-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, EWMC9ZniUFAK5c0TFxgvTPgtxKAZcy5qdsiL5VK9DVnX/sVHP4VvXAjtFc6/+Umf AqZK/222rfyIdB2gMlEsBA== 0000051931-07-000172.txt : 20070330 0000051931-07-000172.hdr.sgml : 20070330 20070330135537 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000051931-07-000172 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 497 PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 1 FILED AS OF DATE: 20070330 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20070330 EFFECTIVENESS DATE: 20070330 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: INVESTMENT CO OF AMERICA CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000051931 IRS NUMBER: 951426645 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 497 SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 002-10811 FILM NUMBER: 07731458 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 333 S HOPE ST - 55TH FL (TODP) CITY: LOS ANGELES STATE: CA ZIP: 90071 BUSINESS PHONE: 213-486-9200 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 333 S HOPE ST - 55TH FL (TODP) CITY: LOS ANGELES STATE: CA ZIP: 90071 0000051931 S000009597 INVESTMENT CO OF AMERICA C000026214 Class A AIVSX C000026215 Class R-1 RICAX C000026216 Class R-2 RICBX C000026217 Class R-3 RICCX C000026218 Class R-4 RICEX C000026219 Class R-5 RICFX C000026220 Class B AICBX C000026221 Class C AICCX C000026222 Class F AICFX C000026223 Class 529-A CICAX C000026224 Class 529-B CICBX C000026225 Class 529-C CICCX C000026226 Class 529-E CICEX C000026227 Class 529-F CICFX 497 1 ica497.htm INVESTMENT COMPANY OF AMERICA
 
[logo - American Funds®]

Prospectus Supplement
April 1, 2007


For the following funds with prospectuses dated
May 1, 2006 - March 1, 2007

AMCAP Fund,® Inc.
American Balanced Fund,® Inc.
American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund,® Inc.
American High-Income TrustSM 
American Mutual Fund,®Inc.
The Bond Fund of America,SM Inc.
Capital Income Builder,® Inc.
Capital World Bond Fund,® Inc.
Capital World Growth and Income Fund,SM Inc.
The Cash Management Trust of America®
EuroPacific Growth Fund®
Fundamental Investors,SM Inc.
The Growth Fund of America,® Inc.
The Income Fund of America,® Inc.
Intermediate Bond Fund of America® 
The Investment Company of America®
Limited Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of AmericaSM 
The New Economy Fund®
New Perspective Fund,® Inc.
New World Fund,SM Inc.
Short-Term Bond Fund of America,SM Inc.
SMALLCAP World Fund,® Inc.
The Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America,® Inc.
The Tax-Exempt Fund of California®
The Tax-Exempt Fund of Maryland® 
The Tax-Exempt Fund of Virginia®
The Tax-Exempt Money Fund of AmericaSM
U.S. Government Securities FundSM 
The U.S. Treasury Money Fund of AmericaSM
Washington Mutual Investors Fund,SM Inc.

Keep this Supplement with your Prospectus and/or Retirement Plan Prospectus.

The following changes are effective beginning April 1, 2007:

1. The second paragraph after the "Purchase minimums and maximums" table in the "Purchase and exchange of shares" section of the Prospectus is amended in its entirety to read as follows (not applicable to American Funds money market funds or tax-exempt funds):

If you have significant American Funds holdings, you may not be eligible to invest in Class B or C shares (or their corresponding 529 share classes). Specifically, you may not purchase Class B or 529-B shares if you are eligible to purchase Class A or 529-A shares at the $100,000 or higher sales charge discount rate, and you may not purchase Class C or 529-C shares if you are eligible to purchase Class A or 529-A shares at the $1 million or more sales charge discount rate (i.e., at net asset value). See "Sales charge reductions and waivers" below and the statement of additional information for more information regarding sales charge discounts.

2.  The paragraph immediately after the "Purchase minimums and maximums" table in the "Purchase and exchange of shares" section of the Prospectus for The Tax-Exempt Fund of Maryland and The Tax-Exempt Fund of Virginia is amended in its entirety to read as follows:

If you have significant American Funds holdings, you may not be eligible to invest in Class B or C shares. Specifically, you may not purchase Class B shares if you are eligible to purchase Class A shares at the $100,000 or higher sales charge discount rate, and you may not purchase Class C shares if you are eligible to purchase Class A shares at the $1 million or more sales charge discount rate (i.e., at net asset value). See "Sales charge reductions and waivers" below and the statement of additional information for more information regarding sales charge discounts.

3. The paragraph immediately after the "Purchase minimums and maximums" table in the "Purchase and exchange of shares" section of the Prospectus for The Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America, American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund, Limited Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America and The Tax-Exempt Fund of California is amended in its entirety to read as follows:

If you have significant American Funds holdings, you may not be eligible to invest in Class B or C shares of The Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America, American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund and The Tax-Exempt Fund of California. Specifically, you may not purchase Class B shares if you are eligible to purchase Class A shares at the $100,000 or higher sales charge discount rate, and you may not purchase Class C shares if you are eligible to purchase Class A shares at the $1 million or more sales charge discount rate (i.e., at net asset value). See "Sales charge reductions and waivers" below and the statement of additional information for more information regarding sales charge discounts.

4.  The subsection entitled "Moving between share classes" in the "Purchase and exchange of shares" section of the Prospectus is amended in its entirety to read as follows:

Moving between share classes and accounts
Please see the statement of additional information for details and limitations on moving investments in certain share classes to different share classes, and on moving investments held in certain accounts to different accounts.

In addition, this amended subsection is added to (1) the "Purchase, exchange and sale of shares" section of the Retirement Plan Prospectus and (2) the "Purchase and exchange of shares" section of the Prospectus for American Funds money market funds.

5. The paragraph immediately under the heading "Reducing your Class A initial sales charge" in the "Sales charge reductions and waivers" section of the Prospectus is amended in its entirety to read as follows (not applicable to American Funds money market funds):

Consistent with the policies described in this prospectus, you and your "immediate family" (your spouse -- or equivalent if recognized under local law -- and your children under the age of 21) may combine all of your American Funds investments to reduce your Class A sales charge. However, for this purpose, investments representing direct purchases of American Funds money market funds are excluded. Following are different ways that you may qualify for a reduced Class A sales charge:

6.  The paragraph immediately under the heading "Concurrent purchases" in the "Sales charge reductions and waivers" section of the Prospectus is amended in its entirety to read as follows (not applicable to American Funds money market funds):

You may combine simultaneous purchases (including, upon your request, purchases for gifts) of any class of shares of two or more American Funds to qualify for a reduced Class A sales charge.

7.  The second paragraph after the heading "Rights of accumulation" in the "Sales charge reductions and waivers" section of the Prospectus is amended in its entirety to read as follows (not applicable to American Funds money market funds):

If you make a gift of shares, upon your request, you may purchase the shares at the sales charge discount allowed under rights of accumulation of all of your American Funds accounts.

8.  The paragraph immediately under the heading "Rights of accumulation" in the "Sales charge reductions" section of the Retirement Plan Prospectus is amended in its entirety to read as follows (not applicable to American Funds money market funds):

You may take into account your accumulated holdings in all share classes of the American Funds to determine the initial sales charge you pay on each purchase of Class A shares. Subject to your investment dealer’s or recordkeeper’s capabilities, your accumulated holdings will be calculated as the higher of (a) the current value of your existing holdings or (b) the amount you invested (excluding capital appreciation) less any withdrawals. Please see the statement of additional information for details. You should retain any records necessary to substantiate the historical amounts you have invested.

9.  The paragraph immediately under the heading "Statement of intention" in the "Sales charge reductions and waivers" section of the Prospectus is amended in its entirety to read as follows (not applicable to American Funds money market funds):

You may reduce your Class A sales charge by establishing a statement of intention. A statement of intention allows you to combine all purchases of all share classes of American Funds non-money market funds you intend to make over a 13-month period to determine the applicable sales charge; however, purchases made under a right of reinvestment, appreciation of your holdings, and reinvested dividends and capital gains do not count as purchases made during the statement period. The market value of your existing holdings eligible to be aggregated as of the day immediately before the start of the statement period may be credited toward satisfying the statement. A portion of your account may be held in escrow to cover additional Class A sales charges that may be due if your total purchases over the statement period do not qualify you for the applicable sales charge reduction. [Prospectus for American Funds non-tax-exempt funds adds: Employer-sponsored retirement plans may be restricted from establishing statements of intention. See "Sales charges" above for more information.]

10. The paragraph immediately above the heading "Transactions by telephone, fax or the Internet" in the "How to sell shares" section of the Prospectus, as well as the paragraph immediately above the heading "Valuing shares" in the "Purchase, exchange and sale of shares" section of the Retirement Plan Prospectus, are amended in their entirety to read as follows:

If you notify American Funds Service Company, you may reinvest proceeds from a redemption, dividend payment or capital gain distribution without a sales charge in the same fund or other American Funds provided the reinvestment occurs within 90 days after the date of the redemption or distribution and is made into the same account from which you redeemed the shares or received the distribution. If the account has been closed, reinvestment can be made without a sales charge if the new receiving account has the same registration as the closed account. [Prospectus includes the following: Proceeds from a Class B share redemption made during the contingent deferred sales charge period will be reinvested in Class A shares. Proceeds from any other type of redemption and all dividend payments and capital gain distributions will be reinvested in the same share class from which the original redemption or distribution was made. Any contingent deferred sales charge on Class A or C shares will be credited to your account.] [Retirement Plan Prospectus includes the following: Proceeds will be reinvested in the same share class from which the original redemption or distribution was made.] Redemption proceeds of Class A shares representing direct purchases in American Funds money market funds that are reinvested in non-money market American Funds will be subject to a sales charge. Proceeds will be reinvested at the next calculated net asset value after your request is received and accepted by American Funds Service Company. Redemption proceeds from a systematic withdrawal plan are not eligible for reinvestment without a sales charge. You may not reinvest proceeds in the American Funds as described in this paragraph if such proceeds are subject to a purchase block as described under "Frequent trading of fund shares. " This paragraph does not apply to rollover investments as described under "Rollovers from retirement plans to IRAs. "


MFGEBS-007-0307 Litho in USA CGD/MW/9767-S9100
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
THE FUND PROVIDES SPANISH TRANSLATION IN CONNECTION WITH THE
PUBLIC OFFERING AND SALE OF ITS SHARES. THE FOLLOWING IS A FAIR
AND ACCURATE ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF A SPANISH LANGUAGE PROSPECTUS
FOR THE FUND.

/s/ VINCENT P. CORTI
    VINCENT P. CORTI
    SECRETARY
 
 
 
 
 


[logo - American Funds®]

Prospectus Supplement
April 1, 2007


For the following funds with prospectuses dated
May 1, 2006 - March 1, 2007

AMCAP Fund,® Inc.
American Balanced Fund,® Inc.
American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund,® Inc.
American High-Income TrustSM 
American Mutual Fund,®Inc.
The Bond Fund of America,SM Inc.
Capital Income Builder,® Inc.
Capital World Bond Fund,® Inc.
Capital World Growth and Income Fund,SM Inc.
The Cash Management Trust of America®
EuroPacific Growth Fund®
Fundamental Investors,SM Inc.
The Growth Fund of America,® Inc.
The Income Fund of America,® Inc.
Intermediate Bond Fund of America® 
The Investment Company of America®
Limited Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of AmericaSM 
The New Economy Fund®
New Perspective Fund,® Inc.
New World Fund,SM Inc.
Short-Term Bond Fund of America,SM Inc.
SMALLCAP World Fund,® Inc.
The Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America,® Inc.
The Tax-Exempt Fund of California®
The Tax-Exempt Fund of Maryland® 
The Tax-Exempt Fund of Virginia®
The Tax-Exempt Money Fund of AmericaSM
U.S. Government Securities FundSM 
The U.S. Treasury Money Fund of AmericaSM
Washington Mutual Investors Fund,SM Inc.

Keep this Supplement with your Prospectus and/or Retirement Plan Prospectus.

The following changes are effective beginning April 1, 2007:

1. The second paragraph after the "Purchase minimums and maximums" table in the "Purchase and exchange of shares" section of the Prospectus is amended in its entirety to read as follows (not applicable to American Funds money market funds or tax-exempt funds):

If you have significant American Funds holdings, you may not be eligible to invest in Class B or C shares (or their corresponding 529 share classes). Specifically, you may not purchase Class B or 529-B shares if you are eligible to purchase Class A or 529-A shares at the $100,000 or higher sales charge discount rate, and you may not purchase Class C or 529-C shares if you are eligible to purchase Class A or 529-A shares at the $1 million or more sales charge discount rate (i.e., at net asset value). See "Sales charge reductions and waivers" below and the statement of additional information for more information regarding sales charge discounts.

2.  The paragraph immediately after the "Purchase minimums and maximums" table in the "Purchase and exchange of shares" section of the Prospectus for The Tax-Exempt Fund of Maryland and The Tax-Exempt Fund of Virginia is amended in its entirety to read as follows:

If you have significant American Funds holdings, you may not be eligible to invest in Class B or C shares. Specifically, you may not purchase Class B shares if you are eligible to purchase Class A shares at the $100,000 or higher sales charge discount rate, and you may not purchase Class C shares if you are eligible to purchase Class A shares at the $1 million or more sales charge discount rate (i.e., at net asset value). See "Sales charge reductions and waivers" below and the statement of additional information for more information regarding sales charge discounts.

3. The paragraph immediately after the "Purchase minimums and maximums" table in the "Purchase and exchange of shares" section of the Prospectus for The Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America, American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund, Limited Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America and The Tax-Exempt Fund of California is amended in its entirety to read as follows:

If you have significant American Funds holdings, you may not be eligible to invest in Class B or C shares of The Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America, American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund and The Tax-Exempt Fund of California. Specifically, you may not purchase Class B shares if you are eligible to purchase Class A shares at the $100,000 or higher sales charge discount rate, and you may not purchase Class C shares if you are eligible to purchase Class A shares at the $1 million or more sales charge discount rate (i.e., at net asset value). See "Sales charge reductions and waivers" below and the statement of additional information for more information regarding sales charge discounts.

4.  The subsection entitled "Moving between share classes" in the "Purchase and exchange of shares" section of the Prospectus is amended in its entirety to read as follows:

Moving between share classes and accounts
Please see the statement of additional information for details and limitations on moving investments in certain share classes to different share classes, and on moving investments held in certain accounts to different accounts.

In addition, this amended subsection is added to (1) the "Purchase, exchange and sale of shares" section of the Retirement Plan Prospectus and (2) the "Purchase and exchange of shares" section of the Prospectus for American Funds money market funds.

5. The paragraph immediately under the heading "Reducing your Class A initial sales charge" in the "Sales charge reductions and waivers" section of the Prospectus is amended in its entirety to read as follows (not applicable to American Funds money market funds):

Consistent with the policies described in this prospectus, you and your "immediate family" (your spouse -- or equivalent if recognized under local law -- and your children under the age of 21) may combine all of your American Funds investments to reduce your Class A sales charge. However, for this purpose, investments representing direct purchases of American Funds money market funds are excluded. Following are different ways that you may qualify for a reduced Class A sales charge:

6.  The paragraph immediately under the heading "Concurrent purchases" in the "Sales charge reductions and waivers" section of the Prospectus is amended in its entirety to read as follows (not applicable to American Funds money market funds):

You may combine simultaneous purchases (including, upon your request, purchases for gifts) of any class of shares of two or more American Funds to qualify for a reduced Class A sales charge.

7.  The second paragraph after the heading "Rights of accumulation" in the "Sales charge reductions and waivers" section of the Prospectus is amended in its entirety to read as follows (not applicable to American Funds money market funds):

If you make a gift of shares, upon your request, you may purchase the shares at the sales charge discount allowed under rights of accumulation of all of your American Funds accounts.

8.  The paragraph immediately under the heading "Rights of accumulation" in the "Sales charge reductions" section of the Retirement Plan Prospectus is amended in its entirety to read as follows (not applicable to American Funds money market funds):

You may take into account your accumulated holdings in all share classes of the American Funds to determine the initial sales charge you pay on each purchase of Class A shares. Subject to your investment dealer’s or recordkeeper’s capabilities, your accumulated holdings will be calculated as the higher of (a) the current value of your existing holdings or (b) the amount you invested (excluding capital appreciation) less any withdrawals. Please see the statement of additional information for details. You should retain any records necessary to substantiate the historical amounts you have invested.

9.  The paragraph immediately under the heading "Statement of intention" in the "Sales charge reductions and waivers" section of the Prospectus is amended in its entirety to read as follows (not applicable to American Funds money market funds):

You may reduce your Class A sales charge by establishing a statement of intention. A statement of intention allows you to combine all purchases of all share classes of American Funds non-money market funds you intend to make over a 13-month period to determine the applicable sales charge; however, purchases made under a right of reinvestment, appreciation of your holdings, and reinvested dividends and capital gains do not count as purchases made during the statement period. The market value of your existing holdings eligible to be aggregated as of the day immediately before the start of the statement period may be credited toward satisfying the statement. A portion of your account may be held in escrow to cover additional Class A sales charges that may be due if your total purchases over the statement period do not qualify you for the applicable sales charge reduction. [Prospectus for American Funds non-tax-exempt funds adds: Employer-sponsored retirement plans may be restricted from establishing statements of intention. See "Sales charges" above for more information.]

10. The paragraph immediately above the heading "Transactions by telephone, fax or the Internet" in the "How to sell shares" section of the Prospectus, as well as the paragraph immediately above the heading "Valuing shares" in the "Purchase, exchange and sale of shares" section of the Retirement Plan Prospectus, are amended in their entirety to read as follows:

If you notify American Funds Service Company, you may reinvest proceeds from a redemption, dividend payment or capital gain distribution without a sales charge in the same fund or other American Funds provided the reinvestment occurs within 90 days after the date of the redemption or distribution and is made into the same account from which you redeemed the shares or received the distribution. If the account has been closed, reinvestment can be made without a sales charge if the new receiving account has the same registration as the closed account. [Prospectus includes the following: Proceeds from a Class B share redemption made during the contingent deferred sales charge period will be reinvested in Class A shares. Proceeds from any other type of redemption and all dividend payments and capital gain distributions will be reinvested in the same share class from which the original redemption or distribution was made. Any contingent deferred sales charge on Class A or C shares will be credited to your account.] [Retirement Plan Prospectus includes the following: Proceeds will be reinvested in the same share class from which the original redemption or distribution was made.] Redemption proceeds of Class A shares representing direct purchases in American Funds money market funds that are reinvested in non-money market American Funds will be subject to a sales charge. Proceeds will be reinvested at the next calculated net asset value after your request is received and accepted by American Funds Service Company. Redemption proceeds from a systematic withdrawal plan are not eligible for reinvestment without a sales charge. You may not reinvest proceeds in the American Funds as described in this paragraph if such proceeds are subject to a purchase block as described under "Frequent trading of fund shares. " This paragraph does not apply to rollover investments as described under "Rollovers from retirement plans to IRAs. "


MFGEBS-007-0307 Litho in USA CGD/MW/9767-S9100

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
<PAGE>


                       THE INVESTMENT COMPANY OF AMERICA

                                     Part B
                      Statement of Additional Information


                                 March 1, 2007

                        (as supplemented April 1, 2007)


This document is not a prospectus but should be read in conjunction with the
current prospectus or retirement plan prospectus of The Investment Company of
America (the "fund" or "ICA") dated March 1, 2007. You may obtain a prospectus
from your financial adviser or by writing to the fund at the following address:

                       The Investment Company of America
                              Attention: Secretary
                             333 South Hope Street
                         Los Angeles, California 90071
                                  213/486-9200

Certain privileges and/or services described below may not be available to all
shareholders (including shareholders who purchase shares at net asset value
through eligible retirement plans) depending on the shareholder's investment
dealer or retirement plan recordkeeper. Please see your financial adviser,
investment dealer, plan recordkeeper or employer for more information.


                               TABLE OF CONTENTS




Item                                                                  Page no.
- ----                                                                  --------

Certain investment limitations and guidelines . . . . . . . . . . .        2
Description of certain securities and investment techniques . . . .        2
Fundamental policies and investment restrictions. . . . . . . . . .        6
Management of the fund  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .        9
Execution of portfolio transactions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       30
Disclosure of portfolio holdings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       31
Price of shares . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       32
Taxes and distributions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       34
Purchase and exchange of shares . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       39
Sales charges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       43
Sales charge reductions and waivers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       45
Selling shares. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       49
Shareholder account services and privileges . . . . . . . . . . . .       49
General information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       52
Appendix. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       58
Financial statements





                  The Investment Company of America -- Page 1

<PAGE>


                 CERTAIN INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS AND GUIDELINES

The following limitations and guidelines are considered at the time of purchase,
under normal circumstances, and are based on a percentage of the fund's net
assets unless otherwise noted. This summary is not intended to reflect all of
the fund's investment limitations.


GENERAL GUIDELINE

..    The fund may only invest in securities included on its eligible list (does
     not apply to securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government).

DEBT SECURITIES

..    The fund's investments in straight debt securities (i.e., not convertible
     into equity) will generally consist of investment grade securities. The
     fund may, however, invest up to 5% of its assets in straight debt
     securities rated Ba or below by Moody's Investors Service and BB or below
     by Standard & Poor's Corporation or unrated but determined to be of
     equivalent quality.

NON-U.S. SECURITIES

..    The fund may invest up to 15% of its assets in issuers domiciled outside
     the United States and not included in the Standard & Poor's 500 Composite
     Index.

                        *     *     *     *     *     *

The fund may experience difficulty liquidating certain portfolio securities
during significant market declines or periods of heavy redemptions.


          DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN SECURITIES AND INVESTMENT TECHNIQUES

The descriptions below are intended to supplement the material in the prospectus
under "Investment objectives, strategies and risks."


EQUITY SECURITIES -- Equity securities represent an ownership position in a
company. Equity securities held by the fund typically consist of common stocks.
The prices of equity securities fluctuate based on, among other things, events
specific to their issuers and market, economic and other conditions. The prices
of these securities can also be adversely affected depending on the outcome of
financial contracts (such as derivatives) held by third parties relating to
various assets or indices.


There may be little trading in the secondary market for particular equity
securities, which may adversely affect the fund's ability to value accurately or
dispose of such equity securities. Adverse publicity and investor perceptions,
whether or not based on fundamental analysis, may decrease the value and/or
liquidity of equity securities.


DEBT SECURITIES -- Debt securities are used by issuers to borrow money.
Generally, issuers pay investors periodic interest and repay the amount borrowed
either periodically during the life of the security and/or at maturity. Some
debt securities, such as zero coupon bonds, do not pay current interest, but are
purchased at a discount from their face values and accrue interest at the


                  The Investment Company of America -- Page 2

<PAGE>


applicable coupon rate over a specified time period. The market prices of debt
securities fluctuate depending on such factors as interest rates, credit quality
and maturity. In general, market prices of debt securities decline when interest
rates rise and increase when interest rates fall.


Lower rated debt securities, rated Ba or below by Moody's and/or BB or below by
S&P or unrated but determined to be of equivalent quality, are described by the
rating agencies as speculative and involve greater risk of default or price
changes due to changes in the issuer's creditworthiness than higher rated debt
securities, or they may already be in default. The market prices of these
securities may fluctuate more than higher quality securities and may decline
significantly in periods of general economic difficulty. It may be more
difficult to dispose of, and to determine the value of, lower rated debt
securities.


Certain additional risk factors relating to debt securities are discussed below:


     SENSITIVITY TO INTEREST RATE AND ECONOMIC CHANGES -- Debt securities may be
     sensitive to economic changes, political and corporate developments, and
     interest rate changes. In addition, during an economic downturn or
     substantial period of rising interest rates, issuers that are highly
     leveraged may experience increased financial stress that would adversely
     affect their ability to meet projected business goals, to obtain additional
     financing and to service their principal and interest payment obligations.
     Periods of economic change and uncertainty also can be expected to result
     in increased volatility of market prices and yields of certain debt
     securities. The prices of these securities also can be adversely affected
     depending on the outcome of financial contracts (such as derivatives) held
     by third parties relating to various assets or indices.

     PAYMENT EXPECTATIONS -- Debt securities may contain redemption or call
     provisions. If an issuer exercises these provisions in a lower interest
     rate market, the fund would have to replace the security with a lower
     yielding security, resulting in decreased income to investors. If the
     issuer of a debt security defaults on its obligations to pay interest or
     principal or is the subject of bankruptcy proceedings, the fund may incur
     losses or expenses in seeking recovery of amounts owed to it.

     LIQUIDITY AND VALUATION -- There may be little trading in the secondary
     market for particular debt securities, which may affect adversely the
     fund's ability to value accurately or dispose of such debt securities.
     Adverse publicity and investor perceptions, whether or not based on
     fundamental analysis, may decrease the value and/or liquidity of debt
     securities.

The investment adviser attempts to reduce the risks described above through
diversification of the fund's portfolio and by credit analysis of each issuer,
as well as by monitoring broad economic trends and corporate and legislative
developments, but there can be no assurance that it will be successful in doing
so.


Credit ratings for debt securities provided by rating agencies evaluate the
safety of principal and interest payments, not market value risk. The rating of
an issuer is also heavily weighted by past developments and does not necessarily
reflect future conditions. There is frequently a lag between the time a rating
is assigned and the time it is updated. See the Appendix for more information
about credit ratings.


                  The Investment Company of America -- Page 3

<PAGE>



SECURITIES WITH EQUITY AND DEBT CHARACTERISTICS -- The fund may invest in
securities that have a combination of equity and debt characteristics. These
securities may at times behave more like equity than debt and vice versa. Some
types of convertible bonds or preferred stocks automatically convert into common
stocks and some may be subject to redemption at the option of the issuer at a
predetermined price. The prices and yields of nonconvertible preferred stocks
generally move with changes in interest rates and the issuer's credit quality,
similar to the factors affecting debt securities. These securities may be
treated as debt for fund investment limit purposes.


Convertible bonds, convertible preferred stocks and other securities may
sometimes be converted, or may automatically convert, into common stocks or
other securities at a stated conversion ratio. These securities, prior to
conversion, may pay a fixed rate of interest or a dividend. Because convertible
securities have both debt and equity characteristics, their value varies in
response to many factors, including the value of the underlying assets, general
market and economic conditions, and convertible market valuations, as well as
changes in interest rates, credit spreads and the credit quality of the issuer.


U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS -- U.S. government obligations are securities backed
by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. U.S. government obligations
include the following types of securities:


     U.S. TREASURY SECURITIES -- U.S. Treasury securities include direct
     obligations of the U.S. Treasury, such as Treasury bills, notes and bonds.
     For these securities, the payment of principal and interest is
     unconditionally guaranteed by the U.S. government, and thus they are of the
     highest possible credit quality. Such securities are subject to variations
     in market value due to fluctuations in interest rates, but, if held to
     maturity, will be paid in full.

     FEDERAL AGENCY SECURITIES BACKED BY "FULL FAITH AND CREDIT" -- The
     securities of certain U.S. government agencies and government-sponsored
     entities are guaranteed as to the timely payment of principal and interest
     by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. Such agencies and
     entities include the Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae),
     the Veterans Administration (VA), the Federal Housing Administration (FHA),
     the Export-Import Bank (Exim Bank), the Overseas Private Investment
     Corporation (OPIC), the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) and the Small
     Business Administration (SBA).

OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY OBLIGATIONS -- Additional federal agency securities are
neither direct obligations of, nor guaranteed by, the U.S. government. These
obligations include securities issued by certain U.S. government agencies and
government-sponsored entities. However, they generally involve some form of
federal sponsorship: some operate under a government charter; some are backed by
specific types of collateral; some are supported by the issuer's right to borrow
from the Treasury; and others are supported only by the credit of the issuing
government agency or entity. These agencies and entities include, but are not
limited to: Federal Home Loan Bank, Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation
(Freddie Mac), Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae), Tennessee
Valley Authority and Federal Farm Credit Bank System.


INVESTING IN VARIOUS COUNTRIES -- Investing outside the United States may
involve additional risks caused by, among other things, currency controls and
fluctuating currency values; different accounting, auditing, financial reporting
and legal standards and practices in some countries; changing local, regional
and global economic, political and social conditions; expropriation;


                  The Investment Company of America -- Page 4

<PAGE>


changes in tax policy; greater market volatility; differing securities market
structures; higher transaction costs; and various administrative difficulties,
such as delays in clearing and settling portfolio transactions or in receiving
payment of dividends.


The risks described above may be heightened in connection with investments in
developing countries. Although there is no universally accepted definition, the
investment adviser generally considers a developing country as a country that is
in the earlier stages of its industrialization cycle with a low per capita gross
domestic product ("GDP") and a low market capitalization to GDP ratio relative
to those in the United States and the European Union. Historically, the markets
of developing countries have been more volatile than the markets of developed
countries. The fund may invest in securities of issuers in developing countries
only to a limited extent.


Additional costs could be incurred in connection with the fund's investment
activities outside the United States. Brokerage commissions may be higher
outside the United States, and the fund will bear certain expenses in connection
with its currency transactions. Furthermore, increased custodian costs may be
associated with maintaining assets in certain jurisdictions.


CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS -- The fund may purchase and sell currencies to facilitate
securities transactions and enter into forward currency contracts to protect
against changes in currency exchange rates. A forward currency contract is an
obligation to purchase or sell a specific currency at a future date, which may
be any fixed number of days from the date of the contract agreed upon by the
parties, at a price set at the time of the contract. Forward currency contracts
entered into by the fund will involve the purchase or sale of one currency
against the U.S. dollar. While entering into forward currency transactions could
minimize the risk of loss due to a decline in the value of the hedged currency,
it could also limit any potential gain that may result from an increase in the
value of the currency. The fund will not generally attempt to protect against
all potential changes in exchange rates. The fund will segregate liquid assets
that will be marked to market daily to meet its forward contract commitments to
the extent required by the Securities and Exchange Commission.


Certain provisions of the Internal Revenue Code may affect the extent to which
the fund may enter into forward contracts. Such transactions also may affect the
character and timing of income, gain or loss recognized by the fund for U.S.
federal income tax purposes.


RESTRICTED OR ILLIQUID SECURITIES -- The fund may purchase securities subject to
restrictions on resale. Restricted securities may only be sold pursuant to an
exemption from registration under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "1933 Act"),
or in a registered public offering. Where registration is required, the holder
of a registered security may be obligated to pay all or part of the registration
expense and a considerable period may elapse between the time it decides to seek
registration and the time it may be permitted to sell a security under an
effective registration statement. Difficulty in selling such securities may
result in a loss to the fund or cause it to incur additional administrative
costs.


