2022   11.10    .57    (1.82)   (1.25)   (.28)       (.28)   9.57    (11.66)   5    1.41    1.41    5.62 
11/30/2021   11.11    .30    .11    .41    (.23)   (.19)   (.42)   11.10    3.81    4    1.46    1.46    2.76 
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 

 

Refer to the end of the table for footnotes.

 

30 American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund
 

Financial highlights (continued)

 

       (Loss) income from
investment operations1
   Dividends and distributions                         
Year ended  Net asset
value,
beginning
of year
   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 year
   Total return2,3   Net assets,
end of
year
(in millions)
   Ratio of
expenses to
average net
assets before
waivers/
reimburse-
ments4
   Ratio of
expenses to
average net
assets after
waivers/
reimburse-
ments3,4
   Ratio of
net income
to average
net assets3
 
Class R-2:                                                                 
5/31/20235,6  $9.52   $.11   $(.15)  $(.04)  $(.50)  $   $(.50)  $8.98    (.42)%7  $17    1.35%8    1.35%8    2.46%8 
11/30/2022   11.06    .57    (1.82)   (1.25)   (.29)       (.29)   9.52    (11.56)   13    1.36    1.35    5.64 
11/30/2021   10.99    .31    .11    .42    (.16)   (.19)   (.35)   11.06    3.89    13    1.36    1.36    2.83 
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 
Class R-2E:                                                                 
5/31/20235,6   9.68    .13    (.16)   (.03)   (.52)       (.52)   9.13    (.21)7    3    1.108    1.108    2.788 
11/30/2022   11.23    .61    (1.84)   (1.23)   (.32)       (.32)   9.68    (11.36)   3    1.11    1.11    5.96 
11/30/2021   11.13    .37    .09    .46    (.17)   (.19)   (.36)   11.23    4.11    2    1.11    1.11    3.38 
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 
Class R-3:                                                                 
5/31/20235,6   9.62    .13    (.14)   (.01)   (.54)       (.54)   9.07    (.12)7    27    .948    .948    2.838 
11/30/2022   11.17    .62    (1.84)   (1.22)   (.33)       (.33)   9.62    (11.20)   28    .94    .94    6.05 
11/30/2021   11.10    .37    .09    .46    (.20)   (.19)   (.39)   11.17    4.27    28    .95    .95    3.35 
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 
Class R-4:                                                                 
5/31/20235,6   9.72    .15    (.15)   11    (.57)       (.57)   9.15    (.13)7    52    .648    .648    3.148 
11/30/2022   11.28    .65    (1.84)   (1.19)   (.37)       (.37)   9.72    (10.92)   56    .65    .65    6.28 
11/30/2021   11.19    .44    .06    .50    (.22)   (.19)   (.41)   11.28    4.63    64    .65    .64    4.03 
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 
Class R-5E:                                                                 
5/31/20235,6   9.76    .16    (.17)   (.01)   (.59)       (.59)   9.16    .047    28    .458    .458    3.418 
11/30/2022   11.31    .68    (1.85)   (1.17)   (.38)       (.38)   9.76    (10.76)   29    .44    .44    6.63 
11/30/2021   11.22    .45    .07    .52    (.24)   (.19)   (.43)   11.31    4.77    17    .45    .45    4.07 
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 
Class R-5:                                                                 
5/31/20235,6   9.80    .16    (.15)   .01    (.60)       (.60)   9.21    .117    10    .358    .358    3.478 
11/30/2022   11.36    .69    (1.86)   (1.17)   (.39)       (.39)   9.80    (10.65)   10    .35    .35    6.58 
11/30/2021   11.26    .44    .10    .54    (.25)   (.19)   (.44)   11.36    4.93    14    .36    .36    3.96 
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 
Class R-6:                                                                 
5/31/20235,6   9.82    .16    (.16)   11    (.60)       (.60)   9.22    .187    9,861    .298    .298    3.548 
11/30/2022   11.38    .67    (1.84)   (1.17)   (.39)       (.39)   9.82    (10.68)   9,173    .30    .29    6.52 
11/30/2021   11.27    .44    .11    .55    (.25)   (.19)   (.44)   11.38    5.05    7,805    .31    .31    3.99 
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 

 

Refer to the end of the table for footnotes.

 

American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund 31
 

Financial highlights (continued)

 

  Six months ended
May 31, 20235,6,7



Year ended November 30,
  2022 2021 2020 2019 2018
Portfolio turnover rate for all share classes13 5% 42% 29% 114% 78% 57%
   
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 years shown, CRMC waived a portion of investment advisory services fees. In addition, during some of the years shown, AFS waived a portion of transfer agent services fees for Class F-3 shares. In addition, during some of the years 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 Amount less than $.01.
12 Class 529-F-2 and 529-F-3 shares began investment operations on October 30, 2020.
13 Rates do not include the fund’s portfolio activity with respect to any Central Funds.

 

Refer to the notes to financial statements.

 

32 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, 2022, through May 31, 2023).

