SEC File Nos. 002-10811

811-00116

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

__________________

FORM N-1A

Registration Statement

Under

the Securities Act of 1933

Post-Effective Amendment No.  123

and

Registration Statement

Under

The Investment Company Act of 1940

Amendment No.  47

__________________

THE INVESTMENT COMPANY OF AMERICA

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

333 South Hope Street

Los Angeles, California 90071-1406

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code:

(213) 486-9200

__________________

Vincent P. Corti, Secretary

The Investment Company of America

333 South Hope Street

Los Angeles, California 90071-1406

(Name and Address of Agent for Service)

__________________

Copies to:

Eric A.S. Richards

O'Melveny & Myers LLP

400 South Hope Street

Los Angeles, California  90071-2899

(Counsel for the Registrant)

__________________

Approximate date of proposed public offering:

It is proposed that this filing become immediately pursuant to paragraph (b) of rule 485.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant certifies that it meets all of the requirements for effectiveness of this registration statement under Rule 485(b) under the Securities Act of 1933 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, duly authorized, in the City of Los Angeles, and State of California, on the 21st day of March, 2012.

THE INVESTMENT COMPANY OF AMERICA

By /s/ James B. Lovelace

     (James B. Lovelace, Vice Chairman of the Board)

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed below on March 21, 2012, by the following persons in the capacities indicated.

	Signature	Title
(1)	Principal Executive Officer:
	/s/ James B. Lovelace	Vice Chairman of the Board
	(James B. Lovelace)
(2)	Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer:
	/s/ Brian D. Bullard	Treasurer
	(Brian D. Bullard)
(3)	Trustees:
	Louise H. Bryson*	Trustee
	Mary Anne Dolan*	Chairman of the Board (Independent and Non-Executive)
	James G. Ellis*	Trustee
	Leonard R. Fuller*	Trustee
	William D. Jones*	Trustee
	L. Daniel Jorndt*	Trustee
	William H. Kling*	Trustee
	/s/ James B. Lovelace	Vice Chairman of the Board
	(James B. Lovelace)
	John C. Mazziotta*	Trustee
	John G. McDonald*	Trustee
	Bailey Morris-Eck*	Trustee
	/s/ Donald D. O’Neal	President and Trustee
	(Donald D. O’Neal)
	Steven B.  Sample*	Trustee
	*By: /s/ Vincent P. Corti
	(Vincent P. Corti, pursuant to a power of attorney filed herewith)

Counsel represents that this amendment does not contain disclosures that would make the amendment ineligible for effectiveness under the provisions of rule 485(b).

/s/ Michael J. Triessl

(Michael J. Triessl)

POWER OF ATTORNEY

I, Louise H. Bryson, the undersigned Board member of the following registered investment companies (collectively, the “Funds”):

-   AMCAP Fund (File No. 002-26516, File No. 811-01435)

-   American Funds Fundamental Investors (File No. 002-10760, File No. 811-00032)

-   American Funds Global Balanced Fund (File No. 333-170605, File No. 811-22496)

-   American Mutual Fund (File No. 002-10607, File No. 811-00572)

-   The Growth Fund of America, Inc. (File No. 002-14728, File No. 811-00862)

-   The Growth Fund of America

-   The Investment Company of America (File No. 002-10811, File No. 811-00116)

-   SMALLCAP World Fund, Inc. (File No. 033-32785, File No. 811-05888)

-   SMALLCAP World Fund

hereby revoke all previous powers of attorney I have signed and otherwise act in my name and behalf in matters involving the Funds and do hereby constitute and appoint

Vincent P. Corti Steven I. Koszalka Patrick F. Quan Courtney R. Taylor Julie E. Lawton Tanya Schneider Raymond F. Sullivan, Jr. Brian D. Bullard Karl C. Grauman Jeffrey P. Regal Ari M. Vinocor

each of them singularly, my true and lawful attorneys-in-fact, with full power of substitution, and with full power to each of them, to sign for me and in my name in the appropriate capacities, all Registration Statements of the Funds on Form N-1A, any and all subsequent Amendments, or Post-Effective Amendments to said Registration Statement on Form N-1A or any successor thereto, and any supplements or other instruments in connection therewith, and generally to do all such things in my name and behalf in connection therewith as said attorneys-in-fact deem necessary or appropriate, to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940 as amended, and all related requirements of the U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission.  I hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys-in-fact or their substitutes may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

EXECUTED at San Marino, CA, this 17th day of November, 2011.