Securities (including restricted securities) not actively traded will be
considered illiquid unless they have been specifically determined to be liquid
under procedures adopted by the fund's board of directors, taking into account
factors such as the frequency and volume of trading, the commitment of dealers
to make markets and the availability of qualified investors, all of which can
change from time to time. The fund may incur certain additional costs in
disposing of illiquid securities.


                  The Investment Company of America -- Page 5

<PAGE>



CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS -- The fund may invest in cash and cash equivalents.
These include (a) commercial paper (for example, short-term notes with
maturities typically up to 12 months in length issued by corporations,
governmental bodies or bank/corporation sponsored conduits (asset-backed
commercial paper)) (b) short-term bank obligations (for example, certificates of
deposit, bankers' acceptances (time drafts on a commercial bank where the bank
accepts an irrevocable obligation to pay at maturity)) or bank notes, (c)
savings association and savings bank obligations (for example, bank notes and
certificates of deposit issued by savings banks or savings associations), (d)
securities of the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities that
mature, or may be redeemed, in one year or less, and (e) corporate bonds and
notes that mature, or that may be redeemed, in one year or less.

                        *     *     *     *     *     *

PORTFOLIO TURNOVER -- Portfolio changes will be made without regard to the
length of time particular investments may have been held. Short-term trading
profits are not the fund's objective, and changes in its investments are
generally accomplished gradually, though short-term transactions may
occasionally be made. High portfolio turnover involves correspondingly greater
transaction costs in the form of dealer spreads or brokerage commissions, and
may result in the realization of net capital gains, which are taxable when
distributed to shareholders.


A fund's portfolio turnover rate would equal 100% if each security in the fund's
portfolio were replaced once per year. The fund's portfolio turnover rates for
the fiscal years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005 were 20% and 19%,
respectively. See "Financial highlights" in the prospectus for the fund's annual
portfolio turnover rate for each of the last five fiscal years.


                FUNDAMENTAL POLICIES AND INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS

FUNDAMENTAL POLICIES -- The fund has adopted the following fundamental policies
and investment restrictions, which may not be changed without approval by
holders of a majority of its outstanding shares. Such majority is defined in the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), as the vote of the
lesser of (a) 67% or more of the outstanding voting securities present at a
shareholder meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding voting
securities are present in person or by proxy, or (b) more than 50% of the
outstanding voting securities. All percentage limitations are considered at the
time securities are purchased and are based on the fund's net assets unless
otherwise indicated. None of the following investment restrictions involving a
maximum percentage of assets will be considered violated unless the excess
occurs immediately after, and is caused by, an acquisition by the fund.


These restrictions (which do not apply to the purchase of securities issued or
guaranteed by the U.S. government) provide that the fund shall make no
investment:


Which involves promotion or business management by the fund;


In any security about which reliable information is not available with respect
to the history, management, assets, earnings, and income of the issuer;


If the investment would cause more than 5% of the value of the total assets of
the fund, as they exist at the time of investment, to be invested in the
securities of any one issuer;


                  The Investment Company of America -- Page 6

<PAGE>


If the investment would cause more than 20% of the value of the total assets of
the fund to be invested in the securities in any one industry;


If the investment would cause the fund to own more than 10% of the outstanding
voting securities of any one issuer, provided that this restriction shall apply
as to 75% of the fund's total assets; or


In any security which has not been placed on the fund's Eligible List. (See the
prospectus).


The fund is not permitted to buy securities on margin, sell securities short,
borrow money, or to invest in real estate. The fund may invest in the securities
of real estate investment trusts.


The fund has also adopted other fundamental policies which cannot be changed
without shareholder approval. These policies require the fund not to:


Concentrate its investment in any particular industry or group of industries.
Some degree of concentration may occur from time to time (within the 20%
limitation of the Certificate of Incorporation) as certain industries appear to
present desirable fields for investment.


Engage generally in the making of loans. Although the fund has reserved the
right to make loans to unaffiliated persons subject to certain restrictions,
including requirements concerning collateral and amount of any loan, no loans
have been made since adoption of this fundamental policy more than 50 years ago.


Act as underwriter of securities issued by others, engage in distribution of
securities for others, engage in the purchase and sale of commodities or
commodity contracts, borrow money, invest in real estate, or make investments in
other companies for the purpose of exercising control or management.


Pledge, encumber or assign all or any part of its property and assets as
security for a debt.


Invest in the securities of other investment companies.


Notwithstanding the restriction on making loans, the fund may lend portfolio
securities; however, it does not currently intend to engage in an ongoing or
regular securities lending program.


Notwithstanding the restriction on investing in the securities of other
investment companies, the fund may invest in securities of other investment
companies if deemed advisable by its officers in connection with the
administration of a deferred compensation plan adopted by directors pursuant to
an exemptive order granted by the Securities and Exchange Commission.


                  The Investment Company of America -- Page 7

<PAGE>


NONFUNDAMENTAL POLICIES -- The following policies may be changed without
shareholder approval:


The fund will not:


Purchase and sell securities for short-term profits; however, securities will be
sold without regard to the time that they have been held whenever investment
judgment makes such action seem advisable.


Purchase or retain the securities of any issuer if those officers and directors
of the fund or the Investment Adviser who own beneficially more than one half of
1% of such issuer together own more than 5% of the securities of such issuer.


Invest in securities of companies which, with their predecessors, have a record
of less than three years' continuous operations.


Invest in puts, calls, straddles, spreads or any combination thereof.


Purchase partnership interests in oil, gas or mineral exploration, drilling or
mining ventures.


Invest in excess of 10% of the market value of its total assets in securities
which may require registration under the Securities Act of 1933 prior to sale by
the fund (restricted securities), or other securities that are not readily
marketable.


Issue senior securities, except as permitted by the 1940 Act.


                  The Investment Company of America -- Page 8

<PAGE>


                             MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND

BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS


"INDEPENDENT" DIRECTORS/1/




 NAME, AGE, AND                                                  NUMBER OF
 POSITION WITH FUND                                            PORTFOLIOS/3/
 (YEAR FIRST ELECTED              PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION(S)        OVERSEEN         OTHER DIRECTORSHIPS/4/ HELD
 AS A DIRECTOR/2/)                DURING PAST FIVE YEARS        BY DIRECTOR               BY DIRECTOR
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Louise H. Bryson, 62          President, Distribution,              1         None
 Director (1999)               Lifetime Entertainment
                               Network; General Manager,
                               Lifetime Movie Network;
                               former Chairman of the Board
                               and Director, KCET - Los
                               Angeles (public television
                               station)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Mary Anne Dolan, 59           Founder and President,                3         None
 Director (2000)               M.A.D., Inc. (communications
                               company); former
                               Editor-in-Chief, The Los
                               Angeles Herald Examiner
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Martin Fenton, 71             Chairman of the Board, Senior        18         None
 Chairman of the Board         Resource Group LLC
 (Independent and              (development and management
 Non-Executive) (2000)         of senior living communities)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Leonard R. Fuller, 60         President and CEO, Fuller            16         None
 Director (2002)               Consulting (financial
                               management consulting firm)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Claudio X. Gonzalez           Chairman of the Board and             1         America Movil, S.A. de C.V.;
 Laporte, 72                   CEO, Kimberly-Clark de                          General Electric Company; Grupo
 Director (2001)               Mexico, S.A. (household                         Alfa, S.A. de C.V.; Grupo Carso,
                               products)                                       S.A. de C.V.; Grupo Financiero
                                                                               Inbursa; Grupo Industrial
                                                                               Saltillo, S.A. de C.V.; Grupo
                                                                               Mexico, S.A. de C.V.; The Home
                                                                               Depot, Inc.; Kellogg Company;
                                                                               Kimberly-Clark Corporation; The
                                                                               Mexico Fund
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 L. Daniel Jorndt, 65          Retired; former Chairman of           1         Kellogg Company
 Director (2006)               the Board and CEO, Walgreen
                               Company (drug stores)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 John G. McDonald, 69          Stanford Investors Professor,         8         iStar Financial, Inc.;
 Director (1976)               Graduate School of Business,                    Plum Creek Timber Co.;
                               Stanford University                             Scholastic Corporation;
                                                                               Varian, Inc.
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Bailey Morris-Eck, 62         Director and Programming              3         None
 Director (1993)               Chair, WYPR Baltimore/
                               Washington (public radio
                               station); Senior Adviser,
                               Financial News (London);
                               Senior Fellow, Institute for
                               International Economics
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Richard G. Newman,/5/ 72      Chairman of the Board, AECOM         14         Sempra Energy;
 Director (1996)               Technology Corporation                          Southwest Water Company
                               (engineering, consulting and
                               professional technical
                               services)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Olin C. Robison, 70           Fellow, The Oxford Centre for         3         American Shared Hospital Services
 Director (1987)               the Study of Christianity and
                               Culture; Director, The Oxford
                               Project on Religion and
                               Public Policy; President
                               Emeritus of the Salzburg
                               Seminar; President Emeritus,
                               Middlebury College
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------





                  The Investment Company of America -- Page 9

<PAGE>



"INTERESTED" DIRECTORS/6/,/7/




                                    PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION(S)
                                     DURING PAST FIVE YEARS
 NAME, AGE AND                           AND POSITIONS             NUMBER OF
 POSITION WITH FUND              HELD WITH AFFILIATED ENTITIES   PORTFOLIOS/3/
 (YEAR FIRST ELECTED              OR THE PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER     OVERSEEN      OTHER DIRECTORSHIPS/4/ HELD
 AS A DIRECTOR/OFFICER/2/)                OF THE FUND             BY DIRECTOR            BY DIRECTOR
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 R. Michael Shanahan, 68          Chairman Emeritus, Capital           2         None
 Vice Chairman of the Board       Research and Management
 (1994)                           Company; Director, American
                                  Funds Distributors, Inc.*;
                                  Chairman of the Executive
                                  Committee, The Capital Group
                                  Companies, Inc.*; Chairman
                                  of the Board, Capital
                                  Management Services, Inc.*;
                                  Director, Capital Strategy
                                  Research, Inc.*
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 James B. Lovelace,  50           Senior Vice President and            2         None
 Senior Vice President (1994)     Director, Capital Research
                                  and Management Company
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Donald D. O'Neal, 46             Senior Vice President and            3         None
 Senior Vice President (1994)     Director, Capital Research
                                  and Management Company
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------





                  The Investment Company of America -- Page 10

<PAGE>


OTHER OFFICERS/7/




 NAME, AGE AND
 POSITION WITH FUND         PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION(S) DURING PAST FIVE YEARS
 (YEAR FIRST ELECTED          AND POSITIONS HELD WITH AFFILIATED ENTITIES
 AS AN OFFICER/2/)             OR THE PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER OF THE FUND
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Joyce E. Gordon, 50    Senior Vice President and Director, Capital Research
 Senior Vice            and Management Company
 President (1998)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 J. Dale Harvey, 41     Vice President, Capital Research and Management
 Vice President         Company; Director, American Funds Service Company*
 (2006)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Anne M. Llewellyn,     Vice President - Fund Business Management Group,
 59                     Capital Research and Management Company
 Vice President
 (1984)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Vincent P. Corti, 50   Vice President - Fund Business Management Group,
 Secretary (1994)       Capital Research and Management Company
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Carmelo Spinella, 43   Senior Vice President - Fund Business Management Group,
 Treasurer (2006)       Capital Research and Management Company; Director,
                        American Funds Service Company*
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 R. Marcia Gould, 52    Vice President - Fund Business Management Group,
 Assistant Treasurer    Capital Research and Management Company
 (1993)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------




* Company affiliated with Capital Research and Management Company.


/1/  The term "independent" director refers to a director who is not an "interested
     person" within the meaning of the 1940 Act.

/2/  Directors and officers of the fund are elected annually and serve until
     earlier resignation, removal or retirement.
/3/  Funds managed by Capital Research and Management Company, including the
     American Funds, American Funds Insurance Series,(R) which is composed of 15
     funds and serves as the underlying investment vehicle for certain variable
     insurance contracts, American Funds Target Date Retirement Series,/SM/ Inc.,
     which is composed of nine funds and is available to investors in tax-deferred
     retirement plans and IRAs, and Endowments, which is composed of two portfolios
     and is available to certain nonprofit organizations.
/4/  This includes all directorships (other than those in the American Funds) that
     are held by each director as a director of a public company or a registered
     investment company.

/5/  The investment adviser and its affiliates use a subsidiary of AECOM, Inc. to
     perform architectural and space management services. The investment adviser's
     business relationship with the subsidiary preceded its acquisition by AECOM
     in 1994. The total fees relating to this engagement for the last two years
     represent less than 0.1% of AECOM, Inc.'s 2005 gross revenues.

/6/  "Interested persons," within the meaning of the 1940 Act, on the basis of
     their affiliation with the fund's investment adviser, Capital Research and
     Management Company, or affiliated entities (including the fund's principal
     underwriter).
/7/  All of the officers listed, with the exception of Anne M. Llewellyn and
     Carmelo Spinella, are officers and/or directors/trustees of one or more of the
     other funds for which Capital Research and Management Company serves as
     investment adviser.



THE ADDRESS FOR ALL DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS OF THE FUND IS 333 SOUTH HOPE STREET,
55TH FLOOR, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90071, ATTENTION: SECRETARY.



                  The Investment Company of America -- Page 11

<PAGE>


FUND SHARES OWNED BY DIRECTOR AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2006




                                                     AGGREGATE DOLLAR RANGE/1/
                                                             OF SHARES
                                                         OWNED IN ALL FUNDS
                                                       IN THE AMERICAN FUNDS
                            DOLLAR RANGE/1/ OF FUND       FAMILY OVERSEEN
           NAME                  SHARES OWNED               BY DIRECTOR
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 "INDEPENDENT" DIRECTORS
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Louise H. Bryson                Over $100,000             Over $100,000
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Mary Anne Dolan                 Over $100,000             Over $100,000
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Martin Fenton                $50,001 - $100,000           Over $100,000
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Leonard R. Fuller             $10,001 - $50,000         $50,001 - $100,000
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Claudio X. Gonzalez Laporte     Over $100,000             Over $100,000
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 L. Daniel Jorndt                Over $100,000             Over $100,000
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 John G. McDonald                Over $100,000             Over $100,000
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Bailey Morris-Eck               Over $100,000             Over $100,000
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Richard G. Newman               Over $100,000             Over $100,000
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Olin C. Robison                 Over $100,000             Over $100,000
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 "INTERESTED" DIRECTORS
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 James B. Lovelace               Over $100,000             Over $100,000
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Donald D. O'Neal                Over $100,000             Over $100,000
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 R. Michael Shanahan             Over $100,000             Over $100,000
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------




/1/  Ownership disclosure is made using the following ranges: None; $1 - $10,000;
     $10,001 - $50,000; $50,001 - $100,000; and Over $100,000. The amounts listed
     for "interested" directors include shares owned through The Capital Group
     Companies, Inc. retirement plan and 401(k) plan.



DIRECTOR COMPENSATION -- No compensation is paid by the fund to any officer or
director who is a director, officer or employee of the investment adviser or its
affiliates. The boards of funds advised by the investment adviser typically meet
either individually or jointly with the boards of one or more other such funds
with substantially overlapping board membership (in each case referred to as a
"board cluster"). The fund typically pays each independent director an annual
fee, which ranges from $50,000 to $81,500, based primarily on the total number
of board clusters on which that independent director serves.


In addition, the fund generally pays independent directors attendance and other
fees for meetings of the board and its committees. Board and committee chairs
receive additional fees for their services.


                  The Investment Company of America -- Page 12

<PAGE>



Independent directors also receive attendance fees for certain special joint
meetings and information sessions with directors and trustees of other groupings
of funds advised by the investment adviser. The fund and the other funds served
by each independent director each pay an equal portion of these attendance fees.


No pension or retirement benefits are accrued as part of fund expenses.
Independent directors may elect, on a voluntary basis, to defer all or a portion
of their fees through a deferred compensation plan in effect for the fund. The
fund also reimburses certain expenses of the independent directors.


DIRECTOR COMPENSATION PAID DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2006




                                                                       TOTAL COMPENSATION (INCLUDING
                                                                            VOLUNTARILY DEFERRED
                                            AGGREGATE COMPENSATION            COMPENSATION/1/)
                                            (INCLUDING VOLUNTARILY       FROM ALL FUNDS MANAGED BY
                                           DEFERRED COMPENSATION/1/)  CAPITAL RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT
 NAME                                            FROM THE FUND          COMPANY OR ITS AFFILIATES/2/
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Louise H. Bryson/3/                               $ 88,500                       $ 88,500
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Mary Anne Dolan                                     73,668                        143,500
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Martin Fenton/3/                                   101,657                        346,890
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Leonard R. Fuller/3/                                76,222                        227,810
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Claudio X. Gonzalez Laporte/3/                      76,000                         76,000
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 L. Daniel Jorndt/3/,/4/                             52,750                         52,750
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 John G. McDonald/3/                                 92,188                        340,000
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Bailey Morris-Eck                                   71,168                        139,500
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Richard G. Newman                                   84,273                        163,810
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Olin C. Robison/3/                                  77,668                        144,500
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------




/1/  Amounts may be deferred by eligible directors under a nonqualified deferred
     compensation plan adopted by the fund in 1993. Deferred amounts accumulate at
     an earnings rate determined by the total return of one or more American Funds
     as designated by the directors. Compensation shown in this table for the fiscal
     year ended December 31, 2006 does not include earnings on amounts deferred in
     previous fiscal years. See footnote 3 to this table for more information.


/2/  Funds managed by Capital Research and Management Company, including the
     American Funds, American Funds Insurance Series,(R) which is composed of 15
     funds and serves as the underlying investment vehicle for certain variable
     insurance contracts, American Funds Target Date Retirement Series,/SM/ Inc.,
     which is composed of nine funds and is available to investors in tax-deferred
     retirement plans and IRAs, and Endowments, which is composed of two portfolios
     and is available to certain nonprofit organizations.
/3/  Since the deferred compensation plan's adoption, the total amount of deferred
     compensation accrued by the fund (plus earnings thereon) through the 2006
     fiscal year for participating directors is as follows: Louise H. Bryson
     ($675,429), Martin Fenton ($168,186), Leonard R. Fuller ($10,940), Claudio X.
     Gonzalez Laporte ($510,702), L. Daniel Jorndt ($49,882), John G. McDonald
     ($1,453,516) and Olin C. Robison ($704,940). Amounts deferred and accumulated
     earnings thereon are not funded and are general unsecured liabilities of the
     fund until paid to the directors.
/4/  L. Daniel Jorndt was elected a director of the fund in May 2006.


As of February 1, 2007, the officers and directors of the fund and their
families, as a group, owned beneficially or of record less than 1% of the
outstanding shares of the fund.


                  The Investment Company of America -- Page 13

<PAGE>


FUND ORGANIZATION AND THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS -- The fund, an open-end,
diversified management investment company, was organized as a Delaware
corporation on August 28, 1933. Although the board of directors has delegated
day-to-day oversight to the investment adviser, all fund operations are
supervised by the fund's board, which meets periodically and performs duties
required by applicable state and federal laws.


Delaware law provides that the business and affairs of the fund are managed by
or under the direction of the board of directors. Directors are charged with
fiduciary duties of care and loyalty to the fund and its shareholders.
Generally, a director will satisfy his or her duties if he or she acts with the
care of an ordinarily prudent person under similar circumstances and refrains
from self-dealing.


Members of the board who are not employed by the investment adviser or its
affiliates are paid certain fees for services rendered to the fund as described
above. They may elect to defer all or a portion of these fees through a deferred
compensation plan in effect for the fund.


The fund has several different classes of shares. Shares of each class represent
an interest in the same investment portfolio. Each class has pro rata rights as
to voting, redemption, dividends and liquidation, except that each class bears
different distribution expenses and may bear different transfer agent fees and
other expenses properly attributable to the particular class as approved by the
board of directors and set forth in the fund's rule 18f-3 Plan. Each class'
shareholders have exclusive voting rights with respect to the respective class'
rule 12b-1 plans adopted in connection with the distribution of shares and on
other matters in which the interests of one class are different from interests
in another class. Shares of all classes of the fund vote together on matters
that affect all classes in substantially the same manner. Each class votes as a
class on matters that affect that class alone. Note that CollegeAmerica/(R)/
account owners invested in Class 529 shares are not shareholders of the fund
and, accordingly, do not have the rights of a shareholder, such as the right to
vote proxies relating to fund shares. As the legal owner of the fund's Class 529
shares, the Virginia College Savings Plan/SM/ will vote any proxies relating to
such fund shares.


The fund holds annual meetings of shareholders for the purpose of electing
directors. Significant matters that require shareholder approval, such as a
change in a fundamental investment policy, will be presented to shareholders at
a meeting called for such purpose. Shareholders have one vote per share owned.
At the request of the holders of at least 10% of the shares, the fund will hold
a meeting at which any member of the board could be removed by a majority vote.


The fund's certificate of incorporatoin and by-laws as well as separate
indemnification agreements that the fund has entered into with independent
directors provide in effect that, subject to certain conditions, the fund will
indemnify its officers and directors against liabilities or expenses actually
and reasonably incurred by them relating to their service to the fund. However,
directors are not protected from liability by reason of their willful
misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties
involved in the conduct of their office.


COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS -- The fund has an audit committee
comprised of Louise H. Bryson, Mary Anne Dolan, Martin Fenton, Leonard R.
Fuller, Claudio X. Gonzalez Laporte, L. Daniel Jorndt, John G. McDonald, Bailey
Morris-Eck, Richard G. Newman and Olin C. Robison, none of whom is an
"interested person" of the fund within the meaning of the 1940 Act. The
committee provides oversight regarding the fund's accounting and financial
reporting policies and practices, its internal controls and the internal


                  The Investment Company of America -- Page 14

<PAGE>


controls of the fund's principal service providers. The committee acts as a
liaison between the fund's independent registered public accounting firm and the
full board of directors. Five audit committee meetings were held during the 2006
fiscal year.


The fund has a governance and contracts committee comprised of Louise H. Bryson,
Mary Anne Dolan, Martin Fenton, Leonard R. Fuller, Claudio X. Gonzalez Laporte,
L. Daniel Jorndt, John G. McDonald, Bailey Morris-Eck, Richard G. Newman and
Olin C. Robison, none of whom is an "interested person" of the fund within the
meaning of the 1940 Act. The committee's principal function is to request,
review and consider the information deemed necessary to evaluate the terms of
certain agreements between the fund and its investment adviser or the investment
adviser's affiliates, such as the Investment Advisory and Service Agreement,
Principal Underwriting Agreement, Administrative Services Agreement and Plans of
Distribution adopted pursuant to rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, that the fund
may enter into, renew or continue, and to make its recommendations to the full
board of directors on these matters. One governance and contracts committee
meeting was held during the 2006 fiscal year.


The fund has a nominating committee comprised of Louise H. Bryson, Mary Anne
Dolan, John G. McDonald and Olin C. Robison, none of whom is an "interested
person" of the fund within the meaning of the 1940 Act. 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 directors. The committee also
evaluates, selects and nominates independent director and advisory board member
candidates to the full board of directors. While the committee normally is able
to identify from its own and other 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 committee of the fund, addressed to the fund'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 committee. Three nominating
committee meetings were held during the 2006 fiscal year.


The fund has a proxy committee comprised of Leonard R. Fuller, John G. McDonald
and Richard G. Newman, none of whom is an "interested person" of the fund within
the meaning of the 1940 Act. The committee's functions include establishing and
reviewing procedures and policies for voting proxies of companies held in the
fund's portfolio, making determinations with regard to certain contested proxy
voting issues, and discussing related current issues. Five proxy committee
meetings were held during the 2006 fiscal year.


                  The Investment Company of America -- Page 15

<PAGE>


                             ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS

The board of directors has established an advisory board whose members are, in
the judgment of the directors, highly knowledgeable about world political and
economic matters. In addition to holding meetings with the board of directors,
members of the advisory board, while not participating in specific investment
decisions, consult from time to time with the investment adviser, primarily with
respect to world trade and business conditions. Members of the advisory board,
however, possess no authority or responsibility with respect to the fund's
investments or management. The chart below sets out additional information about
the advisory board members.






                                                                     NUMBER OF
                                                                     BOARDS/1/
                                                                       WHICH
 NAME AND AGE                       PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION(S)           MEMBER
 (YEAR FIRST ELECTED)               DURING PAST FIVE YEARS            SERVES     OTHER DIRECTORSHIPS/2/ HELD
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Thomas M. Crosby, Jr., 68   Partner, Faegre & Benson (law firm)         1       None
 (1995)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Ellen H. Goldberg, 61       Consultant; Interim President, Santa        1       None
 (1998)                      Fe Institute (former President);
                             Professor Emeritus, University of New
                             Mexico
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 William H. Kling, 61        President, American Public Media            8       Irwin Financial Corporation
 (1985)                      Group
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Robert J. O'Neill, 70       Planning Director and acting CEO of         3       None
 (1988)                      the United States Studies Centre,
                             University of Sydney, Australia;
                             Member of the Board of Directors, The
                             Lowy Institute for International
                             Policy Studies, Sydney, Australia;
                             former Deputy Chairman of the Council
                             and Chairman of the International
                             Advisory Panel, Graduate School of
                             Government, University of Sydney,
                             Australia; former Chairman of the
                             Council, Australian Strategic Policy
                             Institute; former Chichele Professor
                             of the History of War and Fellow, All
                             Souls College, University of Oxford;
                             former Chairman of the Council,
                             International Institute for Strategic
                             Studies
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 William J. Spencer, 76      Chairman Emeritus and former Chairman       1       LECG Corporation
 (2006)                      of the Board and CEO, SEMATECH
                             (research and development consortium)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Norman R. Weldon, 72        Managing Director, Partisan                 1       AtriCure, Inc.
 (1977)                      Management Group, Inc. (venture
                             capital investor in medical device
                             companies); former Chairman of the
                             Board, Novoste Corporation; former
                             President and Director, Corvita
                             Corporation
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------






                  The Investment Company of America -- Page 16

<PAGE>



/1/  Funds managed by Capital Research and Management Company, including the
     American Funds, American Funds Insurance Series,(R) which is composed of 15
     funds and serves as the underlying investment vehicle for certain variable
     insurance contracts, American Funds Target Date Retirement Series,/SM/ Inc.,
     which is composed of nine funds and is available to investors in tax-deferred
     retirement plans and IRAs, and Endowments, which is composed of two portfolios
     and is available to certain nonprofit organizations.

/2/  This includes all directorships (other than those of the American Funds) that
     are held by each advisory board member as a director of a public company or a
     registered investment company.


THE ADDRESS FOR ALL ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS OF THE FUND IS 333 SOUTH HOPE STREET
- - 55TH FLOOR, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90071, ATTENTION: SECRETARY.

ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER COMPENSATION -- The fund pays fees of $5,500 per annum to
advisory board members who are not affiliated with the investment adviser, plus
$1,500 for each meeting attended in conjunction with meetings with the board of
directors.


No pension or retirement benefits are accrued as part of fund expenses. The
advisory board members may elect, on a voluntary basis, to defer all or a
portion of their fees through a deferred compensation plan in effect for the
fund. The fund also reimburses certain expenses of the advisory board members
who are not affiliated with the fund.


ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER COMPENSATION PAID DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER
31, 2006




                                                        TOTAL COMPENSATION (INCLUDING
                         AGGREGATE COMPENSATION     VOLUNTARILY DEFERRED COMPENSATION/1/)
                         (INCLUDING VOLUNTARILY           FROM ALL FUNDS MANAGED BY
                        DEFERRED COMPENSATION/1/)      CAPITAL RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT
         NAME                 FROM THE FUND             COMPANY OR ITS AFFILIATES/2/
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Thomas M. Crosby, Jr.           $ 8,500                          $  8,500
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Ellen H. Goldberg                 8,500                             8,500
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 William H. Kling                  8,500                           251,333
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Robert J. O'Neill                 8,500                           103,000
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 William J. Spencer/3/            55,833                            55,833
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Norman R. Weldon                  8,500                            82,085
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------





                  The Investment Company of America -- Page 17

<PAGE>


/1/  Amounts may be deferred by eligible advisory board members under a
     non-qualified deferred compensation plan adopted by the fund in 1993. Deferred
     amounts accumulate at an earnings rate determined by the total return of one or
     more American Funds as designated by the advisory board member. Compensation
     for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006 includes earnings on amounts
     deferred in previous years.


/2/  Funds managed by Capital Research and Management Company, including the
     American Funds, American Funds Insurance Series,(R) which is composed of 15
     funds and serves as the underlying investment vehicle for certain variable
     insurance contracts, American Funds Target Date Retirement Series,/SM/ Inc.,
     which is composed of nine funds and is available to investors in tax-deferred
     retirement plans and IRAs, and Endowments, which is composed of two portfolios
     and is available to certain nonprofit organizations.
/3/  William J. Spencer retired as a director of the fund in August 2006 and was
     subsequently elected to the advisory board. The aggregate compensation listed
     above represent fees paid to him for his service as a director during 2006. In
     addition, his total deferred compensation accrued by the fund (plus earnings
     thereon) through the 2006 fiscal year was $1,094,517.

PROXY VOTING PROCEDURES AND GUIDELINES -- The fund and its investment adviser
have adopted Proxy Voting Guidelines (the "Guidelines") with respect to voting
proxies of securities held by the fund, other American Funds, Endowments and
American Funds Insurance Series. Certain American Funds, including the fund,
have established separate proxy voting committees that vote proxies or delegate
to a voting officer the authority to vote on behalf of those funds. Proxies for
all other funds are voted by a committee of the investment adviser under
authority delegated by those funds' boards. Therefore, if more than one fund
invests in the same company, they may vote differently on the same proposal.



All U.S. proxies are voted. Non-U.S. proxies also are voted, provided there is
sufficient time and information available. After a proxy is received, the
investment adviser prepares a summary of the proposals in the proxy. A
discussion of any potential conflicts of interest is also included in the
summary. After reviewing the summary, one or more research analysts familiar
with the company and industry make a voting recommendation on the proxy
proposals. A second recommendation is made by a proxy coordinator (a senior
investment professional) based on the individual's knowledge of the Guidelines
and familiarity with proxy-related issues. The proxy summary and voting
recommendations are then sent to the appropriate proxy voting committee for the
final voting decision.


The analyst and proxy coordinator making voting recommendations are responsible
for noting any potential material conflicts of interest. One example might be
where a director of one or more American Funds is also a director of a company
whose proxy is being voted. In such instances, proxy voting committee members
are alerted to the potential conflict. The proxy voting committee may then elect
to vote the proxy or seek a third-party recommendation or vote of an ad hoc
group of committee members.