 

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 33
 

Expense example (continued)

   Beginning
account value
12/1/2022
   Ending
account value
5/31/2023
   Expenses paid
during period*
   Annualized
expense ratio
 
Class A – actual return  $1,000.00   $999.36   $3.44    .69%
Class A – assumed 5% return   1,000.00    1,021.49    3.48    .69 
Class C – actual return   1,000.00    995.67    6.92    1.39 
Class C – assumed 5% return   1,000.00    1,018.00    6.99    1.39 
Class T – actual return   1,000.00    1,001.09    1.50    .30 
Class T – assumed 5% return   1,000.00    1,023.44    1.51    .30 
Class F-1 – actual return   1,000.00    999.04    3.29    .66 
Class F-1 – assumed 5% return   1,000.00    1,021.64    3.33    .66 
Class F-2 – actual return   1,000.00    1,001.38    1.95    .39 
Class F-2 – assumed 5% return   1,000.00    1,022.99    1.97    .39 
Class F-3 – actual return   1,000.00    1,000.71    1.45    .29 
Class F-3 – assumed 5% return   1,000.00    1,023.49    1.46    .29 
Class 529-A – actual return   1,000.00    998.91    3.34    .67 
Class 529-A – assumed 5% return   1,000.00    1,021.59    3.38    .67 
Class 529-C – actual return   1,000.00    995.76    7.17    1.44 
Class 529-C – assumed 5% return   1,000.00    1,017.75    7.24    1.44 
Class 529-E – actual return   1,000.00    998.60    4.43    .89 
Class 529-E – assumed 5% return   1,000.00    1,020.49    4.48    .89 
Class 529-T – actual return   1,000.00    1,001.56    1.90    .38 
Class 529-T – assumed 5% return   1,000.00    1,023.04    1.92    .38 
Class 529-F-1 – actual return   1,000.00    999.63    2.34    .47 
Class 529-F-1 – assumed 5% return   1,000.00    1,022.59    2.37    .47 
Class 529-F-2 – actual return   1,000.00    999.82    1.84    .37 
Class 529-F-2 – assumed 5% return   1,000.00    1,023.09    1.87    .37 
Class 529-F-3 – actual return   1,000.00    1,001.02    1.90    .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    996.65    6.97    1.40 
Class R-1 – assumed 5% return   1,000.00    1,017.95    7.04    1.40 
Class R-2 – actual return   1,000.00    995.83    6.72    1.35 
Class R-2 – assumed 5% return   1,000.00    1,018.20    6.79    1.35 
Class R-2E – actual return   1,000.00    997.88    5.48    1.10 
Class R-2E – assumed 5% return   1,000.00    1,019.45    5.54    1.10 
Class R-3 – actual return   1,000.00    998.79    4.68    .94 
Class R-3 – assumed 5% return   1,000.00    1,020.24    4.73    .94 
Class R-4 – actual return   1,000.00    998.75    3.19    .64 
Class R-4 – assumed 5% return   1,000.00    1,021.74    3.23    .64 
Class R-5E – actual return   1,000.00    1,000.40    2.24    .45 
Class R-5E – assumed 5% return   1,000.00    1,022.69    2.27    .45 
Class R-5 – actual return   1,000.00    1,001.05    1.75    .35 
Class R-5 – assumed 5% return   1,000.00    1,023.19    1.77    .35 
Class R-6 – actual return   1,000.00    1,001.81    1.45    .29 
Class R-6 – assumed 5% return   1,000.00    1,023.49    1.46    .29 

 

* 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).

 

34 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, 2024. 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 interactions 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, 2022. 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 generally compared favorably to 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 35
 

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 CRMC bears the cost of third-party research. The board and committee also noted that CRMC benefitted from the use of commissions from portfolio transactions made on behalf of the fund to facilitate payment to certain broker-dealers for research to comply with regulatory requirements applicable to these firms, with all such amounts reimbursed by CRMC. 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 a number of large, publicly held investment management companies. The board and the committee noted the competitiveness and cyclicality of both the mutual fund industry and the capital markets, and the importance in that environment of CRMC’s long-term profitability for maintaining its independence, company culture and management continuity. They further considered the breakpoint discounts in the fund’s advisory fee structure 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.

 

36 American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund
 
Liquidity Risk Management Program unaudited

 

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, 2021, through September 30, 2022. 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 37
 

This page was intentionally left blank.

 

38 American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund
 

This page was intentionally left blank.

 

American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund 39
 

This page was intentionally left blank.

 

40 American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund
 

This page was intentionally left blank.

 

American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund 41
 

This page was intentionally left blank.

 

42 American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund
 

This page was intentionally left blank.

 

American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund 43
 

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 nearest 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 02111-2900

 

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

 

44 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 refer to 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, 2023, 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.

 

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 SystemTM — 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 28 years of investment industry experience, including 22 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-focused funds have beaten their Lipper peer indexes in 90% of 10-year periods and 99% of 20-year periods.2 Relative to their peers, our fixed income funds have helped investors achieve better 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, 2022.
  2 Based on Class F-2 share results for rolling monthly 10- and 20-year periods starting with the first 10- or 20-year period after each mutual fund’s inception through December 31, 2022. 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. Past results are not predictive of results in future periods.
  3 Based on Class F-2 share results as of December 31, 2022. Sixteen of the 18 fixed income American Funds that have been in existence for the three-year period showed a three-year correlation lower than their respective Morningstar peer group averages. S&P 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 mutual fund management fees were in the lowest quintile 62% of the time, based on the 20-year period ended December 31, 2022, 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. Refer to 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 31, 2023

 

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 31, 2023

 

 

 

By ___/s/ Becky L. Park    __________

Becky L. Park, Treasurer and

Principal Financial Officer

 
Date: July 31, 2023