    (City, State)

/s/ Louise H. Bryson                                                             

Louise H. Bryson, Board member

POWER OF ATTORNEY

I, Mary Anne Dolan, the undersigned Board member of the following registered investment companies (collectively, the “Funds”):

-   AMCAP Fund (File No. 002-26516, File No. 811-01435)

-   American Funds Fundamental Investors (File No. 002-10760, File No. 811-00032)

-   American Funds Global Balanced Fund (File No. 333-170605, File No. 811-22496)

-   American Mutual Fund (File No. 002-10607, File No. 811-00572)

-   Capital Income Builder (File No. 033-12967, File No. 811-05085)

-   Capital World Growth and Income Fund, Inc. (File No. 033-54444, File No. 811-07338)

-   Capital World Growth and Income Fund

-   The Growth Fund of America, Inc. (File No. 002-14728, File No. 811-00862)

-   The Growth Fund of America

-   The Investment Company of America (File No. 002-10811, File No. 811-00116)

-   The New Economy Fund  (File No. 002-83848, File No. 811-03735)

-   The New Economy Fund

-   SMALLCAP World Fund, Inc. (File No. 033-32785, File No. 811-05888)

-   SMALLCAP World Fund

hereby revoke all previous powers of attorney I have signed and otherwise act in my name and behalf in matters involving the Funds and do hereby constitute and appoint

Vincent P. Corti Steven I. Koszalka Patrick F. Quan Courtney R. Taylor Julie E. Lawton Tanya Schneider Raymond F. Sullivan, Jr. Brian D. Bullard Karl C. Grauman Jeffrey P. Regal Ari M. Vinocor Neal F. Wellons

each of them singularly, my true and lawful attorneys-in-fact, with full power of substitution, and with full power to each of them, to sign for me and in my name in the appropriate capacities, all Registration Statements of the Funds on Form N-1A, any and all subsequent Amendments, or Post-Effective Amendments to said Registration Statement on Form N-1A or any successor thereto, and any supplements or other instruments in connection therewith, and generally to do all such things in my name and behalf in connection therewith as said attorneys-in-fact deem necessary or appropriate, to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940 as amended, and all related requirements of the U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission.  I hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys-in-fact or their substitutes may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

EXECUTED at Los Angeles, CA, this 16th day of November, 2011.

    (City, State)

/s/ Mary Anne Dolan                                                             

Mary Anne Dolan, Board member

POWER OF ATTORNEY

I, James G. Ellis, the undersigned Board member of the following registered investment companies (collectively, the “Funds”):

-   AMCAP Fund (File No. 002-26516, File No. 811-01435)

-   American Funds Global Balanced Fund (File No. 333-170605, File No. 811-22496)

-   The American Funds Income Series – U.S. Government Securities Fund (File No. 002-98199, File No. 811-04318)

-   American Funds Insurance Series (File No. 002-86838, File No. 811-03857)

-   American Funds Money Market Fund (File No. 333-157162, File No. 811-22277)

-   American Funds Mortgage Fund (File No. 333-168595, File No. 811-22449)

-   American Funds Portfolio Series (File No. 333-178936, File No. 811-22656)

-   American Funds Short-Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund (File No. 033-26431, File No. 811-05750)

-   American Funds Target Date Retirement Series (File No. 333-138648, File No. 811-21981)

-   American Funds Tax-Exempt Fund of New York (File No. 333-168594, File No. 811-22448)

-   The American Funds Tax-Exempt Series II – The Tax-Exempt Fund of California (File No. 033-06180, File No. 811-04694)

-   American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund (File No. 033-80630, File No. 811-08576)

-   American High-Income Trust (File No. 033-17917, File No. 811-05364)

-   American Mutual Fund (File No. 002-10607, File No. 811-00572)

-   The Bond Fund of America (File No. 002-50700, File No. 811-02444)

-   Capital World Bond Fund (File No. 033-12447, File No. 811-05104)

-   Intermediate Bond Fund of America (File No. 033-19514, File No. 811-05446)

-   The Investment Company of America (File No. 002-10811, File No. 811-00116)