The Guidelines, which have been in effect in substantially their current form
for many years, provide an important framework for analysis and decision-making
by all funds. However, they are not exhaustive and do not address all potential
issues. The Guidelines provide a certain amount of flexibility so that all
relevant facts and circumstances can be considered in connection with every
vote. As a result, each proxy received is voted on a case-by-case basis
considering the


                  The Investment Company of America -- Page 18

<PAGE>


specific circumstances of each proposal. The voting process reflects the funds'
understanding of the company's business, its management and its relationship
with shareholders over time.


Information regarding how the fund voted proxies relating to portfolio
securities during the 12-month period ended June 30 of each year will be
available on or about September 1 of each year (a) without charge, upon request
by calling American Funds Service Company at 800/421-0180, (b) on the American
Funds website at americanfunds.com and (c) on the SEC's website at sec.gov.


The following summary sets forth the general positions of the American Funds,
Endowments, American Funds Insurance Series and the investment adviser on
various proposals. A copy of the full Guidelines is available upon request, free
of charge, by calling American Funds Service Company at 800/421-0180 or visiting
the American Funds website.


     DIRECTOR MATTERS -- The election of a company's slate of nominees for
     director is generally supported. Votes may be withheld for some or all of
     the nominees if this is determined to be in the best interest of
     shareholders. Separation of the chairman and CEO positions may also be
     supported. Typically, proposals to declassify the board (elect all
     directors annually) are supported based on the belief that this increases
     the directors' sense of accountability to shareholders.

     SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS -- Proposals to repeal an existing poison pill, to
     provide for confidential voting and to provide for cumulative voting are
     usually supported. Proposals to eliminate the right of shareholders to act
     by written consent or to take away a shareholder's right to call a special
     meeting are not typically supported.

     COMPENSATION AND BENEFIT PLANS -- Option plans are complicated, and many
     factors are considered in evaluating a plan. Each plan is evaluated based
     on protecting shareholder interests and a knowledge of the company and its
     management. Considerations include the pricing (or repricing) of options
     awarded under the plan and the impact of dilution on existing shareholders
     from past and future equity awards. Compensation packages should be
     structured to attract, motivate and retain existing employees and qualified
     directors; however, they should not be excessive.

     ROUTINE MATTERS -- The ratification of auditors, procedural matters
     relating to the annual meeting and changes to company name are examples of
     items considered routine. Such items are generally voted in favor of
     management's recommendations unless circumstances indicate otherwise.

PRINCIPAL FUND SHAREHOLDERS -- The following table identifies those investors
who own of record or are known by the fund to own beneficially 5% or more of any
class of its shares as of the opening of business on February 1, 2007. Unless
otherwise indicated, the ownership percentages below represent ownership of
record rather than beneficial ownership.


                  The Investment Company of America -- Page 19

<PAGE>





                 NAME AND ADDRESS                    OWNERSHIP PERCENTAGE
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Edward D. Jones & Co.                               Class A        18.72%
 201 Progress Parkway                                Class B        11.77
 Maryland Heights, MO 63043-3009
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Citigroup Global Markets, Inc.                      Class B         6.64
 333 W. 34th Street                                  Class C        17.46
 New York, NY 10001-2402
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 MLPF&S                                              Class B         5.25
 4800 Deer Lake Drive, East, Floor 2                 Class C        15.89
 Jacksonville, FL 32246-6484
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.                          Class F         8.39
 101 Montgomery Street
 San Francisco, CA 94104-4151
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Hartford Life Insurance Co.                         Class R-1      32.51
 P.O. Box 2999                                       Class R-3      14.28
 Hartford, CT 06104-2999
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 John Hancock Life Ins. Co. USA                      Class R-3      16.59
 601 Congress Street
 Boston, MA 02210-2804
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Saxon & Co.                                         Class R-4       7.91
 P.O. Box 7780-1888
 Philadelphia, PA 19182-0001
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 State Street Bank & Trust Co.                       Class R-5      66.15
 105 Rosemont Road
 Westwood, MA 02090-2318
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Fidelity Investments Institutional Operations Co.   Class R-5       5.21
 100 Magellan Way
 Covington, KY 41015-1999
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Mercer Trust Company                                Class R-5       5.07
 1 Investors Way
 Norwood, MA 02062-1584
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------





INVESTMENT ADVISER -- Capital Research and Management Company, the fund's
investment adviser, founded in 1931, maintains research facilities in the United
States and abroad (Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Washington, DC, London,
Geneva, Hong Kong, Singapore and Tokyo). These facilities are staffed with
experienced investment professionals. The investment adviser is located at 333
South Hope Street, Los Angeles, CA 90071 and 135 South State College Boulevard,
Brea, CA 92821. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Capital Group Companies,
Inc., a holding company for several investment management subsidiaries. The
investment adviser manages equity assets for the American Funds through two
divisions. These divisions generally function separately from each other with
respect to investment research activities and they make investment decisions for
the funds on a separate basis.


The investment adviser has adopted policies and procedures that address issues
that may arise as a result of an investment professional's management of the
fund and other funds and accounts. Potential issues could involve allocation of
investment opportunities and trades among


                  The Investment Company of America -- Page 20

<PAGE>



funds and accounts, use of information regarding the timing of fund trades,
investment professional compensation and voting relating to portfolio
securities. The investment adviser has adopted policies and procedures that it
believes are reasonably designed to address these issues.


COMPENSATION OF INVESTMENT PROFESSIONALS -- As described in the prospectus, the
investment adviser uses a system of multiple portfolio counselors in managing
fund assets. In addition, Capital Research and Management Company's investment
analysts may make investment decisions with respect to a portion of a fund's
portfolio within their research coverage. Portfolio counselors and investment
analysts may also make investment decisions for other mutual funds advised by
Capital Research and Management Company.


Portfolio counselors and investment analysts are paid competitive salaries by
Capital Research and Management Company. In addition, they may receive bonuses
based on their individual portfolio results. Investment professionals also may
participate in profit-sharing plans. The relative mix of compensation
represented by bonuses, salary and profit-sharing will vary depending on the
individual's portfolio results, contributions to the organization and other
factors. In order to encourage a long-term focus, bonuses based on investment
results are calculated by comparing pretax total returns to relevant benchmarks
over both the most recent year and a four-year rolling average, with the greater
weight placed on the four-year rolling average. For portfolio counselors,
benchmarks may include measures of the marketplaces in which the relevant fund
invests and measures of the results of comparable mutual funds. For investment
analysts, benchmarks may include relevant market measures and appropriate
industry or sector indexes reflecting their areas of expertise. Capital Research
and Management Company also separately compensates analysts for the quality of
their research efforts. The benchmarks against which The Investment Company of
America portfolio counselors are measured include: S&P 500, the securities that
are eligible to be purchased by the fund and Lipper Growth and Income Funds
Index.


PORTFOLIO COUNSELOR FUND HOLDINGS AND OTHER MANAGED ACCOUNTS -- As described
below, portfolio counselors may personally own shares of the fund. In addition,
portfolio counselors may manage portions of other mutual funds or accounts
advised by Capital Research and Management Company or its affiliates.


                  The Investment Company of America -- Page 21

<PAGE>


THE FOLLOWING TABLE REFLECTS INFORMATION AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2006:






                                           NUMBER             NUMBER
                                          OF OTHER           OF OTHER           NUMBER
                                         REGISTERED           POOLED           OF OTHER
                                         INVESTMENT         INVESTMENT         ACCOUNTS
                                      COMPANIES (RICS)    VEHICLES (PIVS)        THAT
                                            THAT               THAT            PORTFOLIO
                                         PORTFOLIO           PORTFOLIO         COUNSELOR
                      DOLLAR RANGE       COUNSELOR           COUNSELOR        MANAGES AND
                         OF FUND        MANAGES AND         MANAGES AND        ASSETS OF
     PORTFOLIO           SHARES        ASSETS OF RICS     ASSETS OF PIVS    OTHER ACCOUNTS
     COUNSELOR          OWNED/1/       IN BILLIONS/2/     IN BILLIONS/3/    IN BILLIONS/4/
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 R. Michael Shanahan      Over          3       $206.6         None               None
                       $1,000,000
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 James B. Lovelace     $100,001 --      3       $104.0       1      $0.05         None
                        $500,000
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Donald D. O'Neal      $500,001 --      2       $252.0       1      $0.05         None
                       $1,000,000
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Joyce E. Gordon          Over          3       $104.0         None               None
                       $1,000,000
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 J. Dale Harvey        $100,001 --      4       $215.3         None               None
                        $500,000
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 James E. Drasdo          Over          2       $201.1         None               None
                       $1,000,000
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Darcy B. Kopcho       $100,001 --      1       $ 83.2         None               None
                        $500,000
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 C. Ross Sappenfield   $100,001 --      2       $115.2         None               None
 Sappenfield            $500,000
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------




/1/  Ownership disclosure is made using the following ranges: None; $1 - $10,000;
     $10,001 - $50,000; $50,001 - $100,000; $100,001 - $500,000; $500,001 -
     $1,000,000; and Over $1,000,000. The amounts listed include shares owned
     through The Capital Group Companies, Inc. retirement plan and 401(k) plan.
/2/  Indicates fund(s) where the portfolio counselor also has significant
     responsibilities for the day to day management of the fund(s). Assets noted are
     the total net assets of the registered investment companies and are not
     indicative of the total assets managed by the individual, which is a
     substantially lower amount. No fund has an advisory fee that is based on the
     performance of the fund.


/3/  Represents funds advised or sub-advised by Capital Research and Management
     Company and sold outside the United States and/ or fixed-income assets in
     institutional accounts managed by investment adviser subsidiaries of Capital
     Group International, Inc., an affiliate of Capital Research and Management
     Company. Assets noted are the total net assets of the funds or accounts and are
     not indicative of the total assets managed by the individual, which is a
     substantially lower amount. No fund or account has an advisory fee that is
     based on the performance of the fund or account.

/4/  Reflects other professionally managed accounts held at companies affiliated
     with Capital Research and Management Company. Personal brokerage accounts of
     portfolio counselors and their families are not reflected.

INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND SERVICE AGREEMENT -- The Investment Advisory and Service
Agreement (the "Agreement") between the fund and the investment adviser will
continue in effect until April 30, 2008, unless sooner terminated, and may be
renewed from year to year thereafter, provided that any such renewal has been
specifically approved at least annually by (a) the board of directors, or by the
vote of a majority (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the outstanding voting


                  The Investment Company of America -- Page 22

<PAGE>


securities of the fund, and (b) the vote of a majority of directors who are not
parties to the Agreement or interested persons (as defined in the 1940 Act) of
any such party, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on
such approval. The Agreement provides that the investment adviser has no
liability to the fund for its acts or omissions in the performance of its
obligations to the fund not involving willful misconduct, bad faith, gross
negligence or reckless disregard of its obligations under the Agreement. The
Agreement also provides that either party has the right to terminate it, without
penalty, upon 60 days' written notice to the other party, and that the Agreement
automatically terminates in the event of its assignment (as defined in the 1940
Act).


In addition to providing investment advisory services, the investment adviser
furnishes the services and pays the compensation and travel expenses of persons
to perform the fund's executive, administrative, clerical and bookkeeping
functions, and provides suitable office space, necessary small office equipment
and utilities, general purpose accounting forms, supplies and postage used at
the fund's offices. The fund pays all expenses not assumed by the investment
adviser, including, but not limited to: custodian, stock transfer and dividend
disbursing fees and expenses; shareholder recordkeeping and administrative
expenses; costs of the designing, printing and mailing of reports, prospectuses,
proxy statements and notices to its shareholders; taxes; expenses of the
issuance and redemption of fund shares (including stock certificates,
registration and qualification fees and expenses); expenses pursuant to the
fund's plans of distribution (described below); legal and auditing expenses;
compensation, fees and expenses paid to independent directors and members of the
advisory board; association dues; costs of stationery and forms prepared
exclusively for the fund; and costs of assembling and storing shareholder
account data.


As compensation for its services, the investment adviser receives a monthly fee
that is based on prior month-end net assets, calculated at the annual rate of
0.39% on the first $1 billion of net assets, plus 0.336% on net assets over $1
billion to $2 billion, plus 0.30% on net assets over $2 billion to $3 billion,
plus 0.276% on net assets over $3 billion to $5 billion, plus 0.258% on net
assets over $5 billion to $8 billion, plus 0.246% on net assets over $8 billion
to $13 billion, plus 0.24% on net assets over $13 billion to $21 billion, plus
0.234% on net assets over $21 billion to $34 billion, plus 0.231% on net assets
over $34 billion to $44 billion, plus 0.228% on net assets over $44 billion to
$55 billion, plus 0.225% on net assets over $55 billion to $71 billion, plus
0.222% on net assets over $71 billion to $89 billion, plus 0.219% on net assets
in excess of $89 billion.


The Agreement provides that if the normal operating expenses of the fund,
including the management fee paid to the investment adviser, and certain
expenses of the fund, for any fiscal year during which the Agreement is in
effect, exceed the expense limitations applicable to the fund imposed by state
securities laws or any regulations thereunder, the investment adviser will
reduce its fee by the extent of such excess and, if required pursuant to any
such laws or regulations, will reimburse the fund in the amount of such excess.
Expenses that are not subject to these limitations are interest, taxes,
brokerage costs, distribution expenses pursuant to a plan under rule 12b-1 and
extraordinary expenses such as litigation and acquisitions. Under the most
restrictive state regulations, as of the effective date of the Agreement, the
investment adviser would be required to reimburse the fund if the normal
operating expenses exceed the lesser of: (i) 1 1/2% of the average value of the
fund's net assets for the fiscal year up to $30 million, plus 1% of the average
value of the fund's net assets for the fiscal year in excess of $30 million or
(ii) 25% of the gross investment income of the fund.


                  The Investment Company of America -- Page 23

<PAGE>


To the extent the investment adviser is required to reduce its management fee
pursuant to the expense limitations described above due to the expenses of the
Class A shares exceeding the stated limit, the investment adviser will either:
(i) reduce its management fee similarly for other classes of shares or (ii)
reimburse the fund for other expenses to the extent necessary to result in an
expense reduction only for Class A shares of the fund.


For the fiscal years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004, the investment
adviser was entitled to receive from the fund management fees of $198,992,000,
$182,140,000 and $167,990,000, respectively. After giving effect to the
management fee waiver described below, the fund paid the investment adviser
management fees of $179,093,000 (a reduction of $19,899,000), $166,165,000 (a
reduction of $15,975,000) and $165,092,000 (a reduction of $2,898,000) for the
fiscal years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively.


For the period from September 1, 2004 through March 31, 2005, the investment
adviser agreed to waive 5% of the management fees that it was otherwise entitled
to receive under the Agreement. Beginning April 1, 2005, this waiver increased
to 10% of the management fees that the investment adviser is otherwise entitled
to receive. As a result of this waiver, management fees are reduced similarly
for all classes of shares of the fund.


ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AGREEMENT -- The Administrative Services Agreement (the
"Administrative Agreement") between the fund and the investment adviser relating
to the fund's Class C, F, R and 529 shares will continue in effect until April
30, 2008, unless sooner terminated, and may be renewed from year to year
thereafter, provided that any such renewal has been specifically approved at
least annually by the vote of a majority of directors who are not parties to the
Administrative Agreement or interested persons (as defined in the 1940 Act) of
any such party, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on
such approval. The fund may terminate the Administrative Agreement at any time
by vote of a majority of independent directors. The investment adviser has the
right to terminate the Administrative Agreement upon 60 days' written notice to
the fund. The Administrative Agreement automatically terminates in the event of
its assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act).


Under the Administrative Agreement, the investment adviser provides certain
transfer agent and administrative services for shareholders of the fund's Class
C and F shares, and Class R and 529 shares. The investment adviser may contract
with third parties, including American Funds Service Company, the fund's
Transfer Agent, to provide these services. Services include, but are not limited
to, shareholder account maintenance, transaction processing, tax information
reporting and shareholder and fund communications. In addition, the investment
adviser monitors, coordinates and oversees the activities performed by third
parties providing such services. For Class R-1 and R-2 shares, the investment
adviser has agreed to pay a portion of the fees payable under the Administrative
Agreement that would otherwise have been paid by the fund. For the year ended
December 31, 2006, the total fees paid by the investment adviser were $487,000.

The investment adviser receives an administrative services fee at the annual
rate of up to 0.15% of the average daily net assets for Class C, F, R (excluding
Class R-5 shares) and 529 shares for administrative services provided to these
share classes. Administrative services fees are paid monthly and accrued daily.
The investment adviser uses a portion of this fee to compensate third parties
for administrative services provided to the fund. Of the remainder, the
investment adviser does not retain more than 0.05% of the average daily net
assets for each applicable share class. For Class R-5 shares, the administrative


                  The Investment Company of America -- Page 24

<PAGE>

services fee is calculated at the annual rate of up to 0.10% of the average
daily net assets. The administrative services fee includes compensation for
transfer agent and shareholder services provided to the fund's Class C, F, R and
529 shares. In addition to making administrative service fee payments to
unaffiliated third parties, the investment adviser also makes payments from the
administrative services fee to American Funds Service Company according to a
fee schedule contained in a Shareholder Services Agreement between the fund
and American Funds Service Company.



During the 2006 fiscal year, administrative services fees, gross of any payments
made by the investment adviser, were:




                                             ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES FEE
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

               CLASS C                               $4,707,000
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               CLASS F                                1,497,000
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             CLASS 529-A                                868,000
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             CLASS 529-B                                243,000
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             CLASS 529-C                                304,000
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             CLASS 529-E                                 37,000
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             CLASS 529-F                                  8,000
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              CLASS R-1                                  64,000
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              CLASS R-2                               2,785,000
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              CLASS R-3                               1,515,000
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              CLASS R-4                                 403,000
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              CLASS R-5                               1,737,000
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------




PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER AND PLANS OF DISTRIBUTION -- American Funds Distributors,
Inc. (the "Principal Underwriter") is the principal underwriter of the fund's
shares. The Principal Underwriter is located at 333 South Hope Street, Los
Angeles, CA 90071; 135 South State College Boulevard, Brea, CA 92821; 15370
Barranca Parkway, Irvine, CA 92618; 3500 Wiseman Boulevard, San Antonio, TX
78251; 8332 Woodfield Crossing Boulevard, Indianapolis, IN 46240; and 5300 Robin
Hood Road, Norfolk, VA 23513.


The Principal Underwriter receives revenues from sales of the fund's shares. For
Class A and 529-A shares, the Principal Underwriter receives commission revenue
consisting of that portion of the Class A and 529-A sales charge remaining after
the allowances by the Principal Underwriter to investment dealers. For Class B
and 529-B shares, the Principal Underwriter sells the rights to the 12b-1 fees
paid by the fund for distribution expenses to a third party and receives the
revenue remaining after compensating investment dealers for sales of Class B and
529-B shares. The fund also pays the Principal Underwriter for advancing the
immediate service fees paid to qualified dealers of Class B and 529-B shares.
For Class C and 529-C shares, the Principal Underwriter receives any contingent
deferred sales charges that apply during the first year after purchase. The fund
pays the Principal Underwriter for advancing the immediate service fees and
commissions paid to qualified dealers of Class C and 529-C shares. For Class
529-E shares, the fund pays the Principal Underwriter for advancing the
immediate service fees and commissions paid to qualified dealers. For Class F
and 529-F shares, the fund pays the


                  The Investment Company of America -- Page 25

<PAGE>


Principal Underwriter for advancing the immediate service fees paid to qualified
dealers and advisers who sell Class F and 529-F shares. For Class R-1, R-2, R-3
and R-4 shares, the fund pays the Principal Underwriter for advancing the
immediate service fees paid to qualified dealers and advisers who sell Class
R-1, R-2, R-3 and R-4 shares.


Commissions, revenue or service fees retained by the Principal Underwriter after
allowances or compensation to dealers were:




                                               COMMISSIONS,        ALLOWANCE OR
                                                  REVENUE          COMPENSATION
                         FISCAL YEAR/PERIOD  OR FEES RETAINED       TO DEALERS
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

       CLASS A                  2006            $21,449,000        $ 97,597,000
                                2005             23,259,000         107,667,000
                                2004             30,647,000         143,628,000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       CLASS B                  2006              1,472,000           9,507,000
                                2005              1,908,000          12,381,000
                                2004              3,668,000          24,863,000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       CLASS C                  2006                598,000           4,228,000
                                2005              1,103,000           4,765,000
                                2004              1,863,000           7,444,000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     CLASS 529-A                2006              1,196,000           5,796,000
                                2005              1,230,000           6,073,000
                                2004              1,331,000           6,637,000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     CLASS 529-B                2006                142,000             894,000
                                2005                189,000           1,148,000
                                2004                326,000           1,807,000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     CLASS 529-C                2006                  9,000             582,000
                                2005                 23,000             577,000
                                2004                 39,000             640,000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------




The fund has adopted plans of distribution (the "Plans") pursuant to rule 12b-1
under the 1940 Act. The Principal Underwriter receives amounts payable pursuant
to the Plans (see below). As required by rule 12b-1 and the 1940 Act, the Plans
(together with the Principal Underwriting Agreement) have been approved by the
full board of directors and separately by a majority of the


                  The Investment Company of America -- Page 26

<PAGE>



independent directors of the fund who have no direct or indirect financial
interest in the operation of the Plans or the Principal Underwriting Agreement.
Potential benefits of the Plans to the fund include quality shareholder
services; savings to the fund in transfer agency costs; and benefits to the
investment process from growth or stability of assets. The selection and
nomination of independent directors are committed to the discretion of the
independent directors during the existence of the Plans. The Plans may not be
amended to increase materially the amount spent for distribution without
shareholder approval. Plan expenses are reviewed quarterly and the Plans must be
renewed annually by the board of directors.


Under the Plans, the fund may annually expend the following amounts to finance
any activity primarily intended to result in the sale of fund shares, provided
the fund's board of directors has approved the category of expenses for which
payment is being made: (a) for Class A shares, up to 0.25% of the average daily
net assets attributable to Class A shares; (b) for Class 529-A shares, up to
0.50% of the average daily net assets attributable to Class 529-A shares; (c)
for Class B and 529-B shares, up to 1.00% of the average daily net assets
attributable to Class B and 529-B shares, respectively; (d) for Class C and
529-C shares, up to 1.00% of the average daily net assets attributable to Class
C and 529-C shares, respectively; (e) for Class 529-E shares, up to 0.75% of the
average daily net assets attributable to Class 529-E shares; (f) for Class F and
529-F shares, up to 0.50% of the average daily net assets attributable to Class
F and 529-F shares, respectively; (g) for Class R-1 shares, up to 1.00% of the
average daily net assets attributable to Class R-1 shares; (h) for Class R-2
shares, up to 1.00% of the average daily net assets attributable to Class R-2
shares; (i) for Class R-3 shares, up to 0.75% of the average daily net assets
attributable to Class R-3 shares; and (j) for Class R-4 shares, up to 0.50% of
the average daily net assets attributable to Class R-4 shares. The fund has not
adopted a Plan for Class R-5 shares; accordingly, no 12b-1 fees are paid from
Class R-5 share assets.


For Class A and 529-A shares: (a) up to 0.25% is reimbursed to the Principal
Underwriter for paying service-related expenses, including paying service fees
to qualified dealers, and (b) up to the amount allowable under the fund's Class
A and 529-A 12b-1 limit, after reimbursement for paying service-related
expenses, is reimbursed to the Principal Underwriter for paying
distribution-related expenses, including dealer commissions and wholesaler
compensation paid on sales of shares of $1 million or more purchased without a
sales charge (including purchases by employer-sponsored defined
contribution-type retirement plans investing $1 million or more or with 100 or
more eligible employees, and retirement plans, endowments and foundations with
$50 million or more in assets -- "no load purchases"). Commissions on no load
purchases of Class A and 529-A shares in excess of the Class A and 529-A plan
limitations not reimbursed to the Principal Underwriter during the most recent
fiscal quarter are recoverable for five quarters, provided the amount recovered
does not cause the fund to exceed the annual expense limit. After five quarters,
these commissions are not recoverable.


For Class B and 529-B shares: (a) up to 0.25% is paid to the Principal
Underwriter for paying service-related expenses, including paying service fees
to qualified dealers, and (b) 0.75% is paid to the Principal Underwriter for
distribution-related expenses, including the financing of commissions paid to
qualified dealers.


For Class C and 529-C shares: (a) up to 0.25% is paid to the Principal
Underwriter for paying service-related expenses, including paying service fees
to qualified dealers, and (b) up to 0.75% is paid to the Principal Underwriter
for paying distribution-related expenses, including commissions paid to
qualified dealers.


                  The Investment Company of America -- Page 27

<PAGE>


For Class 529-E shares: currently (a) up to 0.25% is paid to the Principal
Underwriter for paying service-related expenses, including paying service fees
to qualified dealers, and (b) up to 0.25% is paid to the Principal Underwriter
for paying distribution-related expenses, including commissions paid to
qualified dealers.


For Class F and 529-F shares: currently up to 0.25% is paid to the Principal
Underwriter for paying service-related expenses, including paying service fees
to qualified dealers or advisers.


For Class R-1 shares: (a) up to 0.25% is paid to the Principal Underwriter for
paying service-related expenses, including paying service fees to qualified
dealers, and (b) up to 0.75% is paid to the Principal Underwriter for
distribution-related expenses, including commissions paid to qualified dealers.


For Class R-2 shares: currently (a) up to 0.25% is paid to the Principal
Underwriter for paying service-related expenses, including paying service fees
to qualified dealers, and (b) up to 0.50% is paid to the Principal Underwriter
for paying distribution-related expenses, including commissions paid to
qualified dealers.


For Class R-3 shares: currently (a) up to 0.25% is paid to the Principal
Underwriter for paying service-related expenses, including paying service fees
to qualified dealers, and (b) up to 0.25% is paid to the Principal Underwriter
for paying distribution-related expenses, including commissions paid to
qualified dealers.


For Class R-4 shares: currently up to 0.25% is paid to the Principal Underwriter
for paying service-related expenses, including paying service fees to qualified
dealers or advisers.


As of the end of the 2006 fiscal year, total 12b-1 expenses, and the portion of
the expenses that remained unpaid, were:




                                                     12B-1 UNPAID LIABILITY
                              12B-1 EXPENSES              OUTSTANDING
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

  CLASS A                      $163,142,000               $14,391,000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
  CLASS B                        40,236,000                 3,603,000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
  CLASS C                        31,123,000                 2,864,000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
  CLASS F                         3,708,000                   362,000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
  CLASS 529-A                     1,916,000                   185,000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
  CLASS 529-B                     2,138,000                   203,000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
  CLASS 529-C                     2,833,000                   292,000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
  CLASS 529-E                       209,000                    20,000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
  CLASS 529-F                             0                         0
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
  CLASS R-1                         391,000                    44,000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
  CLASS R-2                       4,167,000                   401,000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
  CLASS R-3                       3,932,000                   385,000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
  CLASS R-4                         693,000                    78,000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------





                  The Investment Company of America -- Page 28

<PAGE>



OTHER COMPENSATION TO DEALERS -- As of January 2007, the top dealers (or their
affiliates) that American Funds Distributors anticipates will receive additional
compensation (as described in the prospectus) include:

     A. G. Edwards & Sons, Inc.
     AIG Advisors Group:
          Advantage Capital Corporation
          AIG Financial Advisors, Inc.
          American General Securities Incorporated
          FSC Securities Corporation
          Royal Alliance Associates, Inc.
     AXA Advisors, LLC
     Cadaret, Grant & Co., Inc.
     Cambridge Investment Research, Inc.
     Commonwealth Financial Network
     Cuna Brokerage Services, Inc.
     Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.
     Edward Jones
     Genworth Financial Securities Corporation
     Hefren-Tillotson, Inc.
     HTK/Janney Montgomery Group:
          Hornor, Townsend & Kent, Inc.
          Janney Montgomery Scott LLC
     ING Advisors Network Inc.:
          Bancnorth Investment Group, Inc.
          Financial Network Investment Corporation
          Guaranty Brokerage Services, Inc.
          ING Financial Partners, Inc.
          Multi-Financial Securities Corporation
          Primevest Financial Services, Inc.
     InterSecurities/Transamerica:
          InterSecurities, Inc.
          Transamerica Financial Advisors, Inc.
     J.J.B. Hilliard/PNC Bank:
          J.J.B. Hilliard, W.L. Lyons, Inc.
          PNC Bank, National Association
          PNC Brokerage Corp.
          PNC Investments LLC
     Lincoln Financial Advisors Corporation:
          Lincoln Financial Advisors Corporation
          Jefferson Pilot Securities Corporation
     LPL Financial Services:
          Linsco/Private Ledger Corp.
          Uvest Investment Services
     Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated
     Metlife Enterprises:
          Metlife Securities Inc.
          Tower Square Securities
          New England Securities
          Walnut Street Securities, Inc.
     MML Investors Services, Inc.


                  The Investment Company of America -- Page 29

<PAGE>



     Morgan Keegan & Company, Inc.
     Morgan Stanley DW Inc.
     National Planning Holdings Inc.:
          Invest Financial Corporation
          Investment Centers of America, Inc.
          National Planning Corporation
          SII Investments, Inc.
     NFP Securities, Inc.
     Northwestern Mutual Investment Services, LLC
     Pacific Select Distributors Inc.:
          Associated Securities Corp.
          Contemporary Financial Solutions, Inc.
          M.L. Stern & Co., LLC
          Mutual Service Corporation
          Sorrento Pacific Financial, LLC
          United Planners' Financial Services of America
          Waterstone Financial Group, Inc.
     Park Avenue Securities LLC
     Princor Financial Services Corporation
     Raymond James Group:
          Raymond James & Associates, Inc.
          Raymond James Financial Services Inc.
     RBC Dain Rauscher Inc.
     Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated
     Securian/C.R.I.:
          CRI Securities, LLC
          Securian Financial Services, Inc.
     Smith Barney
     U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc.
     UBS Financial Services Inc.
     First Clearing LLC
     Wells Fargo Investments, L.L.C.


                      EXECUTION OF PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS

As described in the prospectus, the investment adviser places orders with
broker-dealers for the fund's portfolio transactions. Portfolio transactions for
the fund may be executed as part of concurrent authorizations to purchase or
sell the same security for other funds served by the investment adviser, or for
trusts or other accounts served by affiliated companies of the investment
adviser. When such concurrent authorizations occur, the objective is to allocate
the executions in an equitable manner.


Brokerage commissions paid on portfolio transactions, including investment
dealer concessions on underwritings, if applicable, for the fiscal years ended
December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004 amounted to $26,524,000, $26,787,000 and
$24,089,000. With respect to fixed-income securities, brokerage commissions
include explicit investment dealer concessions and may exclude other transaction
costs which may be reflected in the spread between the bid and asked price. The
volume of securities purchased by the fund in new issues and underwritten
offerings decreased from 2005 to 2006, resulting in a reduction in brokerage
concessions paid on portfolio transactions.


                  The Investment Company of America -- Page 30

<PAGE>



The fund is required to disclose information regarding investments in the
securities of its "regular" broker-dealers (or parent companies of its regular
broker-dealers) that derive more than 15% of their revenue from broker-dealer,
underwriter or investment adviser activities. A regular broker-dealer is (a) one
of the 10 broker-dealers that received from the fund the largest amount of
brokerage commissions by participating, directly or indirectly, in the fund's
portfolio transactions during the fund's most recent fiscal year; (b) one of the
10 broker-dealers that engaged as principal in the largest dollar amount of
portfolio transactions of the fund during the fund's most recent fiscal year; or
(c) one of the 10 broker-dealers that sold the largest amount of securities of
the fund during the fund's most recent fiscal year.


At the end of the fund's most recent fiscal year, the fund's regular
broker-dealers included Citigroup Global Markets Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities
and Wachovia Corporation. As of the fund's most recent fiscal year-end, the fund
held equity securities of Citigroup Inc. in the amount of $1,919,422,000, J.P.
Morgan Chase & Co. in the amount of $712,425,000 and Wachovia Corp. in the
amount of $336,005,000. As of the fund's most recent fiscal year-end, the fund
held debt securities of J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. in the amount of $49,488,000.


                        DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

The fund's investment adviser, on behalf of the fund, has adopted policies and
procedures with respect to the disclosure of information about fund portfolio
securities. These policies and procedures have been reviewed by the fund's board
of directors and compliance will be periodically assessed by the board in
connection with reporting from the fund's Chief Compliance Officer.


Under these policies and procedures, the fund's complete list of portfolio
holdings available for public disclosure, dated as of the end of each calendar
quarter, is permitted to be posted on the American Funds website no earlier than
the tenth day after such calendar quarter. In practice, the public portfolio
typically is posted on the website approximately 45 days after the end of the
calendar quarter. In addition, the fund's list of top 10 equity portfolio
holdings measured by percentage of net assets invested, dated as of the end of
each calendar month, is permitted to be posted on the American Funds website no
earlier than the tenth day after such month. Such portfolio holdings information
may then be disclosed to any person pursuant to an ongoing arrangement to
disclose portfolio holdings information to such person no earlier than one day
after the day on which the information is posted on the American Funds website.
The fund's custodian, outside counsel and auditor, each of which requires
portfolio holdings information for legitimate business and fund oversight
purposes, may receive the information earlier.


Affiliated persons of the fund as described above who receive portfolio holdings
information are subject to restrictions and limitations on the use and handling
of such information pursuant to applicable codes of ethics, including
requirements to maintain the confidentiality of such information, preclear
securities trades and report securities transactions activity, as applicable.
Third party service providers of the fund receiving such information are subject
to confidentiality obligations. When portfolio holdings information is disclosed
other than through the American Funds website to persons not affiliated with the
fund (which, as described above, would typically occur no earlier than one day
after the day on which the information is posted on the American Funds website),
such persons may be bound by agreements (including confidentiality agreements)
that restrict and limit their use of the information to legitimate business uses
only. Neither the fund nor its investment adviser or any affiliate thereof
receives compensation or other consideration in connection with the disclosure
of information about portfolio securities.


                  The Investment Company of America -- Page 31

<PAGE>



Subject to board policies, the authority to disclose a fund's portfolio
holdings, and to establish policies with respect to such disclosure, resides
with the appropriate investment-related committees of the fund's investment
adviser. In exercising their authority, the committees determine whether
disclosure of information about the fund's portfolio securities is appropriate
and in the best interest of fund shareholders. The investment adviser has
implemented policies and procedures to address conflicts of interest that may
arise from the disclosure of fund holdings. For example, the investment
adviser's code of ethics specifically requires, among other things, the
safeguarding of information about fund holdings and contains prohibitions
designed to prevent the personal use of confidential, proprietary investment
information in a way that would conflict with fund transactions. In addition,
the investment adviser believes that its current policy of not selling portfolio
holdings information and not disclosing such information to unaffiliated third
parties until such holdings have been made public on the American Funds website
(other than to certain fund service providers for legitimate business and fund
oversight purposes) helps reduce potential conflicts of interest between fund
shareholders and the investment adviser and its affiliates.


                                PRICE OF SHARES

Shares are purchased at the offering price or sold at the net asset value price
next determined after the purchase or sell order is received and accepted by the
fund or the Transfer Agent; the offering or net asset value price is effective
for orders received prior to the time of determination of the net asset value
and, in the case of orders placed with dealers or their authorized designees,
accepted by the Principal Underwriter, the Transfer Agent, a dealer or any of
their designees. In the case of orders sent directly to the fund or the Transfer
Agent, an investment dealer should be indicated. The dealer is responsible for
promptly transmitting purchase and sell orders to the Principal Underwriter.


Orders received by the investment dealer or authorized designee, the Transfer
Agent or the fund after the time of the determination of the net asset value
will be entered at the next calculated offering price. Note that investment
dealers or other intermediaries may have their own rules about share
transactions and may have earlier cut-off times than those of the fund. For more
information about how to purchase through your intermediary, contact your
intermediary directly.


Prices that appear in the newspaper do not always indicate prices at which you
will be purchasing and redeeming shares of the fund, since such prices generally
reflect the previous day's closing price, while purchases and redemptions are
made at the next calculated price. The price you pay for shares, the offering
price, is based on the net asset value per share, which is calculated once daily
as of approximately 4:00 p.m. New York time, which is the normal close of
trading on the New York Stock Exchange, each day the Exchange is open. If, for
example, the Exchange closes at 1:00 p.m., the fund's share price would still be
determined as of 4:00 p.m. New York time. The New York Stock Exchange is
currently closed on weekends and on the following holidays: New Year's Day;
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day; Presidents' Day; Good Friday; Memorial Day;
Independence Day; Labor Day; Thanksgiving; and Christmas Day. Each share class
of the fund has a separately calculated net asset value (and share price).


All portfolio securities of funds managed by Capital Research and Management
Company (other than money market funds) are valued, and the net asset values per
share for each share class are determined, as indicated below. The fund follows
standard industry practice by typically reflecting changes in its holdings of
portfolio securities on the first business day following a portfolio trade.



                  The Investment Company of America -- Page 32

<PAGE>



1.    Equity securities, including depositary receipts, are valued at the
official closing price of, or the last reported sale price on, the exchange or
market on which such securities are traded, as of the close of business on the
day the securities are being valued or, lacking any sales, at the last available
bid price. Prices for each security are taken from the principal exchange or
market in which the security trades. Fixed-income securities are valued at
prices obtained from an independent pricing service, when such prices are
available; however, in circumstances where the investment adviser deems it
appropriate to do so, such securities will be valued at the mean quoted bid and
asked prices (or bid prices, if asked prices are not available) or at prices for
securities of comparable maturity, quality and type. The pricing services base
bond prices on, among other things, an evaluation of the yield curve as of
approximately 3:00 p.m. New York time. The fund's investment adviser performs
certain checks on these prices prior to calculation of the fund's net asset
value.

Securities with both fixed-income and equity characteristics (e.g., convertible
bonds, preferred stocks, units comprised of more than one type of security,
etc.), or equity securities traded principally among fixed-income dealers, are
valued in the manner described above for either equity or fixed-income
securities, depending on which method is deemed most appropriate by the
investment adviser.

Securities with original maturities of one year or less having 60 days or less
to maturity are amortized to maturity based on their cost if acquired within 60
days of maturity, or if already held on the 60th day, based on the value
determined on the 61st day. Forward currency contracts are valued at the mean of
representative quoted bid and asked prices.


Assets or liabilities initially expressed in terms of non-U.S. currencies are
translated prior to the next determination of the net asset value of the fund's
shares into U.S. dollars at the prevailing market rates.


Securities and assets for which market quotations are not readily available or
are considered unreliable are valued at fair value as determined in good faith
under policies approved by the fund's board. Subject to board oversight, the
fund's board has delegated the obligation to make fair valuation determinations
to a valuation committee established by the fund's investment adviser. The board
receives regular reports describing fair-valued securities and the valuation
methods used.


The valuation committee has adopted guidelines and procedures (consistent with
SEC rules and guidance) to ensure that certain basic principles and factors are
considered when making all fair value determinations. As a general principle,
securities lacking readily available market quotations, or that have quotations
that are considered unreliable by the investment adviser, are valued in good
faith by the valuation committee based upon what the fund might reasonably
expect to receive upon their current sale. The valuation committee considers all
indications of value available to it in determining the fair value to be
assigned to a particular security, including, without limitation, the type and
cost of the security, contractual or legal restrictions on resale of the
security, relevant financial or business developments of the issuer, actively
traded similar or related securities, conversion or exchange rights on the
security, related corporate actions, significant events occurring after the
close of trading in the security and changes in overall market conditions. The
valuation committee employs additional fair value procedures to address issues
related to investing substantial portions of applicable fund portfolios outside
the United States. Securities owned by these funds trade in markets that open
and close at different times, reflecting time zone differences. If significant
events occur after the close of a market (and before


                  The Investment Company of America -- Page 33

<PAGE>



these fund's net asset values are next determined) which affect the value of
portfolio securities, appropriate adjustments from closing market prices may be
made to reflect these events. Events of this type could include, for example,
earthquakes and other natural disasters or significant price changes in other
markets (e.g., U.S. stock markets).


2.   Each class of shares represents interests in the same portfolio of
investments and is identical in all respects to each other class, except for
differences relating to distribution, service and other charges and expenses,
certain voting rights, differences relating to eligible investors, the
designation of each class of shares, conversion features and exchange
privileges. Expenses attributable to the fund, but not to a particular class of
shares, are borne by each class pro rata based on relative aggregate net assets
of the classes. Expenses directly attributable to a class of shares are borne by
that class of shares. Liabilities, including accruals of taxes and other expense
items attributable to particular share classes, are deducted from total assets
attributable to such share classes.

3.   Net assets so obtained for each share class are then divided by the total
number of shares outstanding of that share class, and the result, rounded to the
nearest cent, is the net asset value per share for that share class.


                            TAXES AND DISTRIBUTIONS

FUND TAXATION -- The fund has elected to be treated as a regulated investment
company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code (the "Code"). A
regulated investment company qualifying under Subchapter M of the Code is
required to distribute to its shareholders at least 90% of its investment
company taxable income (including the excess of net short-term capital gain over
net long-term capital losses) and generally is not subject to federal income tax
to the extent that it distributes annually 100% of its investment company
taxable income and net realized capital gains in the manner required under the
Code. The fund intends to distribute annually all of its investment company
taxable income and net realized capital gains and therefore does not expect to
pay federal income tax, although in certain circumstances, the fund may
determine that it is in the interest of shareholders to distribute less than
that amount.


To be treated as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Code,
the fund must also (a) derive at least 90% of its gross income from dividends,
interest, payments with respect to securities loans, net income from certain
publicly traded partnerships and gains from the sale or other disposition of
securities or foreign currencies, or other income (including, but not limited
to, gains from options, futures or forward contracts) derived with respect to
the business of investing in such securities or currencies, and (b) diversify
its holdings so that, at the end of each fiscal quarter, (i) at least 50% of the
market value of the fund's assets is represented by cash, U.S. government
securities and securities of other regulated investment companies, and other
securities (for purposes of this calculation, generally limited in respect of
any one issuer, to an amount not greater than 5% of the market value of the
fund's assets and 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer) and
(ii) not more than 25% of the value of its assets is invested in the securities
of (other than U.S. government securities or the securities of other regulated
investment companies) any one issuer; two or more issuers which the fund
controls and which are determined to be engaged in the same or similar trades or
businesses; or the securities of certain publicly traded partnerships.


Under the Code, a nondeductible excise tax of 4% is imposed on the excess of a
regulated investment company's "required distribution" for the calendar year
ending within the regulated


                  The Investment Company of America -- Page 34

<PAGE>


investment company's taxable year over the "distributed amount" for such
calendar year. The term "required distribution" means the sum of (a) 98% of
ordinary income (generally net investment income) for the calendar year, (b) 98%
of capital gain (both long-term and short-term) for the one-year period ending
on October 31 (as though the one-year period ending on October 31 were the
regulated investment company's taxable year) and (c) the sum of any untaxed,
undistributed net investment income and net capital gains of the regulated
investment company for prior periods. The term "distributed amount" generally
means the sum of (a) amounts actually distributed by the fund from its current
year's ordinary income and capital gain net income and (b) any amount on which
the fund pays income tax during the periods described above. Although the fund
intends to distribute its net investment income and net capital gains so as to
avoid excise tax liability, the fund may determine that it is in the interest of
shareholders to distribute a lesser amount.


The following information may not apply to you if you hold fund shares in a
tax-deferred account, such as a retirement plan or education savings account.
Please see your tax adviser for more information.


DIVIDENDS AND CAPITAL GAIN DISTRIBUTIONS -- Dividends and capital gain
distributions on fund shares will be reinvested in shares of the fund of the
same class, unless shareholders indicate in writing that they wish to receive
them in cash or in shares of the same class of other American Funds, as provided
in the prospectus. Dividends and capital gain distributions by 529 share classes
will be automatically reinvested.


Distributions of investment company taxable income and net realized capital
gains to  shareholders will be taxable whether received in shares or in cash,
unless such shareholders are exempt from taxation. Shareholders electing to
receive distributions in the form of additional shares will have a cost basis
for federal income tax purposes in each share so received equal to the net asset
value of that share on the reinvestment date. Dividends and capital gain
distributions by the fund to a tax-deferred retirement plan account are not
taxable currently.


     DIVIDENDS -- The fund intends to follow the practice of distributing
     substantially all of its investment company taxable income. Investment
     company taxable income generally includes dividends, interest, net
     short-term capital gains in excess of net long-term capital losses, and
     certain foreign currency gains, if any, less expenses and certain foreign
     currency losses. To the extent the fund invests in stock of domestic and
     certain foreign corporations and meets the applicable holding period
     requirement, it may receive "qualified dividends". The fund will designate
     the amount of "qualified dividends" to its shareholders in a notice sent
     within 60 days of the close of its fiscal year and will report "qualified
     dividends" to shareholders on Form 1099-DIV.

     Under the Code, gains or losses attributable to fluctuations in exchange
     rates that occur between the time the fund accrues receivables or
     liabilities denominated in a foreign currency and the time the fund
     actually collects such receivables, or pays such liabilities, generally are
     treated as ordinary income or ordinary loss. Similarly, on disposition of
     debt securities denominated in a foreign currency and on disposition of
     certain futures contracts, forward contracts and options, gains or losses
     attributable to fluctuations in the value of foreign currency between the
     date of acquisition of the security or contract and the date of disposition
     are also treated as ordinary gain or loss. These gains or losses, referred
     to under the Code as Section 988 gains or losses, may increase or decrease
     the


                  The Investment Company of America -- Page 35

<PAGE>


     amount of the fund's investment company taxable income to be distributed to
     its shareholders as ordinary income.


     If the fund invests in stock of certain passive foreign investment
     companies, the fund may be subject to U.S. federal income taxation on a
     portion of any "excess distribution" with respect to, or gain from the
     disposition of, such stock. The tax would be determined by allocating such
     distribution or gain ratably to each day of the fund's holding period for
     the stock. The distribution or gain so allocated to any taxable year of the
     fund, other than the taxable year of the excess distribution or
     disposition, would be taxed to the fund at the highest ordinary income rate
     in effect for such year, and the tax would be further increased by an
     interest charge to reflect the value of the tax deferral deemed to have
     resulted from the ownership of the foreign company's stock. Any amount of
     distribution or gain allocated to the taxable year of the distribution or
     disposition would be included in the fund's investment company taxable
     income and, accordingly, would not be taxable to the fund to the extent
     distributed by the fund as a dividend to its shareholders.


     To avoid such tax and interest, the fund intends to elect to treat these
     securities as sold on the last day of its fiscal year and recognize any
     gains for tax purposes at that time. Under this election, deductions for
     losses are allowable only to the extent of any prior recognized gains, and
     both gains and losses will be treated as ordinary income or loss. The fund
     will be required to distribute any resulting income, even though it has not
     sold the security and received cash to pay such distributions. Upon
     disposition of these securities, any gain recognized is treated as ordinary
     income and loss is treated as ordinary loss to the extent of any prior
     recognized gain.


     Dividends from domestic corporations are expected to comprise some portion
     of the fund's gross income. To the extent that such dividends constitute
     any of the fund's gross income, a portion of the income distributions of
     the fund may be eligible for the deduction for dividends received by
     corporations. Corporate shareholders will be informed of the portion of
     dividends that so qualifies. The dividends-received deduction is reduced to
     the extent that either the fund shares, or the underlying shares of stock
     held by the fund, with respect to which dividends are received, are treated
     as debt-financed under federal income tax law, and is eliminated if the
     shares are deemed to have been held by the shareholder or the fund, as the
     case may be, for less than 46 days during the 90-day period beginning on
     the date that is 45 days before the date on which the shares become
     ex-dividend. Capital gain distributions are not eligible for the
     dividends-received deduction.


     A portion of the difference between the issue price of zero coupon
     securities and their face value (original issue discount) is considered to
     be income to the fund each year, even though the fund will not receive cash
     interest payments from these securities. This original issue discount
     (imputed income) will comprise a part of the investment company taxable
     income of the fund that must be distributed to shareholders in order to
     maintain the qualification of the fund as a regulated investment company
     and to avoid federal income taxation at the level of the fund.


     The price of a bond purchased after its original issuance may reflect
     market discount which, depending on the particular circumstances, may
     affect the tax character and amount of income required to be recognized by
     a fund holding the bond. In determining whether a bond is purchased with
     market discount, certain de minimis rules apply.


                  The Investment Company of America -- Page 36

<PAGE>



     Dividend and interest income received by the fund from sources outside the
     United States may be subject to withholding and other taxes imposed by such
     foreign jurisdictions. Tax conventions between certain countries and the
     United States, however, may reduce or eliminate these foreign taxes. Some
     foreign countries impose taxes on capital gains with respect to investments
     by foreign investors.


     CAPITAL GAIN DISTRIBUTIONS -- The fund also intends to follow the practice
     of distributing the entire excess of net realized long-term capital gains
     over net realized short-term capital losses. Net capital gains for a fiscal
     year are computed by taking into account any capital loss carry forward of
     the fund.

     If any net long-term capital gains in excess of net short-term capital
     losses are retained by the fund for reinvestment, requiring federal income
     taxes to be paid thereon by the fund, the fund intends to elect to treat
     such capital gains as having been distributed to shareholders. As a result,
     each shareholder will report such capital gains as long-term capital gains
     taxable to individual shareholders at a maximum 15% capital gains rate will
     be able to claim a pro rata share of federal income taxes paid by the fund
     on such gains as a credit against personal federal income tax liability,
     and will be entitled to increase the adjusted tax basis on fund shares by
     the difference between a pro rata share of the retained gains and such
     shareholder's related tax credit.


SHAREHOLDER TAXATION -- In January of each year, individual shareholders holding
fund shares in taxable accounts will receive a statement of the federal income
tax status of all distributions. Shareholders of the fund also may be subject to
state and local taxes on distributions received from the fund.


     DIVIDENDS -- Fund dividends are taxable to shareholders as ordinary income.
     All or a portion of a fund's dividend distribution may be a "qualified
     dividend." If the fund meets the applicable holding period requirement, it
     will distribute dividends derived from qualified corporation dividends to
     shareholders as qualified dividends. Interest income from bonds and money
     market instruments and nonqualified foreign dividends will be distributed
     to shareholders as nonqualified fund dividends. The fund will report on
     Form 1099-DIV the amount of each shareholder's dividend that may be treated
     as a qualified dividend. If a shareholder meets the requisite holding
     period requirement, qualified dividends are taxable at a maximum rate of
     15%.

     CAPITAL GAINS -- Distributions of the excess of net long-term capital gains
     over net short-term capital losses that the fund properly designates as
     "capital gain dividends" generally will be taxable as long-term capital
     gain. Regardless of the length of time the shares of the fund have been
     held by a shareholder, a capital gain distribution by the fund is subject
     to a maximum tax rate of 15%. Any loss realized upon the redemption of
     shares held at the time of redemption for six months or less from the date
     of their purchase will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent
     of any amounts treated as distributions of long-term capital gains during
     such six-month period.

Distributions by the fund result in a reduction in the net asset value of the
fund's shares. Investors should consider the tax implications of buying shares
just prior to a distribution. The price of shares purchased at that time
includes the amount of the forthcoming distribution. Those purchasing just prior
to a distribution will subsequently receive a partial return of their investment
capital upon payment of the distribution, which will be taxable to them.


                  The Investment Company of America -- Page 37

<PAGE>



Redemptions of shares, including exchanges for shares of other American Funds,
may result in federal, state and local tax consequences (gain or loss) to the
shareholder.


If a shareholder exchanges or otherwise disposes of shares of the fund within 90
days of having acquired such shares, and if, as a result of having acquired
those shares, the shareholder subsequently pays a reduced sales charge for
shares of the fund, or of a different fund, the sales charge previously incurred
in acquiring the fund's shares will not be taken into account (to the extent
such previous sales charges do not exceed the reduction in sales charges) for
the purposes of determining the amount of gain or loss on the exchange, but will
be treated as having been incurred in the acquisition of such other fund(s).


Any loss realized on a redemption or exchange of shares of the fund will be
disallowed to the extent substantially identical shares are reacquired within
the 61-day period beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the shares
are disposed of. Any loss disallowed under this rule will be added to the
shareholder's tax basis in the new shares purchased.


The fund will be required to report to the IRS all distributions of investment
company taxable income and capital gains as well as gross proceeds from the
redemption or exchange of fund shares, except in the case of certain exempt
shareholders. Under the backup withholding provisions of Section 3406 of the
Code, distributions of investment company taxable income and capital gains and
proceeds from the redemption or exchange of a regulated investment company may
be subject to backup withholding of federal income tax in the case of non-exempt
U.S. shareholders who fail to furnish the investment company with their taxpayer
identification numbers and with required certifications regarding their status
under the federal income tax law. Withholding may also be required if the fund
is notified by the IRS or a broker that the taxpayer identification number
furnished by the shareholder is incorrect or that the shareholder has previously
failed to report interest or dividend income. If the withholding provisions are
applicable, any such distributions and proceeds, whether taken in cash or
reinvested in additional shares, will be reduced by the amounts required to be
withheld.


The foregoing discussion of U.S. federal income tax law relates solely to the
application of that law to U.S. persons (i.e., U.S. citizens and residents and
U.S. corporations, partnerships, trusts and estates). Each shareholder who is
not a U.S. person should consider the U.S. and foreign tax consequences of
ownership of shares of the fund, including the possibility that such a
shareholder may be subject to a U.S. withholding tax at a rate of 30% (or a
lower rate under an applicable income tax treaty) on dividend income received by
the shareholder.


Shareholders should consult their tax advisers about the application of federal,
state and local tax law in light of their particular situation.


                  The Investment Company of America -- Page 38

<PAGE>



UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED, ALL REFERENCES IN THE FOLLOWING PAGES TO CLASS A, B, C
OR F SHARES ALSO REFER TO THE CORRESPONDING CLASS 529-A, 529-B, 529-C OR 529-F
SHARES. CLASS 529 SHAREHOLDERS SHOULD ALSO REFER TO THE APPLICABLE PROGRAM
DESCRIPTION FOR INFORMATION ON POLICIES AND SERVICES SPECIFICALLY RELATING TO
THESE ACCOUNTS. SHAREHOLDERS HOLDING SHARES THROUGH AN ELIGIBLE RETIREMENT PLAN
SHOULD CONTACT THEIR PLAN'S ADMINISTRATOR OR RECORDKEEPER FOR INFORMATION
REGARDING PURCHASES, SALES AND EXCHANGES.


                        PURCHASE AND EXCHANGE OF SHARES

PURCHASES BY INDIVIDUALS -- As described in the prospectus, you may generally
open an account and purchase fund shares by contacting a financial adviser or
investment dealer authorized to sell the fund's shares. You may make investments
by any of the following means:


     CONTACTING YOUR FINANCIAL ADVISER -- Deliver or mail a check to your
     financial adviser.

     BY MAIL -- for initial investments, you may mail a check, made payable to
     the fund, directly to the address indicated on the account application.
     Please indicate an investment dealer on the account application. You may
     make additional investments by filling out the "Account Additions" form at
     the bottom of a recent account statement and mailing the form, along with a
     check made payable to the fund, using the envelope provided with your
     account statement.


     The amount of time it takes for us to receive regular U.S. postal mail may
     vary and there is no assurance that we will receive such mail on the day
     you expect. Mailing addresses for regular U.S. postal mail can be found in
     the prospectus. To send investments or correspondence to us via overnight
     mail or courier service, use any of the following addresses:

           American Funds
           8332 Woodfield Crossing Blvd.
           Indianapolis, IN 46240-2482


           American Funds
           3500 Wiseman Blvd.
           San Antonio, TX 78251-4321


           American Funds
           5300 Robin Hood Rd.
           Norfolk, VA  23513-2407

     BY TELEPHONE -- using the American FundsLine. Please see the "Shareholder
     account services and privileges" section of this document for more
     information regarding this service.

     BY INTERNET -- using americanfunds.com. Please see the "Shareholder account
     services and privileges" section of this document for more information
     regarding this service.

     BY WIRE -- If you are making a wire transfer, instruct your bank to wire
     funds to:

           Wells Fargo Bank
           ABA Routing No. 121000248
           Account No. 4600-076178


                  The Investment Company of America -- Page 39

<PAGE>


     Your bank should include the following information when wiring funds:

           For credit to the account of:
           American Funds Service Company
           (fund's name)

           For further credit to:
           (shareholder's fund account number)
           (shareholder's name)

     You may contact American Funds Service Company at 800/421-0180 if you have
     questions about making wire transfers.


OTHER PURCHASE INFORMATION -- The Principal Underwriter will not knowingly sell
shares of the fund directly or indirectly to any person or entity, where, after
the sale, such person or entity would own beneficially directly or indirectly
more than 3.0% of the outstanding shares of the fund without the consent of a
majority of the fund's board.


Class 529 shares may be purchased only through CollegeAmerica by investors
establishing qualified higher education savings accounts. Class 529-E shares may
be purchased only by investors participating in CollegeAmerica through an
eligible employer plan. Class R-5 shares are also available to clients of the
Personal Investment Management group of Capital Guardian Trust Company who do
not have an intermediary associated with their accounts and without regard to
the $1 million purchase minimum. In addition, the American Funds state
tax-exempt funds are qualified for sale only in certain jurisdictions, and
tax-exempt funds in general should not serve as retirement plan investments. The
fund and the Principal Underwriter reserve the right to reject any purchase
order.


PURCHASE MINIMUMS AND MAXIMUMS -- All investments are subject to the purchase
minimums and maximums described in the prospectus. As noted in the prospectus,
purchase minimums may be waived or reduced in certain cases.


In the case of American Funds non-tax-exempt funds, the initial purchase minimum
of $25 may be waived for the following account types:


     .    Payroll deduction retirement plan accounts (such as, but not limited
          to, 403(b), 401(k), SIMPLE IRA, SARSEP and deferred compensation plan
          accounts); and

     .    Employer-sponsored CollegeAmerica accounts.

The following account types may be established without meeting the initial
purchase minimum:


     .    Retirement accounts that are funded with employer contributions; and

     .    Accounts that are funded with monies set by court decree.

The following account types may be established without meeting the initial
purchase minimum, but shareholders wishing to invest in two or more funds must
meet the normal initial purchase minimum of each fund:


                  The Investment Company of America -- Page 40

<PAGE>


     .    Accounts that are funded with (a) transfers of assets, (b) rollovers
          from retirement plans, (c) rollovers from 529 college savings plans or
          (d) required minimum distribution automatic exchanges; and

     .    American Funds money market fund accounts registered in the name of
          clients of Capital Guardian Trust Company's Personal Investment
          Management group.


Certain accounts held on the fund's books, known as omnibus accounts, contain
multiple underlying accounts that are invested in shares of the fund. These
underlying accounts are maintained by entities such as financial intermediaries
and are subject to the applicable initial purchase minimums as described in the
prospectus and statement of additional information.  However, in the case where
the entity maintaining these accounts aggregates the accounts' purchase orders
for fund shares, such accounts are not required to meet the minimum amount for
subsequent purchases.


EXCHANGES -- You may only exchange shares into other American Funds within the
same share class. However, exchanges from Class A shares of The Cash Management
Trust of America may be made to Class B or C shares of other American Funds for
dollar cost averaging purposes. Exchanges are not permitted from Class A shares
of The Cash Management Trust of America to Class B or C shares of Intermediate
Bond Fund of America, Limited Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America and
Short-Term Bond Fund of America. Exchange purchases are subject to the minimum
investment requirements of the fund purchased and no sales charge generally
applies. However, exchanges of shares from American Funds money market funds are
subject to applicable sales charges on the fund being purchased, unless the
money market fund shares were acquired by an exchange from a fund having a sales
charge, or by reinvestment or cross-reinvestment of dividends or capital gain
distributions. Exchanges of Class F shares generally may only be made through
fee-based programs of investment firms that have special agreements with the
fund's distributor and certain registered investment advisers.


You may exchange shares of other classes by contacting the Transfer Agent, by
contacting your investment dealer or financial adviser, by using American
FundsLine or americanfunds.com, or by telephoning 800/421-0180 toll-free, or
faxing (see "American Funds Service Company service areas" in the prospectus for
the appropriate fax numbers) the Transfer Agent. For more information, see
"Shareholder account services and privileges" below. THESE TRANSACTIONS HAVE THE
SAME TAX CONSEQUENCES AS ORDINARY SALES AND PURCHASES.


Shares held in employer-sponsored retirement plans may be exchanged into other
American Funds by contacting your plan administrator or recordkeeper. Exchange
redemptions and purchases are processed simultaneously at the share prices next
determined after the exchange order is received (see "Price of shares" above).


FREQUENT TRADING OF FUND SHARES -- As noted in the prospectus, certain
redemptions may trigger a purchase block lasting 30 calendar days under the
fund's "purchase blocking policy." Under this policy, systematic redemptions
will not trigger a purchase block and systematic purchases will not be
prevented. For purposes of this policy, systematic redemptions include, for
example, regular periodic automatic redemptions and statement of intention
escrow share redemptions. Systematic purchases include, for example, regular
periodic automatic purchases and automatic reinvestments of dividends and
capital gain distributions.