-   Limited Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America (File No. 033-66214, File No. 811-07888)

-   Short-Term Bond Fund of America (File No. 333-135770, File No. 811-21928)

-   The Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America (File No. 002-49291, File No. 811-02421)

hereby revoke all previous powers of attorney I have signed and otherwise act in my name and behalf in matters involving the Funds and do hereby constitute and appoint

Vincent P. Corti Steven I. Koszalka Patrick F. Quan Courtney R. Taylor Julie E. Lawton Tanya Schneider Raymond F. Sullivan, Jr. Brian D. Bullard Karl C. Grauman M. Susan Gupton Brian C. Janssen Dori Laskin Gregory F. Niland Ari M. Vinocor

each of them singularly, my true and lawful attorneys-in-fact, with full power of substitution, and with full power to each of them, to sign for me and in my name in the appropriate capacities, all Registration Statements of the Funds on Form N-1A, any and all subsequent Amendments, or Post-Effective Amendments to said Registration Statement on Form N-1A or any successor thereto, and any supplements or other instruments in connection therewith, and generally to do all such things in my name and behalf in connection therewith as said attorneys-in-fact deem necessary or appropriate, to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940 as amended, and all related requirements of the U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission.  I hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys-in-fact or their substitutes may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

EXECUTED at Los Angeles, CA, this 14th day of March, 2012.

     (City, State)

/s/ James G. Ellis                                                             

James G. Ellis, Board member

POWER OF ATTORNEY

I, Leonard R. Fuller, the undersigned Board member of the following registered investment companies (collectively, the “Funds”):

-   AMCAP Fund (File No. 002-26516, File No. 811-01435)

-   American Funds Global Balanced Fund (File No. 333-170605, File No. 811-22496)

-   The American Funds Income Series – U.S. Government Securities Fund (File No. 002-98199, File No. 811-04318)

-   American Funds Insurance Series (File No. 002-86838, File No. 811-03857)

-   American Funds Money Market Fund (File No. 333-157162, File No. 811-22277)

-   American Funds Mortgage Fund (File No. 333-168595, File No. 811-22449)

-   American Funds Portfolio Series (File No. 333-178936, File No. 811-22656)

-   American Funds Short-Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund (File No. 033-26431, File No. 811-05750)

-   American Funds Target Date Retirement Series (File No. 333-138648, File No. 811-21981)

-   American Funds Tax-Exempt Fund of New York (File No. 333-168594, File No. 811-22448)

-   The American Funds Tax-Exempt Series II – The Tax-Exempt Fund of California (File No. 033-06180, File No. 811-04694)

-   American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund (File No. 033-80630, File No. 811-08576)

-   American High-Income Trust (File No. 033-17917, File No. 811-05364)

-   American Mutual Fund (File No. 002-10607, File No. 811-00572)

-   The Bond Fund of America (File No. 002-50700, File No. 811-02444)

-   Capital World Bond Fund (File No. 033-12447, File No. 811-05104)

-   Intermediate Bond Fund of America (File No. 033-19514, File No. 811-05446)

-   The Investment Company of America (File No. 002-10811, File No. 811-00116)

-   Limited Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America (File No. 033-66214, File No. 811-07888)

-   Short-Term Bond Fund of America (File No. 333-135770, File No. 811-21928)

-   The Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America (File No. 002-49291, File No. 811-02421)

hereby revoke all previous powers of attorney I have signed and otherwise act in my name and behalf in matters involving the Funds and do hereby constitute and appoint

Vincent P. Corti Steven I. Koszalka Patrick F. Quan Courtney R. Taylor Julie E. Lawton Tanya Schneider Raymond F. Sullivan, Jr. Brian D. Bullard Karl C. Grauman M. Susan Gupton Brian C. Janssen Dori Laskin Gregory F. Niland Ari M. Vinocor

each of them singularly, my true and lawful attorneys-in-fact, with full power of substitution, and with full power to each of them, to sign for me and in my name in the appropriate capacities, all Registration Statements of the Funds on Form N-1A, any and all subsequent Amendments, or Post-Effective Amendments to said Registration Statement on Form N-1A or any successor thereto, and any supplements or other instruments in connection therewith, and generally to do all such things in my name and behalf in connection therewith as said attorneys-in-fact deem necessary or appropriate, to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940 as amended, and all related requirements of the U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission.  I hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys-in-fact or their substitutes may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

EXECUTED at Los Angeles, CA, this 14th day of March, 2012.