The fund, through its transfer agent, American Funds Service Company,
maintains surveillance procedures to detect frequent trading in fund
shares. Under these procedures, various analytics are used to evaluate
factors that may be indicative of frequent trading. For example,
transactions in fund shares that exceed certain monetary thresholds may be
scrutinized. American Funds Service Company also may review transactions
that occur close in time to other transactions in the same account or in
multiple accounts under common ownership or influence. Trading activity
that is identified through these procedures or as a result of any other
information available to the fund will be evaluated to determine whether
such activity might constitute frequent trading. These procedures may be
modified from time to time as appropriate to improve the detection of
frequent trading, to facilitate monitoring for frequent trading in
particular retirement plans or other accounts, and to comply with
applicable laws.

In addition to the fund's broad ability to restrict potentially harmful
trading, the fund's board of directors has adopted a "purchase blocking
policy," under which any shareholder redeeming shares (including
redemptions that are part of an exchange transaction) having a value of
$5,000 or more from the fund will be precluded from investing in the
fund (including investments that are part of an exchange transaction)
for 30 calendar days after the redemption transaction. Under the fund's
purchase blocking policy, certain purchases will not be prevented and
certain redemptions will not trigger a purchase block, such as: systematic
redemptions and purchases where the entity maintaining the shareholder
account is able to identify the transaction as a systematic redemption or
purchase; purchases and redemptions of shares having a value of less than
$5,000; transactions in Class 529 shares; purchases and redemptions
resulting from reallocations by American Funds Target Date Retirement
Series; retirement plan contributions, loans and distributions (including
hardship withdrawals) identified as such on the retirement plan
recordkeeper's system; and purchase transactions involving transfers of
assets, rollovers, Roth IRA conversions and IRA recharacterizations, where
the entity maintaining the shareholder account is able to identify the
transaction as one of these types of transactions.

The fund reserves the right to waive the purchase blocking policy in those
instances where American Funds Service Company determines that its
surveillance procedures are adequate to detect frequent trading in fund
shares.

American Funds Service Company will work with certain intermediaries (such
as investment dealers holding shareholder accounts in street name,
retirement plan recordkeepers, insurance company separate accounts and bank
trust companies) to apply their procedures which American Funds Service
Company believes are reasonably designed to enforce the frequent trading
policies of the fund. You should refer to disclosures provided by the
intermediaries with which you have an account to determine the specific
trading restrictions that apply to you.

If American Funds Service Company identifies any activity that may
constitute frequent trading, it reserves the right to contact the
intermediary and request that the intermediary either provide information
regarding an account owner's transactions or restrict the account owner's
trading. If American Funds Service Company is not satisfied that the
intermediary has taken appropriate action, American Funds Service Company
may terminate the intermediary's ability to transact in fund shares.

There is no guarantee that all instances of frequent trading in fund shares
will be prevented.

Notwithstanding the fund's surveillance procedures and purchase blocking
policy, all transactions in fund shares remain subject to the fund's and
American Funds Distributors' right to restrict potentially abusive trading
generally (including the types of transactions described above that will
not be prevented or trigger a block under the purchase blocking policy).




                  The Investment Company of America -- Page 41

<PAGE>


OTHER POTENTIALLY ABUSIVE ACTIVITY -- In addition to implementing purchase
blocks, American Funds Service Company will monitor for other types of activity
that could potentially be harmful to the American Funds - for example,
short-term trading activity in multiple funds. When identified, American Funds
Service Company will request that the shareholder discontinue the activity. If
the activity continues, American Funds Service Company will freeze the
shareholder account to prevent all activity other than redemptions of fund
shares.


MOVING BETWEEN SHARE CLASSES


     AUTOMATIC CONVERSIONS -- As described more fully in the prospectus, Class
     B, 529-B and C shares automatically convert to Class A, 529-A and F shares,
     respectively, after a certain period from the purchase date.

     MOVING FROM CLASS B TO CLASS A SHARES -- Under the right of reinvestment
     policy as described in the prospectus, if you redeem Class B shares during
     the contingent deferred sales charge period, you may reinvest the proceeds
     in Class A shares without paying a Class A sales charge if you notify
     American Funds Service Company and the reinvestment occurs within 90 days
     after the date of redemption and is made into the same account from which
     you redeemed the shares. If you redeem your Class B shares after the
     contingent deferred sales charge period, you may either reinvest the
     proceeds in Class B shares or purchase Class A shares. If you purchase
     Class A shares, you are responsible for paying any applicable Class A sales
     charges.


     MOVING FROM CLASS C TO CLASS A SHARES -- If you redeem Class C shares and
     with the redemption proceeds purchase Class A shares, you are still
     responsible for paying any Class C contingent deferred sales charges and
     applicable Class A sales charges.

     MOVING FROM CLASS F TO CLASS A SHARES -- You can redeem Class F shares held
     in a qualified fee-based program and with the redemption proceeds purchase
     Class A shares without paying an initial Class A sales charge if all of the
     following are met: (a) you are leaving or have left the fee-based program,
     (b) you have held the Class F shares in the program for at least one year,
     and (c) you notify American Funds Service Company and purchase the Class A
     shares within 90 days after redeeming the Class F shares.

     MOVING FROM CLASS A TO CLASS F SHARES -- If you are part of a qualified
     fee-based program and you wish to redeem your Class A shares and with the
     redemption proceeds purchase Class F shares for the program, any Class A
     sales charges (including contingent deferred sales charges) that you paid
     or are payable will not be credited back to your account.

     MOVING FROM CLASS A TO CLASS R SHARES -- Provided it is eligible to invest
     in Class R shares, a retirement plan currently invested in Class A shares
     may redeem its shares and purchase Class R shares with the redemption
     proceeds. Any Class A sales charges that the retirement plan previously
     paid will not be credited back to the plan's account.

     NON-REPORTABLE TRANSACTIONS -- As described above, automatic conversions
     will be non-reportable for tax purposes. In addition, except in the case of
     a movement between a 529 share class and a non-529 share class or vice
     versa, an exchange of shares from one share class of a fund to another
     share class of the same fund will be treated as a non-reportable exchange
     for tax purposes, provided that the exchange request is received in writing
     by American Funds Service Company and processed as a single transaction.



                  The Investment Company of America -- Page 42

<PAGE>


                                 SALES CHARGES

CLASS A PURCHASES


     PURCHASES BY CERTAIN 403(B) PLANS

     Individual 403(b) plans may be treated similarly to employer-sponsored
     plans for Class A sales charge purposes (i.e., individual participant
     accounts are eligible to be aggregated together) if: (a) the American Funds
     are principal investment options; (b) the employer facilitates the
     enrollment process by, for example, allowing for onsite group enrollment
     meetings held during working hours; and (c) there is only one dealer firm
     assigned to the plans.

     OTHER PURCHASES

     Pursuant to a determination of eligibility by a vice president or more
     senior officer of the Capital Research and Management Company Fund
     Administration Unit, or by his or her designee, Class A shares of the
     American Funds stock, stock/bond and bond funds may be sold at net asset
     value to:

     (1)  current or retired directors, trustees, officers and advisory board
          members of, and certain lawyers who provide services to, the funds
          managed by Capital Research and Management Company, current or retired
          employees of Washington Management Corporation, current or retired
          employees and partners of The Capital Group Companies, Inc. and its
          affiliated companies, certain family members and employees of the
          above persons, and trusts or plans primarily for such persons;

     (2)  currently registered representatives and assistants directly employed
          by such representatives, retired registered representatives with
          respect to accounts established while active, or full-time employees
          (collectively, "Eligible Persons") (and their (a) spouses or
          equivalents if recognized under local law, (b) parents and children,
          including parents and children in step and adoptive relationships,
          sons-in-law and daughters-in-law, and (c) parents-in-law, if the
          Eligible Persons or the spouses, children or parents of the Eligible
          Persons are listed in the account registration with the
          parents-in-law) of dealers who have sales agreements with the
          Principal Underwriter (or who clear transactions through such
          dealers), plans for the dealers, and plans that include as
          participants only the Eligible Persons, their spouses, parents and/or
          children;

     (3)  currently registered investment advisers ("RIAs") and assistants
          directly employed by such RIAs, retired RIAs with respect to accounts
          established while active, or full-time employees (collectively,
          "Eligible Persons") (and their (a) spouses or equivalents if
          recognized under local law, (b) parents and children, including
          parents and children in step and adoptive relationships, sons-in-law
          and daughters-in-law and (c) parents-in-law, if the Eligible Persons
          or the spouses, children or parents of the Eligible Persons are listed
          in the account registration with the parents-in-law) of RIA firms that
          are authorized to sell shares of the funds, plans for the RIA firms,
          and plans that include as participants only the Eligible Persons,
          their spouses, parents and/or children;


                  The Investment Company of America -- Page 43

<PAGE>


     (4)  companies exchanging securities with the fund through a merger,
          acquisition or exchange offer;

     (5)  insurance company separate accounts;

     (6)  accounts managed by subsidiaries of The Capital Group Companies, Inc.;

     (7)  The Capital Group Companies, Inc., its affiliated companies and
          Washington Management Corporation;

     (8)  an individual or entity with a substantial business relationship with
          The Capital Group Companies, Inc. or its affiliates, or an individual
          or entity related or relating to such individual or entity;

     (9)  wholesalers and full-time employees directly supporting wholesalers
          involved in the distribution of insurance company separate accounts
          whose underlying investments are managed by any affiliate of The
          Capital Group Companies, Inc.; and

     (10) full-time employees of banks that have sales agreements with the
          Principal Underwriter, who are solely dedicated to directly supporting
          the sale of mutual funds.

     Shares are offered at net asset value to these persons and organizations
     due to anticipated economies in sales effort and expense. Once an account
     is established under this net asset value privilege, additional investments
     can be made at net asset value for the life of the account.


     TRANSFERS TO COLLEGEAMERICA -- A transfer from the Virginia Prepaid
     Education Program/SM/ or the Virginia Education Savings Trust/SM/ to a
     CollegeAmerica account will be made with no sales charge. No commission
     will be paid to the dealer on such a transfer.

MOVING BETWEEN ACCOUNTS -- Investments in certain account types may be moved to
other account types without incurring additional Class A sales charges. These
transactions include, for example:


     .    redemption proceeds from a non-retirement account (for example, a
          joint tenant account) used to purchase fund shares in an IRA or other
          individual-type retirement account;

     .    required minimum distributions from an IRA or other individual-type
          retirement account used to purchase fund shares in a non-retirement
          account; and

     .    death distributions paid to a beneficiary's account that are used by
          the beneficiary to purchase fund shares in a different account.

LOAN REPAYMENTS -- Repayments on loans taken from a retirement plan or an
individual-type retirement account are not subject to sales charges if American
Funds Service Company is notified of the repayment.


DEALER COMMISSIONS AND COMPENSATION -- Commissions (up to 1.00%) are paid to
dealers who initiate and are responsible for certain Class A share purchases not
subject to sales charges. These purchases consist of purchases of $1 million or
more, purchases by employer-sponsored defined contribution-type retirement plans
investing $1 million or more or with 100 or


                  The Investment Company of America -- Page 44

<PAGE>


more eligible employees, and purchases made at net asset value by certain
retirement plans, endowments and foundations with assets of $50 million or more.
Commissions on such investments (other than IRA rollover assets that roll over
at no sales charge under the fund's IRA rollover policy as described in the
prospectus) are paid to dealers at the following rates: 1.00% on amounts to $4
million, 0.50% on amounts over $4 million to $10 million and 0.25% on amounts
over $10 million. Commissions are based on cumulative investments and are not
annually reset.


A dealer concession of up to 1% may be paid by the fund under its Class A plan
of distribution to reimburse the Principal Underwriter in connection with dealer
and wholesaler compensation paid by it with respect to investments made with no
initial sales charge.


                      SALES CHARGE REDUCTIONS AND WAIVERS

REDUCING YOUR CLASS A SALES CHARGE -- As described in the prospectus, there are
various ways to reduce your sales charge when purchasing Class A shares.
Additional information about Class A sales charge reductions is provided below.


     STATEMENT OF INTENTION -- By establishing a statement of intention (the
     "Statement"), you enter into a nonbinding commitment to purchase shares of
     American Funds non-money market funds over a 13-month period and receive
     the same sales charge (expressed as a percentage of your purchases) as if
     all shares had been purchased at once.

     The market value of your existing holdings eligible to be aggregated (see
     below) as of the day immediately before the start of the Statement period
     may be credited toward satisfying the Statement.

     The Statement may be revised upward at any time during the Statement
     period, and such a revision will be treated as a new Statement, except that
     the Statement period during which the purchases must be made will remain
     unchanged. Purchases made from the date of revision will receive the
     reduced sales charge, if any, resulting from the revised Statement.

     The Statement will be considered completed if the shareholder dies within
     the 13-month Statement period. Commissions to dealers will not be adjusted
     or paid on the difference between the Statement amount and the amount
     actually invested before the shareholder's death.

     When a shareholder elects to use a Statement, shares equal to 5% of the
     dollar amount specified in the Statement may be held in escrow in the
     shareholder's account out of the initial purchase (or subsequent purchases,
     if necessary) by the Transfer Agent. All dividends and any capital gain
     distributions on shares held in escrow will be credited to the
     shareholder's account in shares (or paid in cash, if requested). If the
     intended investment is not completed within the specified Statement period,
     the purchaser may be required to remit to the Principal Underwriter the
     difference between the sales charge actually paid and the sales charge
     which would have been paid if the total of such purchases had been made at
     a single time. Any dealers assigned to the shareholder's account at the
     time a purchase was made during the Statement period will receive a
     corresponding commission adjustment if appropriate. If the difference is
     not paid by the close of the Statement period, the appropriate number of
     shares held in escrow will be redeemed to


                  The Investment Company of America -- Page 45

<PAGE>



     pay such difference. If the proceeds from this redemption are inadequate,
     the purchaser may be liable to the Principal Underwriter for the balance
     still outstanding.

     Certain payroll deduction retirement plans purchasing Class A shares under
     a Statement on or before November 12, 2006, may continue to purchase Class
     A shares at the sales charge determined by that particular Statement until
     the plans' values reach the amounts specified in their Statements. Upon
     reaching such amounts, the Statements for these plans will be deemed
     completed and will terminate at that time. After such termination, these
     plans are eligible for additional sales charge reductions by meeting the
     criteria under the fund's rights of accumulation policy.


     If you make an American Funds purchase under a statement of intention prior
     to April 1, 2007, purchases of American Legacy variable annuity contracts
     and variable life insurance policies may also be credited toward completion
     of that statement of intention.


     Shareholders purchasing shares at a reduced sales charge under a Statement
     indicate their acceptance of these terms and those in the prospectus with
     their first purchase.

     AGGREGATION -- Qualifying investments for aggregation include those made by
     you and your "immediate family" as defined in the prospectus, if all
     parties are purchasing shares for their own accounts and/or:

     .    individual-type employee benefit plans, such as an IRA, individual
          403(b) plan (see exception in "Purchases by certain 403(b) plans"
          under "Sales charges") or single-participant Keogh-type plan;

     .    business accounts solely controlled by you or your immediate family
          (for example, you own the entire business);

     .    trust accounts established by you or your immediate family (for trusts
          with only one primary beneficiary, upon the trustor's death the trust
          account may be aggregated with such beneficiary's own accounts; for
          trusts with multiple primary beneficiaries, upon the trustor's death
          the trustees of the trust may instruct American Funds Service Company
          to establish separate trust accounts for each primary beneficiary;
          each primary beneficiary's separate trust account may then be
          aggregated with such beneficiary's own accounts);

     .    endowments or foundations established and controlled by you or your
          immediate family; or

     .    529 accounts, which will be aggregated at the account owner level
          (Class 529-E accounts may only be aggregated with an eligible employer
          plan).

     Individual purchases by a trustee(s) or other fiduciary(ies) may also be
     aggregated if the investments are:

     .    for a single trust estate or fiduciary account, including employee
          benefit plans other than the individual-type employee benefit plans
          described above;

     .    made for two or more employee benefit plans of a single employer or of
          affiliated employers as defined in the 1940 Act, excluding the
          individual-type employee benefit plans described above;

     .    for a diversified common trust fund or other diversified pooled
          account not specifically formed for the purpose of accumulating fund
          shares;

     .    for nonprofit, charitable or educational organizations, or any
          endowments or foundations established and controlled by such
          organizations, or any employer-


                  The Investment Company of America -- Page 46

<PAGE>


          sponsored retirement plans established for the benefit of the
          employees of such organizations, their endowments, or their
          foundations; or

     .    for individually established participant accounts of a 403(b) plan
          that is treated similarly to an employer-sponsored plan for sales
          charge purposes (see "Purchases by certain 403(b) plans" under "Sales
          charges" above), or made for two or more such 403(b) plans that are
          treated similarly to employer-sponsored plans for sales charge
          purposes, in each case of a single employer or affiliated employers as
          defined in the 1940 Act.

     Purchases made for nominee or street name accounts (securities held in the
     name of an investment dealer or another nominee such as a bank trust
     department instead of the customer) may not be aggregated with those made
     for other accounts and may not be aggregated with other nominee or street
     name accounts unless otherwise qualified as described above.

     CONCURRENT PURCHASES -- As described in the prospectus, you may reduce your
     Class A sales charge by combining purchases of all classes of shares in the
     American Funds, as well as individual holdings in Endowments. Shares of
     money market funds purchased through an exchange, reinvestment or
     cross-reinvestment from a fund having a sales charge also qualify. However,
     direct purchases of American Funds money market funds are excluded.


     RIGHTS OF ACCUMULATION -- Subject to the limitations described in the
     aggregation policy, you may take into account your accumulated holdings in
     all share classes of the American Funds, as well as your holdings in
     Endowments, to determine your sales charge on investments in accounts
     eligible to be aggregated. Subject to your investment dealer's or
     recordkeeper's capabilities, your accumulated holdings will be calculated
     as the higher of (a) the current value of your existing holdings (the
     "market value") or (b) the amount you invested (including reinvested
     dividends and capital gains, but excluding capital appreciation) less any
     withdrawals (the "cost value"). Depending on the entity on whose books your
     account is held, the value of your holdings in that account may not be
     eligible for calculation at cost value. For example, accounts held in
     nominee or street name are not eligible for calculation at cost value and
     instead will be calculated at market value for purposes of rights of
     accumulation.

     The value of all of your holdings in accounts established in calendar year
     2005 or earlier will be assigned an initial cost value equal to the market
     value of those holdings as of the last business day of 2005. Thereafter,
     the cost value of such accounts will increase or decrease according to
     actual investments or withdrawals. You must contact your financial adviser
     or American Funds Service Company if you have additional information that
     is relevant to the calculation of the value of your holdings.

     If you make a gift of American Funds Class A shares, upon your request, you
     may purchase the shares at the sales charge discount allowed under rights
     of accumulation of all of your American Funds accounts.


                  The Investment Company of America -- Page 47

<PAGE>


CDSC WAIVERS FOR CLASS A, B AND C SHARES -- As noted in the prospectus, a
contingent deferred sales charge ("CDSC") may be waived for redemptions due to
death or postpurchase disability of a shareholder (this generally excludes
accounts registered in the names of trusts and other entities). In the case of
joint tenant accounts, if one joint tenant dies, a surviving joint tenant, at
the time he or she notifies the Transfer Agent of the other joint tenant's death
and removes the decedent's name from the account, may redeem shares from the
account without incurring a CDSC. Redemptions made after the Transfer Agent is
notified of the death of a joint tenant will be subject to a CDSC.


In addition, a CDSC may be waived for the following types of transactions, if
together they do not exceed 12% of the value of an "account" (defined below)
annually (the "12% limit"):


     .    Required minimum distributions taken from retirement accounts upon the
          shareholder's attainment of age 70-1/2 (required minimum distributions
          that continue to be taken by the beneficiary(ies) after the account
          owner is deceased also qualify for a waiver).

     .    Redemptions through a systematic withdrawal plan (SWP) (see "Automatic
          withdrawals" under "Shareholder account services and privileges"
          below). For each SWP payment, assets that are not subject to a CDSC,
          such as appreciation on shares and shares acquired through
          reinvestment of dividends and/or capital gain distributions, will be
          redeemed first and will count toward the 12% limit. If there is an
          insufficient amount of assets not subject to a CDSC to cover a
          particular SWP payment, shares subject to the lowest CDSC will be
          redeemed next until the 12% limit is reached. Any dividends and/or
          capital gain distributions taken in cash by a shareholder who receives
          payments through a SWP will also count toward the 12% limit. In the
          case of a SWP, the 12% limit is calculated at the time a systematic
          redemption is first made, and is recalculated at the time each
          additional systematic redemption is made. Shareholders who establish a
          SWP should be aware that the amount of a payment not subject to a CDSC
          may vary over time depending on fluctuations in the value of their
          accounts. This privilege may be revised or terminated at any time.

     For purposes of this paragraph, "account" means:

     .    in the case of Class A shares, your investment in Class A shares of
          all American Funds (investments representing direct purchases of
          American Funds money market funds are excluded);

     .    in the case of Class B shares, your investment in Class B shares of
          the particular fund from which you are making the redemption; and

     .    in the case of Class C shares, your investment in Class C shares of
          the particular fund from which you are making the redemption.

CDSC waivers are allowed only in the cases listed here and in the prospectus.
For example, CDSC waivers will not be allowed on redemptions of Class 529-B and
529-C shares due to termination of CollegeAmerica; a determination by the
Internal Revenue Service that CollegeAmerica


                  The Investment Company of America -- Page 48

<PAGE>


does not qualify as a qualified tuition program under the Code; proposal or
enactment of law that eliminates or limits the tax-favored status of
CollegeAmerica; or elimination of the fund by the Virginia College Savings Plan
as an option for additional investment within CollegeAmerica.

                                 SELLING SHARES


The methods for selling (redeeming) shares are described more fully in the
prospectus. If you wish to sell your shares by contacting American Funds Service
Company directly, any such request must be signed by the registered
shareholders. To contact American Funds Service Company via overnight mail or
courier service, see "Purchase and exchange of shares."


A signature guarantee may be required for certain redemptions. In such an event,
your signature may be guaranteed by a domestic stock exchange or the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., bank, savings association or credit
union that is an eligible guarantor institution. The Transfer Agent reserves the
right to require a signature guarantee on any redemptions.


Additional documentation may be required for sales of shares held in corporate,
partnership or fiduciary accounts. You must include with your written request
any shares you wish to sell that are in certificate form.


If you sell Class A, B or C shares and request a specific dollar amount to be
sold, we will sell sufficient shares so that the sale proceeds, after deducting
any applicable CDSC, equals the dollar amount requested.


Redemption proceeds will not be mailed until sufficient time has passed to
provide reasonable assurance that checks or drafts (including certified or
cashier's checks) for shares purchased have cleared (which may take up to 10
business days from the purchase date). Except for delays relating to clearance
of checks for share purchases or in extraordinary circumstances (and as
permissible under the 1940 Act), sale proceeds will be paid on or before the
seventh day following receipt and acceptance of an order. Interest will not
accrue or be paid on amounts that represent uncashed distribution or redemption
checks.


You may request that redemption proceeds of $1,000 or more from money market
funds be wired to your bank by writing American Funds Service Company. A
signature guarantee is required on all requests to wire funds.


                  SHAREHOLDER ACCOUNT SERVICES AND PRIVILEGES

The following services and privileges are generally available to all
shareholders. However, certain services and privileges may not be available for
Class 529 shareholders or if your account is held with an investment dealer or
through an employer-sponsored retirement plan.


AUTOMATIC INVESTMENT PLAN -- An automatic investment plan enables you to make
monthly or quarterly investments in the American Funds through automatic debits
from your bank account. To set up a plan, you must fill out an account
application and specify the amount that you would like to invest ($50 minimum
per fund; $25 minimum per fund in the case of employer-sponsored 529 accounts)
and the date on which you would like your investments to occur. The plan will
begin within 30 days after your account application is received. Your bank
account will be debited on the day or a few days before your investment is made,
depending on the bank's capabilities. The Transfer Agent will then invest your
money into the fund you specified on or around the date


                  The Investment Company of America -- Page 49

<PAGE>


you specified. If the date you specified falls on a weekend or holiday, your
money will be invested on the following business day. However, if the following
business day falls in the next month, your money will be invested on the
business day immediately preceding the weekend or holiday. If your bank account
cannot be debited due to insufficient funds, a stop-payment or the closing of
the account, the plan may be terminated and the related investment reversed. You
may change the amount of the investment or discontinue the plan at any time by
contacting the Transfer Agent.


AUTOMATIC REINVESTMENT -- Dividends and capital gain distributions are
reinvested in additional shares of the same class and fund at net asset value
unless you indicate otherwise on the account application. You also may elect to
have dividends and/or capital gain distributions paid in cash by informing the
fund, the Transfer Agent or your investment dealer. Dividends and capital gain
distributions paid to retirement plan shareholders or shareholders of the 529
share classes will be automatically reinvested.


If you have elected to receive dividends and/or capital gain distributions in
cash, and the postal or other delivery service is unable to deliver checks to
your address of record, or you do not respond to mailings from American Funds
Service Company with regard to uncashed distribution checks, your distribution
option will automatically be converted to having all dividends and other
distributions reinvested in additional shares.


CROSS-REINVESTMENT OF DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS -- For all share classes,
except the 529 classes of shares, you may cross-reinvest dividends and capital
gains (distributions) into other American Funds in the same share class at net
asset value, subject to the following conditions:


(1)  the aggregate value of your account(s) in the fund(s) paying distributions
equals or exceeds $5,000 (this is waived if the value of the account in the fund
receiving the distributions equals or exceeds that fund's minimum initial
investment requirement);

(2)  if the value of the account of the fund receiving distributions is below
the minimum initial investment requirement, distributions must be automatically
reinvested; and

(3)  if you discontinue the cross-reinvestment of distributions, the value of
the account of the fund receiving distributions must equal or exceed the minimum
initial investment requirement. If you do not meet this requirement within 90
days of notification, the fund has the right to automatically redeem the
account.

AUTOMATIC EXCHANGES -- For all share classes, you may automatically exchange
shares of the same class in amounts of $50 or more among any of the American
Funds on any day (or preceding business day if the day falls on a nonbusiness
day) of each month you designate.


AUTOMATIC WITHDRAWALS -- For all share classes, except the R and 529 classes of
shares, you may automatically withdraw shares from any of the American Funds.
You can make automatic withdrawals of $50 or more. You can designate the day of
each period for withdrawals and request that checks be sent to you or someone
else. Withdrawals may also be electronically deposited to your bank account. The
Transfer Agent will withdraw your money from the fund you specify on or around
the date you specify. If the date you specified falls on a weekend or holiday,
the redemption will take place on the previous business day. However, if the
previous business day falls in the preceding month, the redemption will take
place on the following business day after the weekend or holiday.


                  The Investment Company of America -- Page 50

<PAGE>


Withdrawal payments are not to be considered as dividends, yield or income.
Automatic investments may not be made into a shareholder account from which
there are automatic withdrawals. Withdrawals of amounts exceeding reinvested
dividends and distributions and increases in share value would reduce the
aggregate value of the shareholder's account. The Transfer Agent arranges for
the redemption by the fund of sufficient shares, deposited by the shareholder
with the Transfer Agent, to provide the withdrawal payment specified.


ACCOUNT STATEMENTS -- Your account is opened in accordance with your
registration instructions. Transactions in the account, such as additional
investments, will be reflected on regular confirmation statements from the
Transfer Agent. Dividend and capital gain reinvestments, purchases through
automatic investment plans and certain retirement plans, as well as automatic
exchanges and withdrawals will be confirmed at least quarterly.


AMERICAN FUNDSLINE AND AMERICANFUNDS.COM -- You may check your share balance,
the price of your shares or your most recent account transaction; redeem shares
(up to $75,000 per American Funds shareholder each day) from nonretirement plan
accounts; or exchange shares around the clock with American FundsLine or using
americanfunds.com. To use American FundsLine, call 800/325-3590 from a
TouchTone(TM) telephone. Redemptions and exchanges through American FundsLine
and americanfunds.com are subject to the conditions noted above and in
"Telephone and Internet purchases, redemptions and exchanges" below. You will
need your fund number (see the list of the American Funds under "General
information -- fund numbers"), personal identification number (generally the
last four digits of your Social Security number or other tax identification
number associated with your account) and account number.


Generally, all shareholders are automatically eligible to use these services.
However, if you are not currently authorized to do so, you may complete an
American FundsLink Authorization Form. Once you establish this privilege, you,
your financial adviser or any person with your account information may use these
services.


TELEPHONE AND INTERNET PURCHASES, REDEMPTIONS AND EXCHANGES -- By using the
telephone (including American FundsLine) or the Internet (including
americanfunds.com), or fax purchase, redemption and/or exchange options, you
agree to hold the fund, the Transfer Agent, any of its affiliates or mutual
funds managed by such affiliates, and each of their respective directors,
trustees, officers, employees and agents harmless from any losses, expenses,
costs or liability (including attorney fees) that may be incurred in connection
with the exercise of these privileges. Generally, all shareholders are
automatically eligible to use these services. However, you may elect to opt out
of these services by writing the Transfer Agent (you may also reinstate them at
any time by writing the Transfer Agent). If the Transfer Agent does not employ
reasonable procedures to confirm that the instructions received from any person
with appropriate account information are genuine, it and/or the fund may be
liable for losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent instructions. In the event
that shareholders are unable to reach the fund by telephone because of technical
difficulties, market conditions or a natural disaster, redemption and exchange
requests may be made in writing only.


CHECKWRITING -- You may establish check writing privileges for Class A shares
(but not Class 529-A shares) of American Funds money market funds. This can be
done by using an account application. If you request check writing privileges,
you will be provided with checks that you may use to draw against your account.
These checks may be made payable to anyone you designate and must be signed by
the authorized number of registered shareholders exactly as indicated on your
account application.


                  The Investment Company of America -- Page 51

<PAGE>


REDEMPTION OF SHARES -- The fund's Certificate of Incorporation permits the fund
to direct the Transfer Agent to redeem the shares of any shareholder for their
then current net asset value per share if at such time the shareholder of record
owns shares having an aggregate net asset value of less than the minimum initial
investment amount required of new shareholders as set forth in the fund's
current registration statement under the 1940 Act, and subject to such further
terms and conditions as the board of directors of the fund may from time to time
adopt.


While payment of redemptions normally will be in cash, the fund's Certificate of
Incorporation permits payment of the redemption price wholly or partly in
securities or other property included in the assets belonging to the fund when
in the opinion of the fund's board of directors, which shall be conclusive,
conditions exist which make payment wholly in cash unwise or undesirable.


SHARE CERTIFICATES -- Shares are credited to your account and certificates are
not issued unless you request them by contacting the Transfer Agent.
Certificates are not available for the 529 or R share classes.


                              GENERAL INFORMATION

CUSTODIAN OF ASSETS -- Securities and cash owned by the fund, including proceeds
from the sale of shares of the fund and of securities in the fund's portfolio,
are held by JPMorgan Chase Bank, 270 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017-2070, as
Custodian. If the fund holds non-U.S. securities, the Custodian may hold these
securities pursuant to subcustodial arrangements in non-U.S. banks or non-U.S.
branches of U.S. banks.


TRANSFER AGENT -- American Funds Service Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of
the investment adviser, maintains the records of shareholder accounts, processes
purchases and redemptions of the fund's shares, acts as dividend and capital
gain distribution disbursing agent, and performs other related shareholder
service functions. The principal office of American Funds Service Company is
located at 135 South State College Boulevard, Brea, CA 92821-5823. American
Funds Service Company was paid a fee of $54,083,000 for Class A shares and
$3,476,000 for Class B shares for the 2006 fiscal year. American Funds Service
Company is also compensated for certain transfer agency services provided to all
other share classes from the administrative services fees paid to Capital
Research and Management Company, as described under "Administrative services
agreement."


In the case of certain shareholder accounts, third parties who may be
unaffiliated with the investment adviser provide transfer agency and shareholder
services in place of American Funds Service Company. These services are rendered
under agreements with American Funds Service Company or its affiliates and the
third parties receive compensation according to such agreements. Compensation
for transfer agency and shareholder services, whether paid to American Funds
Service Company or such third parties, is ultimately paid from fund assets and
is reflected in the expenses of the fund as disclosed in the prospectus.


INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM -- PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, 350
South Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90071, serves as the fund's independent
registered public accounting firm, providing audit services, preparation of tax
returns and review of certain documents to be filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. The financial statements included in this statement of
additional information from the annual report have been so included in reliance
on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent registered public
accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in accounting
and auditing. The


                  The Investment Company of America -- Page 52

<PAGE>


selection of the fund's independent registered public accounting firm is
reviewed and determined annually by the board of directors.


INDEPENDENT LEGAL COUNSEL -- O'Melveny & Myers LLP, 400 South Hope Street, Los
Angeles, CA 90071, serves as counsel for the fund and for independent directors
in their capacities as such. Certain legal matters in connection with the
capital shares offered by the prospectus have been passed upon for the fund by
O'Melveny & Myers LLP. Counsel does not provide legal services to the fund's
investment adviser or any of its affiliated companies or control persons. A
determination with respect to the independence of the fund's "independent legal
counsel" will be made at least annually by the independent directors of the
fund, as prescribed by the 1940 Act and related rules.


PROSPECTUSES, REPORTS TO SHAREHOLDERS AND PROXY STATEMENTS -- The fund's fiscal
year ends on December 31. Shareholders are provided updated prospectuses
annually and at least semiannually with reports showing the fund's investment
portfolio or summary investment portfolio, financial statements and other
information. The fund's annual financial statements are audited by the fund's
independent registered public accounting firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. In
addition, shareholders may also receive proxy statements for the fund. In an
effort to reduce the volume of mail shareholders receive from the fund when a
household owns more than one account, the Transfer Agent has taken steps to
eliminate duplicate mailings of prospectuses, shareholder reports and proxy
statements. To receive additional copies of a prospectus, report or proxy
statement, shareholders should contact the Transfer Agent.


CODES OF ETHICS -- The fund and Capital Research and Management Company and its
affiliated companies, including the fund's Principal Underwriter, have adopted
codes of ethics that allow for personal investments, including securities in
which the fund may invest from time to time. These codes include a ban on
acquisitions of securities pursuant to an initial public offering; restrictions
on acquisitions of private placement securities; preclearance and reporting
requirements; review of duplicate confirmation statements; annual
recertification of compliance with codes of ethics; blackout periods on personal
investing for certain investment personnel; ban on short-term trading profits
for investment personnel; limitations on service as a director of publicly
traded companies; and disclosure of personal securities transactions.


LEGAL PROCEEDINGS -- On February 16, 2005, the NASD filed an administrative
complaint against the Principal Underwriter. The complaint alleges violations of
certain NASD rules by the Principal Underwriter with respect to the selection of
broker-dealer firms that buy and sell securities for mutual fund investment
portfolios. The complaint seeks sanctions, restitution and disgorgement. On
August 30, 2006, the NASD Hearing Panel ruled against the Principal Underwriter
and imposed a $5 million fine. The Principal Underwriter has appealed this
decision to the NASD's National Adjudicatory Council.


On March 24, 2005, the investment adviser and Principal Underwriter filed a
complaint against the Attorney General of the State of California in Los Angeles
County Superior Court. The complaint alleged that the Attorney General
threatened to take enforcement actions against the investment adviser and
Principal Underwriter that are without merit and preempted by federal law. On
the same day, following the filing of the investment adviser's and Principal
Underwriter's complaint, the Attorney General of the State of California filed a
complaint against the Principal Underwriter and investment adviser. Filed in Los
Angeles County Superior Court, the Attorney General's complaint alleged
violations of certain sections of the California Corporations Code with respect
to so-called "revenue sharing" disclosures in mutual fund prospectuses and


                  The Investment Company of America -- Page 53

<PAGE>



statements of additional information. On November 22, 2005, the Los Angeles
Superior Court dismissed the Attorney General's complaint. The Attorney General
subsequently appealed the Superior Court's decision to California's Court of
Appeal for the Second Appellate District. On January 26, 2007, the Court of
Appeal issued a ruling allowing the California Attorney General to proceed with
his civil action.


The investment adviser and Principal Underwriter believe that the likelihood
that these matters could have a material adverse effect on the fund or on the
ability of the investment adviser or Principal Underwriter to perform their
contracts with the fund is remote. The SEC is conducting a related investigation
as of the date of this statement of additional information. The investment
adviser and Principal Underwriter are cooperating fully. In addition, class
action lawsuits have been filed in the U.S. District Court, Central District of
California, relating to these matters. The investment adviser believes that
these suits are without merit and will defend itself vigorously. Further updates
on these issues will be available on the American Funds website
(americanfunds.com) under "American Funds regulatory matters."


OTHER INFORMATION -- The financial statements including the investment portfolio
and the report of the fund's independent registered public accounting firm
contained in the annual report are included in this statement of additional
information. The following information on fund numbers is not included in the
annual report:


DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE, REDEMPTION PRICE AND MAXIMUM OFFERING PRICE
PER SHARE FOR CLASS A SHARES -- DECEMBER 31, 2006





Net asset value and redemption price per share
  (Net assets divided by shares outstanding). .                     $33.51
Maximum offering price per share
  (100/94.25 of net asset value per share,
  which takes into account the fund's current maximum
  sales charge). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .                      $35.55




FUND NUMBERS -- Here are the fund numbers for use with our automated telephone
line, American FundsLine/(R)/, or when making share transactions:



                                                                            FUND NUMBERS
                                                                 ------------------------------------
FUND                                                             CLASS A  CLASS B  CLASS C   CLASS F
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

STOCK AND STOCK/BOND FUNDS
AMCAP Fund/(R)/  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     002      202      302       402
American Balanced Fund/(R)/  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     011      211      311       411
American Mutual Fund/(R)/  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     003      203      303       403
Capital Income Builder/(R)/  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     012      212      312       412
Capital World Growth and Income Fund/SM/ . . . . . . . . . . .     033      233      333       433
EuroPacific Growth Fund/(R)/ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     016      216      316       416
Fundamental Investors/SM/  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     010      210      310       410
The Growth Fund of America/(R)/  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     005      205      305       405
The Income Fund of America/(R)/  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     006      206      306       406
The Investment Company of America/(R)/ . . . . . . . . . . . .     004      204      304       404
The New Economy Fund/(R)/  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     014      214      314       414
New Perspective Fund/(R)/  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     007      207      307       407
New World Fund/SM/ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     036      236      336       436
SMALLCAP World Fund/(R)/ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     035      235      335       435
Washington Mutual Investors Fund/SM/ . . . . . . . . . . . . .     001      201      301       401
BOND FUNDS
American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund/(R)/  . . . . . . . .     040      240      340       440
American High-Income Trust/SM/ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     021      221      321       421
The Bond Fund of America/SM/ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     008      208      308       408
Capital World Bond Fund/(R)/ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     031      231      331       431
Intermediate Bond Fund of America/SM/  . . . . . . . . . . . .     023      223      323       423
Limited Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America/SM/ . . . . . . .     043      243      343       443
Short-Term Bond Fund of America/SM/  . . . . . . . . . . . . .     048      248      348       448
The Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America/(R)/ . . . . . . . . . . .     019      219      319       419
The Tax-Exempt Fund of California/(R)/*  . . . . . . . . . . .     020      220      320       420
The Tax-Exempt Fund of Maryland/(R)/*  . . . . . . . . . . . .     024      224      324       424
The Tax-Exempt Fund of Virginia/(R)/*  . . . . . . . . . . . .     025      225      325       425
U.S. Government Securities Fund/SM/  . . . . . . . . . . . . .     022      222      322       422
MONEY MARKET FUNDS
The Cash Management Trust of America/(R)/  . . . . . . . . . .     009      209      309       409
The Tax-Exempt Money Fund of America/SM/ . . . . . . . . . . .     039      N/A      N/A       N/A
The U.S. Treasury Money Fund of America/SM/  . . . . . . . . .     049      N/A      N/A       N/A
___________
*Qualified for sale only in certain jurisdictions.




                  The Investment Company of America -- Page 54

<PAGE>






                                                 FUND NUMBERS
                                  ---------------------------------------------
                                   CLASS    CLASS    CLASS    CLASS     CLASS
FUND                               529-A    529-B    529-C    529-E     529-F
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

STOCK AND STOCK/BOND FUNDS
AMCAP Fund  . . . . . . . . . .    1002     1202     1302     1502      1402
American Balanced Fund  . . . .    1011     1211     1311     1511      1411
American Mutual Fund  . . . . .    1003     1203     1303     1503      1403
Capital Income Builder  . . . .    1012     1212     1312     1512      1412
Capital World Growth and Income
Fund  . . . . . . . . . . . . .    1033     1233     1333     1533      1433
EuroPacific Growth Fund . . . .    1016     1216     1316     1516      1416
Fundamental Investors . . . . .    1010     1210     1310     1510      1410
The Growth Fund of America  . .    1005     1205     1305     1505      1405
The Income Fund of America  . .    1006     1206     1306     1506      1406
The Investment Company of
America . . . . . . . . . . . .    1004     1204     1304     1504      1404
The New Economy Fund  . . . . .    1014     1214     1314     1514      1414
New Perspective Fund  . . . . .    1007     1207     1307     1507      1407
New World Fund  . . . . . . . .    1036     1236     1336     1536      1436
SMALLCAP World Fund . . . . . .    1035     1235     1335     1535      1435
Washington Mutual Investors Fund
  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    1001     1201     1301     1501      1401
BOND FUNDS
American High-Income Trust  . .    1021     1221     1321     1521      1421
The Bond Fund of America  . . .    1008     1208     1308     1508      1408
Capital World Bond Fund . . . .    1031     1231     1331     1531      1431
Intermediate Bond Fund of
America . . . . . . . . . . . .    1023     1223     1323     1523      1423
Short-Term Bond Fund of America    1048     1248     1348     1548      1448
U.S. Government Securities Fund    1022     1222     1322     1522      1422
MONEY MARKET FUND
The Cash Management Trust of
America . . . . . . . . . . . .    1009     1209     1309     1509      1409






                  The Investment Company of America -- Page 55

<PAGE>





                                                    FUND NUMBERS
                                       ----------------------------------------
                                       CLASS   CLASS   CLASS   CLASS    CLASS
FUND                                    R-1     R-2     R-3     R-4      R-5
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

STOCK AND STOCK/BOND FUNDS
AMCAP Fund . . . . . . . . . . . . .    2102    2202    2302    2402     2502
American Balanced Fund . . . . . . .    2111    2211    2311    2411     2511
American Mutual Fund . . . . . . . .    2103    2203    2303    2403     2503
Capital Income Builder . . . . . . .    2112    2212    2312    2412     2512
Capital World Growth and Income Fund    2133    2233    2333    2433     2533
EuroPacific Growth Fund  . . . . . .    2116    2216    2316    2416     2516
Fundamental Investors  . . . . . . .    2110    2210    2310    2410     2510
The Growth Fund of America . . . . .    2105    2205    2305    2405     2505
The Income Fund of America . . . . .    2106    2206    2306    2406     2506
The Investment Company of America  .    2104    2204    2304    2404     2504
The New Economy Fund . . . . . . . .    2114    2214    2314    2414     2514
New Perspective Fund . . . . . . . .    2107    2207    2307    2407     2507
New World Fund . . . . . . . . . . .    2136    2236    2336    2436     2536
SMALLCAP World Fund  . . . . . . . .    2135    2235    2335    2435     2535
Washington Mutual Investors Fund . .    2101    2201    2301    2401     2501
BOND FUNDS
American High-Income Municipal Bond
Fund . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     N/A     N/A     N/A     N/A     2540
American High-Income Trust . . . . .    2121    2221    2321    2421     2521
The Bond Fund of America . . . . . .    2108    2208    2308    2408     2508
Capital World Bond Fund  . . . . . .    2131    2231    2331    2431     2531
Intermediate Bond Fund of America  .    2123    2223    2323    2423     2523
Limited Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of
America. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     N/A     N/A     N/A     N/A     2543
Short-Term Bond Fund of America. . .    2148    2248    2348    2448     2548
The Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America      N/A     N/A     N/A     N/A     2519
The Tax-Exempt Fund of California* .     N/A     N/A     N/A     N/A     2520
The Tax-Exempt Fund of Maryland* . .     N/A     N/A     N/A     N/A     2524
The Tax-Exempt Fund of Virginia* . .     N/A     N/A     N/A     N/A     2525
U.S. Government Securities Fund  . .    2122    2222    2322    2422     2522
MONEY MARKET FUNDS
The Cash Management Trust of America    2109    2209    2309    2409     2509
The Tax-Exempt Money Fund of America     N/A     N/A     N/A     N/A     2539
The U.S. Treasury Money Fund of
America  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    2149    2249    2349    2449     2549
___________
*Qualified for sale only in certain
jurisdictions.






                  The Investment Company of America -- Page 56

<PAGE>






                                               FUND NUMBERS
                              -------------------------------------------------
                                       CLASS   CLASS   CLASS   CLASS    CLASS
FUND                          CLASS A   R-1     R-2     R-3     R-4      R-5
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

AMERICAN FUNDS TARGET DATE RETIREMENT SERIES
American Funds 2050 Target
Date Retirement Fund  . . .     069     2169    2269    2369    2469     2569
American Funds 2045 Target
Date Retirement Fund  . . .     068     2168    2268    2368    2468     2568
American Funds 2040 Target
Date Retirement Fund  . . .     067     2167    2267    2367    2467     2567
American Funds 2035 Target
Date Retirement Fund  . . .     066     2166    2266    2366    2466     2566
American Funds 2030 Target
Date Retirement Fund  . . .     065     2165    2265    2365    2465     2565
American Funds 2025 Target
Date Retirement Fund  . . .     064     2164    2264    2364    2464     2564
American Funds 2020 Target
Date Retirement Fund  . . .     063     2163    2263    2363    2463     2563
American Funds 2015 Target
Date Retirement Fund  . . .     062     2162    2262    2362    2462     2562
American Funds 2010 Target
Date Retirement Fund  . . .     061     2161    2261    2361    2461     2561






                  The Investment Company of America -- Page 57

<PAGE>


                                    APPENDIX

The following descriptions of debt security ratings are based on information
provided by Moody's Investors Service and Standard & Poor's Corporation.


                          DESCRIPTION OF BOND RATINGS

MOODY'S
LONG-TERM RATING DEFINITIONS

Aaa
Obligations rated Aaa are judged to be of the highest quality, with minimal
credit risk.


Aa
Obligations rated Aa are judged to be of high quality and are subject to very
low credit risk.


A
Obligations rated A are considered upper-medium grade and are subject to low
credit risk.


Baa
Obligations rated Baa are subject to moderate credit risk. They are considered
medium-grade and as such may possess certain speculative characteristics.


Ba
Obligations rated Ba are judged to have speculative elements and are subject to
substantial credit risk.


B
Obligations rated B are considered speculative and are subject to high credit
risk.


Caa
Obligations rated Caa are judged to be of poor standing and are subject to very
high credit risk.


Ca
Obligations rated Ca are highly speculative and are likely in, or very near,
default, with some prospect of recovery of principal and interest.


C
Obligations rated C are the lowest rated class of bonds and are typically in
default, with little prospect for recovery of principal or interest.


NOTE: Moody's appends numerical modifiers 1, 2, and 3 to each generic rating
classification from Aa through Caa. The modifier 1 indicates that the obligation
ranks in the higher end of its generic rating category; the modifier 2 indicates
a mid-range ranking; and the modifier 3 indicates a ranking in the lower end of
that generic rating category.


                  The Investment Company of America -- Page 58

<PAGE>


STANDARD & POOR'S
LONG-TERM ISSUE CREDIT RATINGS

AAA
An obligation rated AAA has the highest rating assigned by Standard & Poor's.
The obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is
extremely strong.


AA
An obligation rated AA differs from the highest-rated obligations only in small
degree. The obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitment on the
obligation is very strong.


A
An obligation rated A is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of
changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in
higher-rated categories. However, the obligor's capacity to meet its financial
commitment on the obligation is still strong.


BBB
An obligation rated BBB exhibits adequate protection parameters. However,
adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to
a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the
obligation.


BB, B, CCC, CC, AND C
Obligations rated BB, B, CCC, CC, and C are regarded as having significant
speculative characteristics. BB indicates the least degree of speculation and C
the highest. While such obligations will likely have some quality and protective
characteristics, these may be outweighed by large uncertainties or major
exposures to adverse conditions.


BB
An obligation rated BB is less vulnerable to nonpayment than other speculative
issues. However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to adverse
business, financial, or economic conditions which could lead to the obligor's
inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.


B
An obligation rated B is more vulnerable to nonpayment than obligations rated
BB, but the obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitment
on the obligation. Adverse business, financial, or economic conditions will
likely impair the obligor's capacity or willingness to meet its financial
commitment on the obligation.


CCC
An obligation rated CCC is currently vulnerable to nonpayment and is dependent
upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to
meet its financial commitment on the obligation. In the event of adverse
business, financial, or economic conditions, the obligor is not likely to have
the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.


CC
An obligation rated CC is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment.


                  The Investment Company of America -- Page 59

<PAGE>


C
The C rating may be used to cover a situation where a bankruptcy petition has
been filed or similar action has been taken, but payments on this obligation are
being continued.


D
An obligation rated D is in payment default. The D rating category is used when
payments on an obligation are not made on the date due even if the applicable
grace period has not expired, unless Standard & Poor's believes that such
payments will be made during such grace period. The D rating also will be used
upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action if
payments on an obligation are jeopardized.


PLUS (+) OR MINUS (-)


The ratings from AA to CCC may be modified by the addition of a plus or minus
sign to show relative standing within the major rating categories.


                  The Investment Company of America -- Page 60
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

[logo - American Funds ®]



The Investment Company of America®
Investment portfolio

December 31, 2006


     
Common stocks — 84.32%
Shares
Market value
(000)
     
ENERGY — 8.87%
   
Baker Hughes Inc.
7,825,000
$ 584,214
Chevron Corp.
19,702,278
1,448,708
ConocoPhillips
11,843,340
852,128
Exxon Mobil Corp.
6,481,500
496,677
Halliburton Co.
5,040,000
156,492
Hess Corp.
3,546,300
175,790
Marathon Oil Corp.
6,800,000
629,000
Murphy Oil Corp.
4,100,000
208,485
Occidental Petroleum Corp.
2,000,000
97,660
Royal Dutch Shell PLC, Class A (ADR)
17,970,000
1,272,096
Royal Dutch Shell PLC, Class B
833,265
29,204
Royal Dutch Shell PLC, Class B (ADR)
2,370,498
168,661
Schlumberger Ltd.
22,200,000
1,402,152
TOTAL SA
5,280,000
380,716
   
7,901,983
     
MATERIALS — 3.34%
   
Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
2,750,000
193,270
Alcoa Inc.
10,806,400
324,300
Barrick Gold Corp.
23,786,250
730,238
Barrick Gold Corp. (CAD denominated)
1,114,350
34,303
Dow Chemical Co.
9,479,800
378,623
International Paper Co.
6,997,235
238,606
MeadWestvaco Corp.
4,085,000
122,795
Newmont Mining Corp.
9,500,000
428,925
PPG Industries, Inc.
1,913,900
122,892
Rio Tinto PLC
6,044,473
321,677
Weyerhaeuser Co.
1,175,000
83,014
   
2,978,643
     
INDUSTRIALS — 9.71%
   
3M Co.
1,400,000
109,102
Boeing Co.
7,300,000
648,532
Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp.
4,000,000
295,240
Caterpillar Inc.
8,000,000
490,640
Cummins Inc.
1,700,000
200,906
Deere & Co.
4,400,000
418,308
FedEx Corp.
1,500,000
162,930
General Dynamics Corp.
6,745,800
501,550
General Electric Co.
49,600,000
1,845,616
Illinois Tool Works Inc.
7,400,000
341,806
Mitsubishi Corp.
4,035,000
75,953
Northrop Grumman Corp.
3,400,000
230,180
Parker Hannifin Corp.
1,790,400
137,646
Raytheon Co.
3,399,800
179,509
Siemens AG
2,680,000
265,694
Southwest Airlines Co.
9,000,000
137,880
Tyco International Ltd.
47,160,100
1,433,667
Union Pacific Corp.
1,500,000
138,030
United Parcel Service, Inc., Class B
4,965,700
372,328
United Technologies Corp.
10,190,000
637,079
Waste Management, Inc.
600,000
22,062
   
8,644,658
     
CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY — 8.74%
   
Best Buy Co., Inc.
14,017,300
689,511
Carnival Corp., units
13,000,000
637,650
CBS Corp., Class B
1,250,000
38,975
Clear Channel Communications, Inc.
6,500,000
231,010
Comcast Corp., Class A1 
2,857,900
120,975
Ford Motor Co.
2,500,000
18,775
General Motors Corp.
12,830,000
394,138
Harley-Davidson, Inc.
2,000,000
140,940
Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
2,265,000
89,458
Kohl’s Corp.1
1,600,000
109,488
Liberty Media Holding Corp., Liberty Capital, Series A1
589,000
57,710
Liberty Media Holding Corp., Liberty Interactive, Series A1
2,945,000
63,524
Limited Brands, Inc.2 
20,042,743
580,037
Lowe’s Companies, Inc.
53,236,600
1,658,320
McDonald’s Corp.
1,600,000
70,928
Omnicom Group Inc.
1,500,000
156,810
Target Corp.
22,475,000
1,282,199
Time Warner Inc.
18,250,000
397,485
TJX Companies, Inc.
8,350,000
238,142
Toyota Motor Corp.
10,055,000
672,587
Viacom Inc., Class B1
3,250,000
133,347
   
7,782,009
     
CONSUMER STAPLES — 9.39%
   
Altria Group, Inc.
46,500,000
3,990,630
Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc.
3,500,000
172,200
Avon Products, Inc.
9,520,000
314,541
Coca-Cola Co.
6,820,000
329,065
ConAgra Foods, Inc.
4,000,000
108,000
General Mills, Inc.
2,858,700
164,661
H.J. Heinz Co.
4,475,700
201,451
Kraft Foods Inc., Class A
2,100,000
74,970
PepsiCo, Inc.
14,200,000
888,210
Procter & Gamble Co.
2,800,000
179,956
Reynolds American Inc.
8,923,332
584,211
Sara Lee Corp.
5,000,000
85,150
SYSCO Corp.
1,723,900
63,371
Unilever NV (New York registered)
6,450,000
175,762
UST Inc.
2,000,000
116,400
Walgreen Co.
12,595,000
577,985
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
7,250,000
334,805
   
8,361,368
     
HEALTH CARE — 8.88%
   
Abbott Laboratories
15,750,000
$ 767,182
Aetna Inc.
11,975,000
517,080
Amgen Inc.1
2,750,000
187,852
AstraZeneca PLC (ADR)
4,534,500
242,822
AstraZeneca PLC (Sweden)
4,909,500
263,605
AstraZeneca PLC (United Kingdom)
3,215,000
172,734
Becton, Dickinson and Co.
1,500,000
105,225
Boston Scientific Corp.1
9,394,850
161,404
Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.
26,250,000
690,900
Cardinal Health, Inc.
2,400,000
154,632
Eli Lilly and Co.
14,585,000
759,878
Johnson & Johnson
600,000
39,612
McKesson Corp.
2,600,000
131,820
Medco Health Solutions, Inc.1
971,000
51,890
Merck & Co., Inc.
15,750,000
686,700
Novartis AG (ADR)
256,556
14,737
Pfizer Inc
16,200,900
419,603
Roche Holding AG
5,135,000
920,727
Schering-Plough Corp.
18,486,300
437,016
UnitedHealth Group Inc.
11,000,000
591,030
WellPoint, Inc.1
6,425,000
505,583
Wyeth
1,685,000
85,800
   
7,907,832
     
FINANCIALS — 12.27%
   
Allstate Corp.
1,000,000
65,110
American International Group, Inc.
10,713,900
767,758
Aon Corp.
1,300,000
45,942
Bank of America Corp.
12,834,320
685,224
Berkshire Hathaway Inc., Class A1
3,050
335,469
Capital One Financial Corp.
3,500,000
268,870
Chubb Corp.
1,000,000
52,910
Citigroup Inc.
34,460,000
1,919,422
Fannie Mae
25,865,600
1,536,158
Freddie Mac
5,750,000
390,425
Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.
2,250,000
209,947
HSBC Holdings PLC (ADR)
1,079,588
98,944
HSBC Holdings PLC (United Kingdom)
17,037,111
310,569
J.P. Morgan Chase & Co.
14,750,001
712,425
Lloyds TSB Group PLC
15,000,000
167,850
Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc.
7,550,000
231,483
National City Corp.
7,600,000
277,856
PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.
3,560,000
263,582
U.S. Bancorp
8,000,000
289,520
Wachovia Corp.
5,900,000
336,005
Washington Mutual, Inc.
25,400,000
1,155,446
Wells Fargo & Co.
18,660,000
663,550
XL Capital Ltd., Class A
2,000,000
144,040
   
10,928,505
     
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY — 13.83%
   
Altera Corp.1
6,000,000
118,080
Analog Devices, Inc.
8,050,000
264,603
Applied Materials, Inc.
16,950,000
312,728
Automatic Data Processing, Inc.
3,625,000
178,531
Canon, Inc.
2,700,000
152,017
Cisco Systems, Inc.1 
31,320,400
855,987
Corning Inc.1
11,000,000
205,810
eBay Inc.1
4,000,000
120,280
Electronic Data Systems Corp.
1,500,000
41,325
First Data Corp.
2,600,000
66,352
Google Inc., Class A1 
225,000
103,608
Hewlett-Packard Co.
22,000,000
906,180
Intel Corp.
38,140,000
772,335
International Business Machines Corp.
11,820,000
1,148,313
KLA-Tencor Corp.
1,825,000
90,794
Linear Technology Corp.
7,350,000
222,852
Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.
14,995,000
459,147
Micron Technology, Inc.1
10,000,000
139,600
Microsoft Corp.
54,310,000
1,621,697
Motorola, Inc.
9,500,000
195,320
Nokia Corp.
34,327,550
701,117
Nokia Corp. (ADR)
14,387,350
292,351
Oracle Corp.1
82,770,100
1,418,680
Sabre Holdings Corp., Class A
1,000,000
31,890
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
744,000
490,664
Sun Microsystems, Inc.1
25,010,000
135,554
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd.
159,743,480
330,960
Texas Instruments Inc.
25,000,000
720,000
Western Union Co.
1,600,000
35,872
Xilinx, Inc.
7,650,000
182,147
   
12,314,794
     
TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES — 6.00%
   
ALLTEL Corp.
2,000,000
120,960
AT&T Inc.
67,305,497
2,406,172
BellSouth Corp.
27,900,000
1,314,369
Qwest Communications International Inc.1
26,829,700
224,565
Sprint Nextel Corp., Series 1
51,177,300
966,739
Verizon Communications Inc.
2,183,200
81,302
Vodafone Group PLC
71,187,500
197,230
Windstream Corp.
2,067,853
29,405
   
5,340,742
     
UTILITIES — 2.19%
   
American Electric Power Co., Inc.
1,000,000
42,580
Dominion Resources, Inc.
7,131,912
597,940
Duke Energy Corp.
4,000,000
132,840
E.ON AG
1,025,000
139,066
Exelon Corp.
5,275,500
326,501
FirstEnergy Corp.
1,138,500
68,652
FPL Group, Inc.
3,800,000
206,796
PPL Corp.
2,900,000
103,936
Public Service Enterprise Group Inc.
5,000,000
331,900
   
1,950,211
     
MISCELLANEOUS — 1.10%
   
Other common stocks in initial period of acquisition
 
979,731
     
     
Total common stocks (cost: $48,720,705,000)
 
75,090,476
     
     
Warrants — 0.00%
Shares
Market value
(000)
     
INDUSTRIALS — 0.00%
   
Raytheon Co., warrants, expire 20111
148,257
$ 2,657
     
     
Total warrants (cost: $1,835,000)
 
2,657
     
     
     
     
     
Convertible securities — 0.48%
Shares or principal amount
 
     
CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY — 0.19%
   
Ford Motor Co. Capital Trust II 6.50% cumulative convertible trust preferred 2032
3,000,000
102,600
Ford Motor Co. 4.25% convertible notes 2036
$63,200,000
67,861
   
170,461
     
FINANCIALS — 0.11%
   
Fannie Mae 5.375% convertible preferred
970
96,636
     
     
TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES — 0.18%
   
Qwest Communications International Inc. 3.50% convertible debenture 2025
$100,000,000
156,875
     
     
Total convertible securities (cost: $356,975,000)
 
423,972
     
     
     
     
     
Short-term securities — 15.29%
Principal amount
(000)
 