     (City, State)

/s/ Leonard R. Fuller                                                             

Leonard R. Fuller, Board member

POWER OF ATTORNEY

I, William D. Jones, the undersigned Board member of the following registered investment companies (collectively, the “Funds”):

-   AMCAP Fund (File No. 002-26516, File No. 811-01435)

-   American Balanced Fund (File No. 002-10758, File No. 811-00066)

-   American Funds Global Balanced Fund (File No. 333-170605, File No. 811-22496)

-   American Mutual Fund (File No. 002-10607, File No. 811-00572)

-   The Income Fund of America (File No. 002-33371, File No. 811-01880)

-   International Growth and Income Fund (File No. 333-152323, File No. 811-22215)

-   The Investment Company of America (File No. 002-10811, File No. 811-00116)

hereby revoke all previous powers of attorney I have signed and otherwise act in my name and behalf in matters involving the Funds and do hereby constitute and appoint

Vincent P. Corti Steven I. Koszalka Patrick F. Quan Courtney R. Taylor Julie E. Lawton Tanya Schneider Raymond F. Sullivan, Jr. Jennifer M. Buchheim Brian D. Bullard Karl C. Grauman M. Susan Gupton  

each of them singularly, my true and lawful attorneys-in-fact, with full power of substitution, and with full power to each of them, to sign for me and in my name in the appropriate capacities, all Registration Statements of the Funds on Form N-1A, any and all subsequent Amendments, or Post-Effective Amendments to said Registration Statement on Form N-1A or any successor thereto, and any supplements or other instruments in connection therewith, and generally to do all such things in my name and behalf in connection therewith as said attorneys-in-fact deem necessary or appropriate, to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940 as amended, and all related requirements of the U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission.  I hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys-in-fact or their substitutes may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

EXECUTED at San Diego, CA, this 17th day of August, 2011.

  (City, State)

/s/ William D. Jones                                                             

William D. Jones, Board member

POWER OF ATTORNEY

I, L. Daniel Jorndt, the undersigned Board member of the following registered investment companies (collectively, the “Funds”):

-   AMCAP Fund (File No. 002-26516, File No. 811-01435)

-   American Funds Global Balanced Fund (File No. 333-170605, File No. 811-22496)

-   American Mutual Fund (File No. 002-10607, File No. 811-00572)

-   The Investment Company of America (File No. 002-10811, File No. 811-00116)

hereby revoke all previous powers of attorney I have signed and otherwise act in my name and behalf in matters involving the Funds and do hereby constitute and appoint

Vincent P. Corti Steven I. Koszalka Patrick F. Quan Courtney R. Taylor Julie E. Lawton Tanya Schneider Raymond F. Sullivan, Jr. Jennifer M. Buchheim Brian D. Bullard Karl C. Grauman  

each of them singularly, my true and lawful attorneys-in-fact, with full power of substitution, and with full power to each of them, to sign for me and in my name in the appropriate capacities, all Registration Statements of the Funds on Form N-1A, any and all subsequent Amendments, or Post-Effective Amendments to said Registration Statement on Form N-1A or any successor thereto, and any supplements or other instruments in connection therewith, and generally to do all such things in my name and behalf in connection therewith as said attorneys-in-fact deem necessary or appropriate, to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940 as amended, and all related requirements of the U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission.  I hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys-in-fact or their substitutes may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

EXECUTED at Deerfield, IL, this 24th day of August, 2011.

 (City, State)

/s/ L. Daniel Jorndt                                                             

L. Daniel Jorndt, Board member

POWER OF ATTORNEY

I, William H. Kling, the undersigned Board member of the following registered investment companies (collectively, the “Funds”):

-   AMCAP Fund (File No. 002-26516, File No. 811-01435)

-   American Funds Fundamental Investors (File No. 002-10760, File No. 811-00032)

-   American Funds Global Balanced Fund (File No. 333-170605, File No. 811-22496)

-   American Mutual Fund (File No. 002-10607, File No. 811-00572)

-   EuroPacific Growth Fund (File No. 002-83847, File No. 811-03734)

-   EuroPacific Growth Fund

-   The Growth Fund of America, Inc. (File No. 002-14728, File No. 811-00862)

-   The Growth Fund of America

-   The Investment Company of America (File No. 002-10811, File No. 811-00116)

-   New Perspective Fund, Inc. (File No. 002-47749, File No. 811-02333)

-   New Perspective Fund

-   New World Fund, Inc. (File No. 333-67455, File No. 811-09105)

-   American Funds New World Fund, Inc.