     
3M Co. 5.18% due 1/30/2007
$ 20,300
20,212
Abbott Laboratories 5.19%-5.23% due 1/25-3/29/20073
290,500
288,257
AIG Funding, Inc. 5.215% due 1/23/2007
50,000
49,835
International Lease Finance Corp. 5.21%-5.23% due 1/4-2/12/2007
273,000
272,034
American Express Credit Corp. 5.20%-5.27% due 1/17-1/18/2007
84,000
83,792
Anheuser-Busch Cos. Inc. 5.19% due 2/14/20073
25,000
24,843
AT&T Inc. 5.25% due 1/18/20073
50,000
49,875
Atlantic Industries 5.22% due 3/5/20073 
30,000
29,728
Coca-Cola Co. 5.17% due 3/21-3/23/20073 
70,000
69,188
Bank of America Corp. 5.22%-5.25% due 1/5-3/28/2007
449,200
446,095
Ranger Funding Co. LLC 5.25% due 3/1/20073 
26,800
26,557
Becton, Dickinson and Co. 5.21% due 2/8/2007
20,200
20,086
CAFCO, LLC 5.23%-5.25% due 1/8-1/19/20073 
278,000
277,418
Ciesco LLC 5.22%-5.23% due 1/12-2/15/20073 
150,000
149,504
Citigroup Funding Inc. 5.23% due 1/22/2007
50,000
49,845
Caterpillar Financial Services Corp. 5.21%-5.23% due 1/5-1/22/2007
70,000
69,900
Chevron Funding Corp. 5.21% due 1/16/2007
100,000
99,768
CIT Group, Inc. 5.21%-5.25% due 1/30-4/2/20073 
318,800
316,446
Clipper Receivables Co., LLC 5.23%-5.26% due 1/4-3/2/20073
438,200
437,121
Edison Asset Securitization LLC 5.22%-5.24% due 2/5-2/13/20073
289,300
287,640
General Electric Capital Services, Inc. 5.22%-5.23% due 1/18-2/21/2007
90,000
89,591
Fannie Mae 3.00%-5.16% due 1/3-3/28/2007
1,492,763
1,482,468
FCAR Owner Trust I 5.26%-5.27% due 1/9-1/19/2007
137,600
137,328
Federal Farm Credit Banks 5.08%-5.14% due 1/4-4/19/2007
329,235
326,492
     
     
     
     
Short-term securities
Principal amount
(000)
Market value
(000)
     
Federal Home Loan Bank 5.065%-5.18% due 1/3-3/21/2007
$2,088,630
$ 2,076,840
Freddie Mac 5.04%-5.17% due 1/2-3/30/2007
2,423,000
2,407,045
Harley-Davidson Funding Corp.5.20%-5.23% due 1/4-2/26/20073
50,500
50,248
Hershey Co. 5.19%-5.20% due 1/12-2/14/20073
35,000
34,848
Hewlett-Packard Co. 5.25% due 1/19/20073
36,000
35,900
HSBC Finance Corp. 5.20%-5.23% due 1/8-2/12/2007
364,100
363,236
IBM Capital Inc. 5.20% due 3/16/20073
28,700
28,394
IBM Corp. 5.19%-5.23% due 1/5-2/15/20073
150,000
149,354
International Bank for Reconstruction and Development 5.12%-5.15% due 1/19-1/29/2007
179,800
179,206
J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. 5.23% due 3/13/2007
50,000
49,488
Jupiter Securitization Co., LLC 5.24%-5.25% due 1/17-2/9/20073 
161,638
161,047
Park Avenue Receivables Co., LLC 5.25%-5.26% due 1/8-2/1/20073
221,795
221,190
Johnson & Johnson 5.18% due 1/19-1/23/20073
125,000
124,629
Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Inc. 5.22% due 2/21/20073
35,000
34,751
Medtronic Inc. 5.20% due 1/11/20073
25,000
24,961
NetJets Inc. 5.18%-5.19% due 2/9-2/23/20073
73,500
73,026
Pfizer Investment Capital PLC 5.20%-5.22% due 2/8-2/23/20073
150,000
148,995
Private Export Funding Corp. 5.21%-5.22% due 1/23-2/8/20073 
36,825
36,646
Procter & Gamble Co. 5.24% due 2/23/20073
38,700
38,396
Procter & Gamble International Funding S.C.A. 5.24%-5.27% due 1/8-2/12/20073
341,000
339,517
SunTrust Banks Inc. 5.29% due 2/5/2007
100,000
99,996
Three Pillars Funding, LLC 5.25%-5.31% due 1/2-3/26/20073
209,056
208,204
Tennessee Valley Authority 5.10%-5.11% due 1/4-3/15/2007
125,000
124,156
Triple-A One Funding Corp. 5.25% due 1/29/20073
9,333
9,294
U.S. Treasury Bills 4.805%-4.955% due 1/11-3/22/2007
866,100
860,499
Union Bank of California, N.A. 5.26%-5.29% due 1/4-3/29/2007
200,000
199,995
Variable Funding Capital Corp. 5.23%-5.25% due 1/4-2/2/20073
407,000
406,298
Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co. 5.20% due 1/25/20073
25,000
24,913
     
Total short-term securities (cost: $13,615,604,000)
 
13,615,095
     
     
Total investment securities (cost: $62,695,119,000)
 
89,132,200
Other assets less liabilities
 
(78,099)
     
Net assets
 
$89,054,101
     


“Miscellaneous” securities include holdings in their initial period of acquisition that have not previously been publicly disclosed.

1Security did not produce income during the last 12 months.
2Represents an affiliated company as defined under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
3Purchased in a private placement transaction; resale may be limited to qualified institutional buyers; resale to the public may require registration.
 The total value of all such restricted securities was $4,107,188,000, which represented 4.61% of the net assets of the fund.

ADR = American Depositary Receipts



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

Investors should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the American Funds. This and other important information
is contained in each fund’s prospectus, which can be obtained from a financial adviser and should be read carefully before investing.

MFGEFP-904-0207-S6860
 
 
Summary investment portfolio, December 31, 2006

The following summary investment portfolio is designed to streamline the report and help investors better focus on a fund’s principal holdings. For details on how to obtain a complete schedule of portfolio holdings, please see the inside back cover.
 
[begin pie chart]

Industry sector diversification (percent of net assets)
     
       
Information technology
   
13.83
%
Financials
   
12.27
 
Industrials
   
9.71
 
Consumer staples
   
9.39
 
Health care
   
8.88
 
Other industries
   
30.24
 
Convertible securities
   
.48
 
Short-term securities & other assets less liabilities
   
15.20
 
 
[end pie chart]
 
 

 
   
Shares
 
Market
value
(000)
 
Percent
of net
assets
 
               
Common stocks - 84.32%
             
               
Energy - 8.87%
                   
Baker Hughes Inc.
   
7,825,000
 
$
584,214
   
.65
%
Chevron Corp.
   
19,702,278
   
1,448,708
   
1.63
 
ConocoPhillips
   
11,843,340
   
852,128
   
.96
 
Marathon Oil Corp.
   
6,800,000
   
629,000
   
.71
 
Royal Dutch Shell PLC, Class A (ADR)
   
17,970,000
   
1,272,096
       
Royal Dutch Shell PLC, Class B
   
833,265
   
29,204
       
Royal Dutch Shell PLC, Class B (ADR)
   
2,370,498
   
168,661
   
1.65
 
Schlumberger Ltd.
   
22,200,000
   
1,402,152
   
1.57
 
Other securities
         
1,515,820
   
1.70
 
           
7,901,983
   
8.87
 
                     
Materials - 3.34%
                   
Barrick Gold Corp.
   
23,786,250
   
730,238
       
Barrick Gold Corp. (CAD denominated)
   
1,114,350
   
34,303
   
.86
 
Other securities
         
2,214,102
   
2.48
 
           
2,978,643
   
3.34
 
                     
Industrials - 9.71%
                   
Boeing Co.
   
7,300,000
   
648,532
   
.73
 
General Electric Co.
   
49,600,000
   
1,845,616
   
2.07
 
Tyco International Ltd.
   
47,160,100
   
1,433,667
   
1.61
 
United Technologies Corp.
   
10,190,000
   
637,079
   
.72
 
Other securities
         
4,079,764
   
4.58
 
           
8,644,658
   
9.71
 
                     
Consumer discretionary - 8.74%
                   
Best Buy Co., Inc.
   
14,017,300
 
$
689,511
   
.77
%
Carnival Corp., units
   
13,000,000
   
637,650
   
.72
 
Limited Brands, Inc.
   
20,042,743
   
580,037
   
.65
 
Lowe's Companies, Inc.
   
53,236,600
   
1,658,320
   
1.86
 
Target Corp.
   
22,475,000
   
1,282,199
   
1.44
 
Toyota Motor Corp.
   
10,055,000
   
672,587
   
.76
 
Other securities
         
2,261,705
   
2.54
 
           
7,782,009
   
8.74
 
                     
Consumer staples - 9.39%
                   
Altria Group, Inc.
   
46,500,000
   
3,990,630
   
4.48
 
PepsiCo, Inc.
   
14,200,000
   
888,210
   
1.00
 
Reynolds American Inc.
   
8,923,332
   
584,211
   
.66
 
Walgreen Co.
   
12,595,000
   
577,985
   
.65
 
Other securities
         
2,320,332
   
2.60
 
           
8,361,368
   
9.39
 
                     
Health care - 8.88%
                   
Abbott Laboratories
   
15,750,000
   
767,182
   
.86
 
AstraZeneca PLC (ADR)
   
4,534,500
   
242,822
       
AstraZeneca PLC (Sweden)
   
4,909,500
   
263,605
       
AstraZeneca PLC (United Kingdom)
   
3,215,000
   
172,734
   
.76
 
Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.
   
26,250,000
   
690,900
   
.79
 
Eli Lilly and Co.
   
14,585,000
   
759,878
   
.85
 
Merck & Co., Inc.
   
15,750,000
   
686,700
   
.77
 
Roche Holding AG
   
5,135,000
   
920,727
   
1.03
 
UnitedHealth Group Inc.
   
11,000,000
   
591,030
   
.66
 
Other securities
         
2,812,254
   
3.16
 
           
7,907,832
   
8.88
 
                     
Financials - 12.27%
                   
American International Group, Inc.
   
10,713,900
   
767,758
   
.86
 
Bank of America Corp.
   
12,834,320
   
685,224
   
.77
 
Citigroup Inc.
   
34,460,000
   
1,919,422
   
2.16
 
Fannie Mae
   
25,865,600
   
1,536,158
   
1.72
 
Freddie Mac
   
5,750,000
   
390,425
   
.44
 
J.P. Morgan Chase & Co.
   
14,750,001
   
712,425
   
.80
 
Washington Mutual, Inc.
   
25,400,000
   
1,155,446
   
1.30
 
Wells Fargo & Co.
   
18,660,000
   
663,550
   
.74
 
Other securities
         
3,098,097
   
3.48
 
           
10,928,505
   
12.27
 
                     
Information technology - 13.83%
                   
Cisco Systems, Inc. (1)
   
31,320,400
   
855,987
   
.96
 
Hewlett-Packard Co.
   
22,000,000
   
906,180
   
1.02
 
Intel Corp.
   
38,140,000
   
772,335
   
.87
 
International Business Machines Corp.
   
11,820,000
   
1,148,313
   
1.29
 
Microsoft Corp.
   
54,310,000
   
1,621,697
   
1.82
 
Nokia Corp.
   
34,327,550
 
$
701,117
       
Nokia Corp. (ADR)
   
14,387,350
   
292,351
   
1.12
%
Oracle Corp. (1)
   
82,770,100
   
1,418,680
   
1.59
 
Texas Instruments Inc.
   
25,000,000
   
720,000
   
.81
 
Other securities
         
3,878,134
   
4.35
 
           
12,314,794
   
13.83
 
                     
Telecommunication services - 6.00%
                   
AT&T Inc.
   
67,305,497
   
2,406,172
   
2.70
 
BellSouth Corp.
   
27,900,000
   
1,314,369
   
1.48
 
Sprint Nextel Corp., Series 1
   
51,177,300
   
966,739
   
1.09
 
Other securities
         
653,462
   
.73
 
           
5,340,742
   
6.00
 
                     
Utilities - 2.19%
                   
Dominion Resources, Inc.
   
7,131,912
   
597,940
   
.67
 
Other securities
         
1,352,271
   
1.52
 
           
1,950,211
   
2.19
 
                     
Miscellaneous - 1.10%
                   
Other common stocks in initial period of acquisition
         
979,731
   
1.10
 
                     
                     
Total common stocks (cost: $48,720,705,000)
         
75,090,476
   
84.32
 
                     
                     
                     
                     
                     
Warrants - 0.00%
                   
                     
Industrials - 0.00%
                   
Other securities
         
2,657
   
.00
 
                     
                     
Total warrants (cost: $1,835,000)
         
2,657
   
.00
 
                     
                     
                     
                     
                     
Convertible securities - 0.48%
                   
                     
Financials - 0.11%
                   
Fannie Mae 5.375% convertible preferred
   
970
   
96,636
   
.11
 
                     
Other - 0.37%
                   
Other securities
         
327,336
   
.37
 
                     
                     
Total convertible securities (cost: $356,975,000)
         
423,972
   
.48
 
                     
                     
                     
   
Principal amount (000) 
   
Market value
(000
)
 
Percent
of net
assets
 
                     
Short-term securities - 15.29%
                   
                     
                     
Abbott Laboratories 5.19%-5.23% due 1/25-3/29/2007 (2)
 
$
290,500
 
$
288,257
   
.32
%
AIG Funding, Inc. 5.215% due 1/23/2007
   
50,000
   
49,835
       
International Lease Finance Corp. 5.21%-5.23% due 1/4-2/12/2007
   
273,000
   
272,034
   
.36
 
AT&T Inc. 5.25% due 1/18/2007 (2)
   
50,000
   
49,875
   
.06
 
Bank of America Corp 5.22%-5.25% due 1/5-3/28/2007
   
449,200
   
446,095
       
Ranger Funding Co. LLC 5.25% due 3/1/2007 (2)
   
26,800
   
26,557
   
.53
 
CAFCO, LLC 5.23%-5.25% due 1/8-1/19/2007 (2)
   
278,000
   
277,418
       
Ciesco LLC 5.22%-5.23% due 1/12-2/15/2007 (2)
   
150,000
   
149,504
       
Citigroup Funding Inc. 5.23% due 1/22/2007
   
50,000
   
49,845
   
.54
 
Chevron Funding Corp. 5.21% due 1/16/2007
   
100,000
   
99,768
   
.11
 
Edison Asset Securitization LLC 5.22%-5.24% due 2/5-2/13/2007 (2)
   
289,300
   
287,640
       
General Electric Capital Services, Inc. 5.22%-5.23% due 1/18-2/21/2007
   
90,000
   
89,591
   
.42
 
Fannie Mae 3.00%-5.16% due 1/3-3/28/2007
   
1,492,763
   
1,482,468
   
1.67
 
Federal Home Loan Bank 5.065%-5.18% due 1/3-3/21/2007
   
2,088,630
   
2,076,840
   
2.33
 
Freddie Mac 5.04%-5.17% due 1/2-3/30/2007
   
2,423,000
   
2,407,045
   
2.70
 
Hewlett-Packard Co. 5.25% due 1/19/2007 (2)
   
36,000
   
35,900
   
.04
 
IBM Capital Inc. 5.20% due 3/16/2007 (2)
   
28,700
   
28,394
       
IBM Corp. 5.19%-5.23% due 1/5-2/15/2007 (2)
   
150,000
   
149,354
   
.20
 
J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. 5.23% due 3/13/2007
   
50,000
   
49,488
       
Jupiter Securitization Co., LLC 5.24%-5.25% due 1/17-2/9/2007 (2)
   
161,638
   
161,047
       
Park Avenue Receivables Co., LLC 5.25%-5.26% due 1/8-2/1/2007 (2)
   
221,795
   
221,190
   
.48
 
U.S. Treasury Bills 4.805%-4.955% due 1/11-3/22/2007
   
866,100
   
860,499
   
.97
 
Other securities
         
4,056,451
   
4.56
 
                     
                     
Total short-term securities (cost: $13,615,604,000)
         
13,615,095
   
15.29
 
                     
                     
Total investment securities (cost: $62,695,119,000)
         
89,132,200
   
100.09
 
Other assets less liabilities
         
(78,099
)
 
(.09
)
                     
Net assets
       
$
89,054,101
   
100.00
%
                     
                     
"Miscellaneous" securities include holdings in their initial period of acquisition that have not previously been publicly disclosed.
 
"Other securities" includes all issues that are not disclosed separately in the summary investment portfolio.
       
                     
                     
 
Investments in affiliates
                         
                           
A company is considered to be an affiliate of the fund under the Investment Company Act of 1940 if the fund's holdings in that company represent 5% or more of the outstanding voting shares of that company. The fund's affiliated holding listed below is also among the fund's largest holdings and is shown in the preceding summary investment portfolio. Further details on this holding and related transactions during the year ended December 31, 2006, appear below.
 
                           
                           
                           
                           
Company
 
Beginning
shares
 
Purchases
 
Sales
 
Ending
shares
 
Dividend income (000)
 
Market value
of affiliate
at 12/31/06
(000)
 
Limited Brands, Inc.
   
20,749,400
   
-
   
706,657
   
20,042,743
 
$
12,026
 
$
580,037
 
                                       
 
                     
The following footnotes apply to either the individual securities noted or one or more of the securities aggregated and listed as a single line item.
 
                     
                     
(1) Security did not produce income during the last 12 months.
                   
(2) Purchased in a private placement transaction; resale may be limited to qualified institutional buyers; resale to the public may require registration. The total value of all such restricted securities, including those in "Other securities" in the summary investment portfolio, was $4,107,188,000, which represented 4.61% of the net assets of the fund.
 
                   
                     
ADR = American Depositary Receipts
                   
                     
See Notes to Financial Statements
                   
 
 
 
Financial statements

Statement of assets and liabilities
                 
at December 31, 2006
 
   (dollars and shares in thousands, except per-share amounts)
 
                   
Assets:
                         
Investment securities at market:
                         
Unaffiliated issuers (cost: $62,452,907)
       
$
88,552,163
             
Affiliated issuer (cost: $242,212)
         
580,037
 
$
89,132,200
       
Cash denominated in non-U.S. currencies (cost: $9,056)
               
9,046
       
Cash
               
146
       
Receivables for:
                         
Sales of fund's shares
       
$
91,234
             
Dividends and interest
         
129,077
   
220,311
       
                 
89,361,703
       
Liabilities:
                         
Payables for:
                         
Purchases of investments
         
145,028
             
Repurchases of fund's shares
         
112,010
             
Investment advisory services
         
15,727
             
Services provided by affiliates
         
29,651
             
Deferred directors' and advisory board compensation
         
4,591
             
Other
         
595
   
307,602
       
Net assets at December 31, 2006
             
$
89,054,101
       
                           
Net assets consist of:
                         
Capital paid in on shares of capital stock
             
$
62,384,108
       
Undistributed net investment income
               
252,359
       
Distributions in excess of net realized gain
               
(19,660
)
     
Net unrealized appreciation
               
26,437,294
       
Net assets at December 31, 2006
             
$
89,054,101
       
                           
                           
 
   
Authorized shares of capital stock - $.001 par value 
   
Net assets
   
Shares outstanding
   
Net asset
value
per share*
 
                         
Class A
   
2,500,000
 
$
74,180,851
   
2,213,415
 
$
33.51
 
Class B
   
250,000
   
4,222,131
   
126,510
   
33.37
 
Class C
   
250,000
   
3,349,689
   
100,562
   
33.31
 
Class F
   
250,000
   
1,673,481
   
49,992
   
33.48
 
Class 529-A
   
325,000
   
1,118,135
   
33,395
   
33.48
 
Class 529-B
   
75,000
   
238,111
   
7,129
   
33.40
 
Class 529-C
   
150,000
   
324,539
   
9,714
   
33.41
 
Class 529-E
   
75,000
   
47,915
   
1,434
   
33.42
 
Class 529-F
   
75,000
   
12,740
   
380
   
33.47
 
Class R-1
   
75,000
   
49,238
   
1,474
   
33.39
 
Class R-2
   
100,000
   
624,809
   
18,709
   
33.40
 
Class R-3
   
300,000
   
909,474
   
27,189
   
33.45
 
Class R-4
   
75,000
   
322,909
   
9,646
   
33.48
 
Class R-5
   
150,000
   
1,980,079
   
59,088
   
33.51
 
Total
   
4,650,000
 
$
89,054,101
   
2,658,637
       
(*) Maximum offering price and redemption price per share were equal to the net asset value per share for all share classes, except for Class A and 529-A, for which the maximum offering prices per share were $35.55 and $35.52, respectively.
 
                           
                           
                           
Statement of operations
                     
(dollars in thousands
)
for the year ended December 31, 2006
                         
Investment income:
                         
Income:
                         
Dividends (net of non-U.S. taxes of $22,381; also includes $12,026 from affiliate)
       
$
1,586,180
             
Interest (net of non-U.S. taxes of $6)
         
674,124
 
$
2,260,304
       
                           
Fees and expenses(*):
                         
Investment advisory services
         
198,992
             
Distribution services
         
254,488
             
Transfer agent services
         
57,559
             
Administrative services
         
15,686
             
Reports to shareholders
         
3,550
             
Registration statement and prospectus
         
1,186
             
Postage, stationery and supplies
         
6,584
             
Directors' and advisory board compensation
         
1,361
             
Auditing and legal
         
233
             
Custodian
         
1,821
             
State and local taxes
         
702
             
Other
         
234
             
Total fees and expenses before reimbursements/waivers
         
542,396
             
Less reimbursements/waivers of fees and expenses:
                         
Investment advisory services
         
19,899
             
Administrative services
         
487
             
Total fees and expenses after reimbursements/waivers
               
522,010
       
Net investment income
               
1,738,294
       
                           
Net realized gain and unrealized appreciation on investments and non-U.S. currency:
           
Net realized gain on:
                         
Investments (including $2,037 net gain from affiliate)
         
5,515,639
             
Non-U.S. currency transactions
         
950
   
5,516,589
       
Net unrealized appreciation on:
                         
Investments
         
5,134,635
             
Non-U.S. currency translations
         
285
   
5,134,920
       
Net realized gain and unrealized appreciation on investments and non-U.S. currency
               
10,651,509
       
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations
             
$
12,389,803
       
                           
(*) Additional information related to class-specific fees and expenses is included in the Notes to Financial Statements.
   
                           
See Notes to Financial Statements
                         
                           
                           
                           
                           
                           
Statements of changes in net assets
                     
(dollars in thousands
)
                           
                         
 
         
Year ended December 31
     
           
2006
   
2005
       
Operations:
                         
Net investment income
       
$
1,738,294
 
$
1,515,226
       
Net realized gain on investments and non-U.S. currency transactions
         
5,516,589
   
2,153,683
       
Net unrealized appreciation on investments and non-U.S. currency translations
         
5,134,920
   
1,418,797
       
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations
         
12,389,803
   
5,087,706
       
                           
Dividends and distributions paid to shareholders:
                         
Dividends from net investment income
         
(1,784,654
)
 
(1,614,567
)
     
Distributions from net realized gain on investments
         
(5,146,726
)
 
(1,991,337
)
     
Total dividends and distributions paid to shareholders
         
(6,931,380
)
 
(3,605,904
)
     
                           
Capital share transactions
         
4,229,674
   
2,016,797
       
                           
Total increase in net assets
         
9,688,097
   
3,498,599
       
                           
Net assets:
                         
Beginning of year
         
79,366,004
   
75,867,405
       
End of year (including undistributed net investment income: $252,359 and $297,894, respectively)
       
$
89,054,101
 
$
79,366,004
       
                           
                           
See Notes to Financial Statements
                         
 


Notes to financial statements     

1.   
Organization and significant accounting policies
 
Organization - The Investment Company of America (the "fund") is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 as an open-end, diversified management investment company. The fund seeks long-term growth of capital and income, placing greater emphasis on future dividends than on current income.

The fund offers 14 share classes consisting of four retail share classes, five CollegeAmerica® savings plan share classes and five retirement plan share classes. The CollegeAmerica savings plan share classes (529-A, 529-B, 529-C, 529-E and 529-F) can be utilized to save for college education. The five retirement plan share classes (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4 and R-5) are sold without any sales charges and do not carry any conversion rights. The fund’s share classes are described below:
 
Share class
 
Initial sales charge
 
Contingent deferred sales
charge upon redemption
 
Conversion feature
Class A and 529-A
 
Up to 5.75%
 
None (except 1% for certain redemptions within one year of purchase without an initial sales charge)
 
None
Class B and 529-B
 
None
 
Declines from 5% to 0% for redemptions within six years of purchase
 
Class B and 529-B convert to Class A and 529-A, respectively, after eight years
Class C
 
None
 
1% for redemptions within one year of purchase
 
Class C converts to Class F after 10 years
Class 529-C
 
None
 
1% for redemptions within one year of purchase
 
None
Class 529-E
 
None
 
None
 
None
Class F and 529-F
 
None
 
None
 
None
Class R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4 and R-5
 
None
 
None
 
None

Holders of all share classes have equal pro rata rights to assets, dividends and liquidation proceeds. 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, administrative and shareholder 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 class.

Significant accounting policies - The financial statements have been prepared to comply with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These principles require management to make estimates and assumptions that affect reported amounts and disclosures. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The following is a summary of the significant accounting policies followed by the fund:
 
Security valuation - Equity securities are valued at the official closing price of, or the last reported sale price on, the exchange or market on which such securities are traded, as of the close of business on the day the securities are being valued or, lacking any sales, at the last available bid price. Prices for each security are taken from the principal exchange or market in which the security trades. Fixed-income securities, including short-term securities purchased with more than 60 days left to maturity, are valued at prices obtained from an independent pricing service when such prices are available. However, where the investment adviser deems it appropriate, such securities will be valued at the mean quoted bid and asked prices (or bid prices, if asked prices are not available) or at prices for securities of comparable maturity, quality and type. Securities with both fixed-income and equity characteristics, or equity securities traded principally among fixed-income dealers, are valued in the manner described above for either equity or fixed-income securities, depending on which method is deemed most appropriate by the investment adviser. Short-term securities purchased within 60 days to maturity are valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value. The value of short-term securities originally purchased with maturities greater than 60 days is determined based on an amortized value to par when they reach 60 days or less remaining to maturity. The ability of the issuers of the debt securities held by the fund to meet their obligations may be affected by economic developments in a specific industry, state or region. Forward currency contracts are valued at the mean of representative quoted bid and asked prices. Securities and other assets for which representative market quotations are not readily available or are considered unreliable by the investment adviser are fair valued as determined in good faith under procedures adopted by authority of the fund's board of directors. Various factors may be reviewed in order to make a good faith determination of a security’s fair value. These factors include, but are not limited to, the type and cost of the security; contractual or legal restrictions on resale of the security; relevant financial or business developments of the issuer; actively traded similar or related securities; conversion or exchange rights on the security; related corporate actions; significant events occurring after the close of trading in the security; and changes in overall market conditions.

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. 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) and realized and unrealized gains and losses are allocated daily among the various share classes based on their relative net assets. Class-specific fees and expenses, such as distribution, administrative and shareholder services, are charged directly to the respective share class.

Dividends and distributions to shareholders - Dividends and distributions paid to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date.

Non-U.S. currency translation - Assets and liabilities, including investment securities, denominated in non-U.S. currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at the exchange rates in effect 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. In the accompanying financial statements, the effects of changes in non-U.S. exchange rates on investment securities are included with the net realized gain or loss and net unrealized appreciation or depreciation on investments. The realized gain or loss and unrealized appreciation or depreciation resulting from all other transactions denominated in non-U.S. currencies are disclosed separately.
 
2.   
Non-U.S. investments

Investment risk - The risks of investing in securities of non-U.S. issuers may include, but are not limited to, investment and repatriation restrictions; revaluation of currencies; adverse political, social and economic developments; government involvement in the private sector; limited and less reliable investor information; lack of liquidity; certain local tax law considerations; and limited regulation of the securities markets.

Taxation - Dividend and interest income is recorded net of non-U.S. taxes paid.

3. Federal income taxation and distributions  

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

Distributions - Distributions paid to shareholders are based on net investment income and net realized gains determined on a tax basis, which may differ from net investment income and net realized gains for financial reporting purposes. These differences are due primarily to differing treatment for items such as non-U.S. currency gains and losses; short-term capital gains and losses; capital losses related to sales of certain securities within 30 days of purchase; deferred expenses; cost of investments sold; and income on certain investments. The fiscal year in which amounts are distributed may differ from the year in which the net investment income and net realized gains are recorded by the fund for financial reporting purposes. The fund may also designate a portion of the amount paid to redeeming shareholders as a distribution for tax purposes.

During the year ended December 31, 2006, the fund reclassified $933,000 from distributions in excess of net realized gain to undistributed net investment income; and reclassified $108,000 from undistributed net investment income and $386,837,000 from distributions in excess of net realized gain to capital paid in on shares of capital stock to align financial reporting with tax reporting.

As of December 31, 2006, the tax basis components of distributable earnings, unrealized appreciation (depreciation) and cost of investments were as follows:

   
(dollars in thousands)
 
Undistributed ordinary income
 
$
270,414
 
Post-October non-U.S. currency loss deferrals (realized during the period November 1, 2006, through December 31, 2006)*
   
(1,089
)
Gross unrealized appreciation on investment securities
   
26,805,009
 
Gross unrealized depreciation on investment securities
   
(397,877
)
Net unrealized appreciation on investment securities
   
26,407,132
 
Cost of investment securities
   
62,725,068
 
*These deferrals are considered incurred in the subsequent year.
       

The tax character of distributions paid to shareholders was as follows (dollars in thousands):
 

   
Year ended December 31, 2006
 
Year ended December 31, 2005
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ordinary
income
 
Long-term capital gains
 
Total distributions
paid
 
Ordinary
income
 
Long-term capital gains
 
Total distributions
paid
 
Share class
                         
Class A
 
$
1,549,720
 
$
4,286,757
 
$
5,836,477
 
$
1,418,613
 
$
1,679,915
 
$
3,098,528
 
Class B
   
57,806
   
244,915
   
302,721
   
52,768
   
97,012
   
149,780
 
Class C
   
43,246
   
194,579
   
237,825
   
38,151
   
73,830
   
111,981
 
Class F
   
32,890
   
97,019
   
129,909
   
26,813
   
33,532
   
60,345
 
Class 529-A
   
21,169
   
63,983
   
85,152
   
15,608
   
20,713
   
36,321
 
Class 529-B
   
2,883
   
13,752
   
16,635
   
2,231
   
4,781
   
7,012
 
Class 529-C
   
3,885
   
18,648
   
22,533
   
2,858
   
6,141
   
8,999
 
Class 529-E
   
786
   
2,753
   
3,539
   
578
   
900
   
1,478
 
Class 529-F
   
236
   
713
   
949
   
143
   
187
   
330
 
Class R-1
   
572
   
2,836
   
3,408
   
375
   
720
   
1,095
 
Class R-2
   
7,776
   
36,010
   
43,786
   
5,949
   
12,003
   
17,952
 
Class R-3
   
14,853
   
52,450
   
67,303
   
11,035
   
16,698
   
27,733
 
Class R-4
   
6,052
   
18,571
   
24,623
   
4,356
   
5,862
   
10,218
 
Class R-5
   
42,780
   
113,740
   
156,520
   
35,089
   
39,043
   
74,132
 
Total
 
$
1,784,654
 
$
5,146,726
 
$
6,931,380
 
$
1,614,567
 
$
1,991,337
 
$
3,605,904
 

4. Fees and transactions with related parties

Capital Research and Management Company ("CRMC"), the fund’s investment adviser, is the parent company of American Funds Service Company SM ("AFS"), the fund’s transfer agent, and American Funds Distributors, Inc.SM ("AFD"), the principal underwriter of the fund’s shares.

Investment advisory services - The Investment Advisory and Service Agreement with CRMC provides for monthly fees accrued daily. These fees are based on a declining series of annual rates beginning with 0.390% on the first $1 billion of month-end net assets and decreasing to 0.219% on such assets in excess of $89 billion. CRMC is currently waiving 10% of investment advisory services fees. During the year ended December 31, 2006, total investment advisory services fees waived by CRMC were $19,899,000. As a result, the fee shown on the accompanying financial statements of $198,992,000, which was equivalent to an annualized rate of 0.238%, was reduced to $179,093,000, or 0.214% of month-end net assets.

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 described below: 

Distribution services - The fund has adopted plans of distribution for all share classes, except Class R-5. Under the plans, the board of directors 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 0.25% to 1.00% as noted on the following page. In some cases, the board of directors has limited the amounts that may be paid to less than the maximum allowed by the plans. All share classes 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.

For Class A and 529-A, the board of directors has also approved the reimbursement of dealer and wholesaler commissions paid by AFD for certain shares sold without a sales charge. These classes reimburse AFD for amounts billed within the prior 15 months but only to the extent that the overall annual expense limit of 0.25% is not exceeded. As of December 31, 2006, there were no unreimbursed expenses subject to reimbursement for Class A or 529-A.

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

Transfer agent services - The fund has a transfer agent agreement with AFS for Class A and B. Under this agreement, these share classes compensate AFS for transfer agent services including shareholder recordkeeping, communications and transaction processing. AFS is also compensated for certain transfer agent services provided to all other share classes from the administrative services fees paid to CRMC described below.

Administrative services - The fund has an administrative services agreement with CRMC to provide transfer agent and other related shareholder services for all share classes other than Class A and B. Each relevant share class pays CRMC annual fees up to 0.15% (0.10% for Class R-5) based on its respective average daily net assets. Each relevant share class also pays AFS additional amounts for certain transfer agent services. CRMC and AFS may use these fees to compensate third parties for performing these services. CRMC has agreed to pay AFS on the fund's behalf for a portion of the transfer agent services fees for some of the retirement plan share classes. For the year ended December 31, 2006, the total administrative services fees paid by CRMC were $2,000 and $485,000 for Class R-1 and R-2, respectively. Administrative services fees are presented gross of any payments made by CRMC. Each 529 share class is subject to an additional annual administrative services fee of 0.10% of its respective average daily net assets; this fee is payable to the Commonwealth of Virginia for the maintenance of the CollegeAmerica plan. Although these amounts are included with administrative services fees on the accompanying financial statements, the Commonwealth of Virginia is not considered a related party.

Expenses under the agreements described above for the year ended December 31, 2006, were as follows (dollars in thousands):
 
Share class
Distribution services
Transfer agent services
Administrative services
CRMC administrative services
Transfer agent services
Commonwealth
of Virginia
administrative
services
Class A
$163,142
$54,083
Not applicable
Not applicable
Not applicable
Class B
40,236
3,476
Not applicable
Not applicable
Not applicable
Class C
31,123
 
 
 
 
 
 
Included
in
administrative services
$4,126
$581
Not applicable
Class F
3,708
1,284
213
Not applicable
Class 529-A
1,916
752
116
$969
Class 529-B
2,138
166
77
214
Class 529-C
2,833
220
84
284
Class 529-E
209
32
5
42
Class 529-F
-
7
1
9
Class R-1
391
45
19
Not applicable
Class R-2
4,167
816
1,969
Not applicable
Class R-3
3,932
1,059
456
Not applicable
Class R-4
693
388
15
Not applicable
Class R-5
Not applicable
1,730
7
Not applicable 
Total
$254,488
$57,559
$10,625
$3,543
$1,518
 
Deferred directors’ and advisory board compensation - Since the adoption of the deferred compensation plan in 1993, directors and advisory board members 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. Directors’ and advisory board compensation of $1,361,000, shown on the accompanying financial statements, includes $842,000 in current fees (either paid in cash or deferred) and a net increase of $519,000 in the value of the deferred amounts.

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

5. Warrants

As of December 31, 2006, the fund had warrants outstanding which may be exercised at any time for the purchase of 819,437 Class A shares at approximately $5.24 per share. If these warrants had been exercised as of December 31, 2006, the net asset value of Class A shares would have been reduced by $0.01 per share.
 
6. Capital share transactions

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

 
Share class
 
Sales(*)
 
Reinvestments of dividends and distributions
 
Repurchases(*)
 
Net increase
 
 
 
Amount
 
Shares
 
Amount
 
Shares
 
Amount
 
Shares
 
Amount
 
Shares
 
Year ended December 31, 2006
                                 
Class A
 
$
5,290,882
   
159,177
 
$
5,481,530
   
164,293
 
$
(8,155,422
)
 
(245,460
)
$
2,616,990
   
78,010
 
Class B
   
271,904
   
8,230
   
291,674
   
8,769
   
(458,225
)
 
(13,841
)
 
105,353
   
3,158
 
Class C
   
455,460
   
13,780
   
227,586
   
6,853
   
(462,026
)
 
(14,011
)
 
221,020
   
6,622
 
Class F
   
424,643
   
12,741
   
118,930
   
3,567
   
(297,324
)
 
(8,964
)
 
246,249
   
7,344
 
Class 529-A
   
208,622
   
6,272
   
85,143
   
2,553
   
(68,950
)
 
(2,072
)
 
224,815
   
6,753
 
Class 529-B
   
28,898
   
873
   
16,630
   
499
   
(11,480
)
 
(345
)
 
34,048
   
1,027
 
Class 529-C
   
63,827
   
1,923
   
22,528
   
676
   
(25,566
)
 
(770
)
 
60,789
   
1,829
 
Class 529-E
   
9,172
   
276
   
3,537
   
106
   
(3,598
)
 
(108
)
 
9,111
   
274
 
Class 529-F
   
4,900
   
147
   
949
   
28
   
(1,247
)
 
(38
)
 
4,602
   
137
 
Class R-1
   
23,018
   
696
   
3,405
   
102
   
(8,091
)
 
(243
)
 
18,332
   
555
 
Class R-2
   
197,672
   
5,975
   
43,770
   
1,314
   
(130,069
)
 
(3,904
)
 
111,373
   
3,385
 
Class R-3
   
292,010
   
8,809
   
67,296
   
2,019
   
(163,408
)
 
(4,926
)
 
195,898
   
5,902
 
Class R-4
   
128,640
   
3,882
   
24,601
   
738
   
(82,853
)
 
(2,513
)
 
70,388
   
2,107
 
Class R-5
   
310,130
   
9,266
   
155,841
   
4,671
   
(155,265
)
 
(4,677
)
 
310,706
   
9,260
 
Total net increase
                                                 
(decrease)
 
$
7,709,778
   
232,047
 
$
6,543,420
   
196,188
 
$
(10,023,524
)
 
(301,872
)
$
4,229,674
   
126,363
 
                                                   
Year ended December 31, 2005
                                                 
Class A
 
$
5,258,845
   
170,349
 
$
2,900,935
   
92,222
 
$
(7,335,187
)
 
(236,971
)
$
824,593
   
25,600
 
Class B
   
335,330
   
10,931
   
144,393
   
4,598
   
(380,598
)
 
(12,352
)
 
99,125
   
3,177
 
Class C
   
501,711
   
16,364
   
107,001
   
3,413
   
(423,938
)
 
(13,782
)
 
184,774
   
5,995
 
Class F
   
361,246
   
11,715
   
54,903
   
1,746
   
(313,924
)
 
(10,164
)
 
102,225
   
3,297
 
Class 529-A
   
202,043
   
6,536
   
36,316
   
1,155
   
(43,353
)
 
(1,396
)
 
195,006
   
6,295
 
Class 529-B
   
32,939
   
1,070
   
7,011
   
223
   
(7,679
)
 
(248
)
 
32,271
   
1,045
 
Class 529-C
   
61,312
   
1,989
   
8,998
   
286
   
(16,443
)
 
(531
)
 
53,867
   
1,744
 
Class 529-E
   
8,874
   
288
   
1,478
   
47
   
(1,771
)
 
(57
)
 
8,581
   
278
 
Class 529-F
   
2,796
   
90
   
329
   
10
   
(754
)
 
(24
)
 
2,371
   
76
 
Class R-1
   
15,777
   
514
   
1,093
   
35
   
(11,805
)
 
(386
)
 
5,065
   
163
 
Class R-2
   
181,876
   
5,909
   
17,945
   
571
   
(90,700
)
 
(2,940
)
 
109,121
   
3,540
 
Class R-3
   
255,565
   
8,290
   
27,718
   
882
   
(122,033
)
 
(3,948
)
 
161,250
   
5,224
 
Class R-4
   
140,331
   
4,569
   
10,217
   
325
   
(38,267
)
 
(1,234
)
 
112,281
   
3,660
 
Class R-5
   
216,379
   
6,989
   
73,594
   
2,340
   
(163,706
)
 
(5,285
)
 
126,267
   
4,044
 
Total net increase
                                                 
(decrease)
 
$
7,575,024
   
245,603
 
$
3,391,931
   
107,853
 
$
(8,950,158
)
 
(289,318
)
$
2,016,797
   
64,138
 
                                                   
(*) Includes exchanges between share classes of the fund.
                                     

 
7. Investment transactions

The fund made purchases and sales of investment securities, excluding short-term securities, of $14,380,611,000 and $16,464,914,000, respectively, during the year ended December 31, 2006. 
 

 
Financial highlights (1)
 
   
 
 
Income (loss) from investment operations(2)
 
Dividends and distributions
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net asset value, beginning of period
 
Net investment income
 
Net gains (losses) on securities (both realized and unrealized)
 
Total from investment operations
 
Dividends (from net investment income)
 
Distributions (from capital gains)
 
Total dividends and distributions
 
Net asset value, end of period
 
Total return (3)
 
Net assets, end of period (in millions)
 
 
 
Ratio of expenses to average net assets before reimbursements/
waivers
 
 
 
Ratio of expenses to average net assets after reimbursements/
waivers (4)
 
 
 
Ratio of net income to average net assets
 
 
 
Class A:
                                                                     
Year ended 12/31/2006
 
$
31.36
 
$
.72
 
$
4.23
 
$
4.95
 
$
(.74
)
$
(2.06
)
$
(2.80
)
$
33.51
   
15.94
%
$
74,181
         
.57
%
       
.54
%
       
2.16
%
     
Year ended 12/31/2005
   
30.75
   
.64
   
1.46
   
2.10
   
(.68
)
 
(.81
)
 
(1.49
)
 
31.36
   
6.87
%
 
66,959
         
.57
         
.55
         
2.06
       
Year ended 12/31/2004
   
28.84
   
.60
   
2.19
   
2.79
   
(.52
)
 
(.36
)
 
(.88
)
 
30.75
   
9.78
   
64,880
         
.57
         
.57
         
2.06
       
Year ended 12/31/2003
   
23.48
   
.54
   
5.55
   
6.09
   
(.52
)
 
(.21
)
 
(.73
)
 
28.84
   
26.30
   
58,353
         
.59
         
.59
         
2.14
       
Year ended 12/31/2002
   
28.53
   
.49
   
(4.56
)
 
(4.07
)
 
(.52
)
 
(.46
)
 
(.98
)
 
23.48
   
(14.47
)
 
46,129
         
.59
         
.59
         
1.89
       
Class B:
                                                                                                       
Year ended 12/31/2006
   
31.24
   
.46
   
4.21
   
4.67
   
(.48
)
 
(2.06
)
 
(2.54
)
 
33.37
   
15.04
   
4,222
         
1.34
         
1.32
         
1.38
       
Year ended 12/31/2005
   
30.64
   
.39
   
1.46
   
1.85
   
(.44
)
 
(.81
)
 
(1.25
)
 
31.24
   
6.04
   
3,853
         
1.35
         
1.33
         
1.28
       
Year ended 12/31/2004
   
28.74
   
.38
   
2.17
   
2.55
   
(.29
)
 
(.36
)
 
(.65
)
 
30.64
   
8.94
   
3,683
         
1.36
         
1.35
         
1.29
       
Year ended 12/31/2003
   
23.41
   
.34
   
5.53
   
5.87
   
(.33
)
 
(.21
)
 
(.54
)
 
28.74
   
25.30
   
3,011
         
1.38
         
1.38
         
1.33
       
Year ended 12/31/2002
   
28.47
   
.30
   
(4.57
)
 
(4.27
)
 
(.33
)
 
(.46
)
 
(.79
)
 
23.41
   
(15.18
)
 
1,841
         
1.39
         
1.39
         
1.18
       
Class C:
                                                                                                       
Year ended 12/31/2006
   
31.18
   
.44
   
4.21
   
4.65
   
(.46
)
 
(2.06
)
 
(2.52
)
 
33.31
   
15.00
   
3,350
         
1.41
         
1.38
         
1.32
       
Year ended 12/31/2005
   
30.59
   
.37
   
1.45
   
1.82
   
(.42
)
 
(.81
)
 
(1.23
)
 
31.18
   
5.96
   
2,929
         
1.42
         
1.40
         
1.21
       
Year ended 12/31/2004
   
28.70
   
.36
   
2.16
   
2.52
   
(.27
)
 
(.36
)
 
(.63
)
 
30.59
   
8.85
   
2,691
         
1.43
         
1.43
         
1.22
       
Year ended 12/31/2003
   
23.38
   
.31
   
5.53
   
5.84
   
(.31
)
 
(.21
)
 
(.52
)
 
28.70
   
25.22
   
1,985
         
1.45
         
1.45
         
1.25
       
Year ended 12/31/2002
   
28.44
   
.30
   
(4.58
)
 
(4.28
)
 
(.32
)
 
(.46
)
 
(.78
)
 
23.38
   
(15.20
)
 
1,025
         
1.45
         
1.45
         
1.17
       
Class F:
                                                                                                       
Year ended 12/31/2006
   
31.32
   
.71
   
4.24
   
4.95
   
(.73
)
 
(2.06
)
 
(2.79
)
 
33.48
   
15.95
   
1,673
         
.60
         
.58
         
2.12
       
Year ended 12/31/2005
   
30.72
   
.62
   
1.45
   
2.07
   
(.66
)
 
(.81
)
 
(1.47
)
 
31.32
   
6.77
   
1,336
         
.64
         
.62
         
1.99
       
Year ended 12/31/2004
   
28.81
   
.58
   
2.18
   
2.76
   
(.49
)
 
(.36
)
 
(.85
)
 
30.72
   
9.69
   
1,209
         
.67
         
.67
         
1.99
       
Year ended 12/31/2003
   
23.46
   
.51
   
5.55
   
6.06
   
(.50
)
 
(.21
)
 
(.71
)
 
28.81
   
26.18
   
897
         
.69
         
.69
         
2.01
       
Year ended 12/31/2002
   
28.52
   
.49
   
(4.59
)
 
(4.10
)
 
(.50
)
 
(.46
)
 
(.96
)
 
23.46
   
(14.59
)
 
415
         
.70
         
.70
         
1.92
       
Class 529-A:
                                                                                                       
Year ended 12/31/2006
   
31.33
   
.69
   
4.24
   
4.93
   
(.72
)
 
(2.06
)
 
(2.78
)
 
33.48
   
15.87
   
1,118
         
.64
         
.62
         
2.08
       
Year ended 12/31/2005
   
30.73
   
.61
   
1.45
   
2.06
   
(.65
)
 
(.81
)
 
(1.46
)
 
31.33
   
6.74
   
835
         
.67
         
.65
         
1.96
       
Year ended 12/31/2004
   
28.82
   
.59
   
2.17
   
2.76
   
(.49
)
 
(.36
)
 
(.85
)
 
30.73
   
9.68
   
625
         
.68
         
.68
         
2.00
       
Year ended 12/31/2003
   
23.48
   
.52
   
5.55
   
6.07
   
(.52
)
 
(.21
)
 
(.73
)
 
28.82
   
26.19
   
380
         
.64
         
.64
         
2.06
       
Period from 2/15/2002 to 12/31/2002
   
27.88
   
.46
   
(3.91
)
 
(3.45
)
 
(.49
)
 
(.46
)
 
(.95
)
 
23.48
   
(12.57
)
 
153
         
.71
   
(5
)
 
.71
   
(5
)
 
2.17
   
(5
)
Class 529-B:
                                                                                                       
Year ended 12/31/2006
   
31.27
   
.42
   
4.21
   
4.63
   
(.44
)
 
(2.06
)
 
(2.50
)
 
33.40
   
14.90
   
238
         
1.47
         
1.45
         
1.25
       
Year ended 12/31/2005
   
30.67
   
.35
   
1.45
   
1.80
   
(.39
)
 
(.81
)
 
(1.20
)
 
31.27
   
5.87
   
191
         
1.51
         
1.49
         
1.12
       
Year ended 12/31/2004
   
28.78
   
.33
   
2.16
   
2.49
   
(.24
)
 
(.36
)
 
(.60
)
 
30.67
   
8.69
   
155
         
1.56
         
1.55
         
1.12
       
Year ended 12/31/2003
   
23.45
   
.28
   
5.54
   
5.82
   
(.28
)
 
(.21
)
 
(.49
)
 
28.78
   
25.05
   
100
         
1.58
         
1.58
         
1.12
       
Period from 2/15/2002 to 12/31/2002
   
27.88
   
.28
   
(3.92
)
 
(3.64
)
 
(.33
)
 
(.46
)
 
(.79
)
 
23.45
   
(13.22
)
 
41
         
1.58
   
(5
)
 
1.58
   
(5
)
 
1.30
   
(5
)
Class 529-C:
                                                                                                       
Year ended 12/31/2006
   
31.27
   
.42
   
4.23
   
4.65
   
(.45
)
 
(2.06
)
 
(2.51
)
 
33.41
   
14.94
   
325
         
1.46
         
1.44
         
1.26
       
Year ended 12/31/2005
   
30.68
   
.35
   
1.45
   
1.80
   
(.40
)
 
(.81
)
 
(1.21
)
 
31.27
   
5.85
   
247
         
1.50
         
1.48
         
1.13
       
Year ended 12/31/2004
   
28.78
   
.33
   
2.17
   
2.50
   
(.24
)
 
(.36
)
 
(.60
)
 
30.68
   
8.74
   
188
         
1.55
         
1.54
         
1.13
       
Year ended 12/31/2003
   
23.45
   
.29
   
5.54
   
5.83
   
(.29
)
 
(.21
)
 
(.50
)
 
28.78
   
25.07
   
115
         
1.57
         
1.57
         
1.13
       
Period from 2/19/2002 to 12/31/2002
   
27.47
   
.28
   
(3.50
)
 
(3.22
)
 
(.34
)
 
(.46
)
 
(.80
)
 
23.45
   
(11.91
)
 
45
         
1.57
   
(5
)
 
1.57
   
(5
)
 
1.32
   
(5
)
Class 529-E:
                                                                                                       
Year ended 12/31/2006
   
31.28
   
.59
   
4.23
   
4.82
   
(.62
)
 
(2.06
)
 
(2.68
)
 
33.42
   
15.52
   
48
         
.95
         
.92
         
1.78
       
Year ended 12/31/2005
   
30.68
   
.51
   
1.45
   
1.96
   
(.55
)
 
(.81
)
 
(1.36
)
 
31.28
   
6.42
   
36
         
.99
         
.96
         
1.65
       
Year ended 12/31/2004
   
28.78
   
.48
   
2.17
   
2.65
   
(.39
)
 
(.36
)
 
(.75
)
 
30.68
   
9.29
   
27
         
1.03
         
1.02
         
1.65
       
Year ended 12/31/2003
   
23.45
   
.42
   
5.54
   
5.96
   
(.42
)
 
(.21
)
 
(.63
)
 
28.78
   
25.70
   
16
         
1.04
         
1.04
         
1.65
       
Period from 3/1/2002 to 12/31/2002
   
28.27
   
.38
   
(4.52
)
 
(4.14
)
 
(.33
)
 
(.35
)
 
(.68
)
 
23.45
   
(14.72
)
 
6
         
1.03
   
(5
)
 
1.03
   
(5
)
 
1.90
   
(5
)
Class 529-F:
                                                                                                       
Year ended 12/31/2006
   
31.32
   
.76
   
4.23
   
4.99
   
(.78
)
 
(2.06
)
 
(2.84
)
 
33.47
   
16.10
   
13
         
.45
         
.42
         
2.27
       
Year ended 12/31/2005
   
30.71
   
.64
   
1.46
   
2.10
   
(.68
)
 
(.81
)
 
(1.49
)
 
31.32
   
6.87
   
8
         
.56
         
.54
         
2.07
       
Year ended 12/31/2004
   
28.81
   
.56
   
2.16
   
2.72
   
(.46
)
 
(.36
)
 
(.82
)
 
30.71
   
9.55
   
5
         
.78
         
.77
         
1.91
       
Year ended 12/31/2003
   
23.47
   
.48
   
5.55
   
6.03
   
(.48
)
 
(.21
)
 
(.69
)
 
28.81
   
26.05
   
3
         
.79
         
.79
         
1.88
       
Period from 9/16/2002 to 12/31/2002
   
23.98
   
.16
   
(.19
)
 
(.03
)
 
(.13
)
 
(.35
)
 
(.48
)
 
23.47
   
(.14
)
 
-
   
(6
)
 
.23
         
.23
         
.68
       
Class R-1:
                                                                                                       
Year ended 12/31/2006
 
$
31.25
 
$
.44
 
$
4.22
 
$
4.66
 
$
(.46
)
 
(2.06
)
$
(2.52
)
$
33.39
   
14.96
%
$
49
         
1.42
%
       
1.39
%
       
1.31
%
     
Year ended 12/31/2005
   
30.67
   
.38
   
1.44
   
1.82
   
(.43
)
 
(.81
)
 
(1.24
)
 
31.25
   
5.93
   
29
         
1.42
         
1.40
         
1.22
       
Year ended 12/31/2004
   
28.77
   
.36
   
2.17
   
2.53
   
(.27
)
 
(.36
)
 
(.63
)
 
30.67
   
8.84
   
23
         
1.47
         
1.46
         
1.21
       
Year ended 12/31/2003
   
23.46
   
.31
   
5.54
   
5.85
   
(.33
)
 
(.21
)
 
(.54
)
 
28.77
   
25.18
   
14
         
1.51
         
1.47
         
1.18
       
Period from 6/6/2002 to 12/31/2002
   
27.27
   
.20
   
(3.36
)
 
(3.16
)
 
(.30
)
 
(.35
)
 
(.65
)
 
23.46
   
(11.68
)
 
1
         
2.43
   
(5
)
 
1.47
   
(5
)
 
1.49
   
(5
)
Class R-2:
                                                                                                       
Year ended 12/31/2006
   
31.26
   
.43
   
4.23
   
4.66
   
(.46
)
 
(2.06
)
 
(2.52
)
 
33.40
   
14.99
   
625
         
1.50
         
1.39
         
1.31
       
Year ended 12/31/2005
   
30.67
   
.37
   
1.45
   
1.82
   
(.42
)
 
(.81
)
 
(1.23
)
 
31.26
   
5.95
   
479
         
1.57
         
1.40
         
1.21
       
Year ended 12/31/2004
   
28.77
   
.37
   
2.17
   
2.54
   
(.28
)
 
(.36
)
 
(.64
)
 
30.67
   
8.88
   
361
         
1.63
         
1.42
         
1.27
       
Year ended 12/31/2003
   
23.46
   
.31
   
5.54
   
5.85
   
(.33
)
 
(.21
)
 
(.54
)
 
28.77
   
25.18
   
188
         
1.76
         
1.43
         
1.21
       
Period from 5/21/2002 to 12/31/2002
   
28.23
   
.23
   
(4.34
)
 
(4.11
)
 
(.31
)
 
(.35
)
 
(.66
)
 
23.46
   
(14.64
)
 
24
         
1.57
   
(5
)
 
1.43
   
(5
)
 
1.61
   
(5
)
Class R-3:
                                                                                                       
Year ended 12/31/2006
   
31.30
   
.59
   
4.24
   
4.83
   
(.62
)
 
(2.06
)
 
(2.68
)
 
33.45
   
15.54
   
909
         
.94
         
.92
         
1.78
       
Year ended 12/31/2005
   
30.71
   
.52
   
1.45
   
1.97
   
(.57
)
 
(.81
)
 
(1.38
)
 
31.30
   
6.43
   
666
         
.95
         
.93
         
1.68
       
Year ended 12/31/2004
   
28.80
   
.50
   
2.17
   
2.67
   
(.40
)
 
(.36
)
 
(.76
)
 
30.71
   
9.34
   
493
         
.99
         
.98
         
1.72
       
Year ended 12/31/2003
   
23.47
   
.41
   
5.55
   
5.96
   
(.42
)
 
(.21
)
 
(.63
)
 
28.80
   
25.70
   
231
         
1.06
         
1.05
         
1.60
       
Period from 6/4/2002 to 12/31/2002
   
27.58
   
.27
   
(3.69
)
 
(3.42
)
 
(.34
)
 
(.35
)
 
(.69
)
 
23.47
   
(12.49
)
 
24
         
1.11
   
(5
)
 
1.05
   
(5
)
 
2.00
   
(5
)
Class R-4:
                                                                                                       
Year ended 12/31/2006
   
31.32
   
.69
   
4.24
   
4.93
   
(.71
)
 
(2.06
)
 
(2.77
)
 
33.48
   
15.90
   
323
         
.65
         
.62
         
2.07
       
Year ended 12/31/2005
   
30.72
   
.62
   
1.45
   
2.07
   
(.66
)
 
(.81
)
 
(1.47
)
 
31.32
   
6.77
   
236
         
.65
         
.63
         
1.99
       
Year ended 12/31/2004
   
28.82
   
.60
   
2.16
   
2.76
   
(.50
)
 
(.36
)
 
(.86
)
 
30.72
   
9.67
   
119
         
.67
         
.66
         
2.05
       
Year ended 12/31/2003
   
23.47
   
.51
   
5.55
   
6.06
   
(.50
)
 
(.21
)
 
(.71
)
 
28.82
   
26.19
   
40
         
.68
         
.68
         
2.00
       
Period from 5/28/2002 to 12/31/2002
   
28.22
   
.32
   
(4.33
)
 
(4.01
)
 
(.39
)
 
(.35
)
 
(.74
)
 
23.47
   
(14.31
)
 
9
         
.73
   
(5
)
 
.69
   
(5
)
 
2.25
   
(5
)
Class R-5:
                                                                                                       
Year ended 12/31/2006
   
31.35
   
.79
   
4.24
   
5.03
   
(.81
)
 
(2.06
)
 
(2.87
)
 
33.51
   
16.22
   
1,980
         
.35
         
.33
         
2.37
       
Year ended 12/31/2005
   
30.75
   
.70
   
1.46
   
2.16
   
(.75
)
 
(.81
)
 
(1.56
)
 
31.35
   
7.06
   
1,562
         
.36
         
.34
         
2.28
       
Year ended 12/31/2004
   
28.84
   
.67
   
2.18
   
2.85
   
(.58
)
 
(.36
)
 
(.94
)
 
30.75
   
10.02
   
1,408
         
.36
         
.35
         
2.28
       
Year ended 12/31/2003
   
23.48
   
.56
   
5.59
   
6.15
   
(.58
)
 
(.21
)
 
(.79
)
 
28.84
   
26.58
   
1,201
         
.36
         
.36
         
2.11
       
Period from 5/15/2002 to 12/31/2002
   
28.37
   
.39
   
(4.50
)
 
(4.11
)
 
(.43
)
 
(.35
)
 
(.78
)
 
23.48
   
(14.59
)
 
48
         
.37
   
(5
)
 
.37
   
(5
)
 
2.56
   
(5
)

 

             
Year ended December 31
         
 2006
  2005
 
2004
 
2003
 
2002
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Portfolio turnover rate for all classes of shares
 
 
20%
 
19%
 
19%
 
24%
 
27%
                           
                           
(1) Based on operations for the periods shown (unless otherwise noted) and, accordingly, may not be representative of a full year.
(2) Based on average shares outstanding.
                     
(3) Total returns exclude all sales charges, including contingent deferred sales charges.
(4) The ratios in this column reflect the impact, if any, of certain reimbursements/waivers from CRMC. During some of the periods shown CRMC reduced fees for investment advisory services for all share classes. In addition, during the start-up period for the retirement plan share classes (except Class R-5), CRMC agreed to pay a portion of the fees related to transfer agent services.
(5) Annualized.
                         
(6) Amount less than $1 million.
                         
                           
                           
See Notes to Financial Statements
                         
 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of The Investment Company of America:


In our opinion, the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the summary investment portfolio, and the related statements of operations and changes in net assets and the financial highlights present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of The Investment Company of America (the "Fund") at December 31, 2006, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended and its financial highlights for each of the periods presented, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These financial statements and financial highlights (hereafter referred to as "financial statements") are the responsibility of the Fund's management; our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits, which included confirmation of securities owned at December 31, 2006 by correspondence with the custodian and brokers, provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.


PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Los Angeles, California
February 7, 2007

 


 
Tax information
unaudited

We are required to advise you within 60 days of the fund’s fiscal year-end regarding the federal tax status of certain distributions received by shareholders during such fiscal year. The fund hereby designates the following amounts for the fund’s fiscal year ended December 31, 2006:

 
Long-term capital gains
$5,410,467,000
 
Qualified dividend income
100%
 
Corporate dividends received deduction
$1,298,221,000
 
U.S. government income that may be exempt from state taxation
148,890,000
 
   

Individual shareholders should refer to their Form 1099 or other tax information, which was mailed in January 2007, to determine the calendar year amounts to be included on their 2006 tax returns. Shareholders should consult their tax advisers.

 
 
 
 
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