-   SMALLCAP World Fund, Inc. (File No. 033-32785, File No. 811-05888)

-   SMALLCAP World Fund

hereby revoke all previous powers of attorney I have signed and otherwise act in my name and behalf in matters involving the Funds and do hereby constitute and appoint

Vincent P. Corti Steven I. Koszalka Patrick F. Quan Courtney R. Taylor Julie E. Lawton Tanya Schneider Raymond F. Sullivan, Jr. Brian D. Bullard Karl C. Grauman Brian C. Janssen Jeffrey P. Regal Ari M. Vinocor

each of them singularly, my true and lawful attorneys-in-fact, with full power of substitution, and with full power to each of them, to sign for me and in my name in the appropriate capacities, all Registration Statements of the Funds on Form N-1A, any and all subsequent Amendments, or Post-Effective Amendments to said Registration Statement on Form N-1A or any successor thereto, and any supplements or other instruments in connection therewith, and generally to do all such things in my name and behalf in connection therewith as said attorneys-in-fact deem necessary or appropriate, to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940 as amended, and all related requirements of the U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission.  I hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys-in-fact or their substitutes may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

EXECUTED at Minneapolis, MN, this 17th day of November, 2011.

    (City, State)

/s/ William H. Kling                                                             

William H. Kling, Board member

POWER OF ATTORNEY

I, John C. Mazziotta, the undersigned Board member of the following registered investment companies (collectively, the “Funds”):

-   AMCAP Fund (File No. 002-26516, File No. 811-01435)

-   American Funds Global Balanced Fund (File No. 333-170605, File No. 811-22496)

-   American Mutual Fund (File No. 002-10607, File No. 811-00572)

-   The Investment Company of America (File No. 002-10811, File No. 811-00116)

hereby revoke all previous powers of attorney I have signed and otherwise act in my name and behalf in matters involving the Funds and do hereby constitute and appoint

Vincent P. Corti Steven I. Koszalka Patrick F. Quan Courtney R. Taylor Julie E. Lawton Tanya Schneider Raymond F. Sullivan, Jr. Jennifer M. Buchheim Brian D. Bullard Karl C. Grauman  

each of them singularly, my true and lawful attorneys-in-fact, with full power of substitution, and with full power to each of them, to sign for me and in my name in the appropriate capacities, all Registration Statements of the Funds on Form N-1A, any and all subsequent Amendments, or Post-Effective Amendments to said Registration Statement on Form N-1A or any successor thereto, and any supplements or other instruments in connection therewith, and generally to do all such things in my name and behalf in connection therewith as said attorneys-in-fact deem necessary or appropriate, to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940 as amended, and all related requirements of the U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission.  I hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys-in-fact or their substitutes may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

EXECUTED at Los Angeles, CA, this 24th day of August, 2011.

    (City, State)

/s/ John C. Mazziotta                                                             

John C. Mazziotta, Board member

POWER OF ATTORNEY

I, John G. McDonald, the undersigned Board member of the following registered investment companies (collectively, the “Funds”):

-   AMCAP Fund (File No. 002-26516, File No. 811-01435)

-   American Balanced Fund (File No. 002-10758, File No. 811-00066)

-   American Funds Fundamental Investors (File No. 002-10760, File No. 811-00032)

-   American Funds Global Balanced Fund (File No. 333-170605, File No. 811-22496)

-   American Mutual Fund (File No. 002-10607, File No. 811-00572)

-   EuroPacific Growth Fund (File No. 002-83847, File No. 811-03734)

-   EuroPacific Growth Fund

-   The Growth Fund of America, Inc. (File No. 002-14728, File No. 811-00862)

-   The Growth Fund of America

-   The Income Fund of America (File No. 002-33371, File No. 811-01880)

-   International Growth and Income Fund (File No. 333-152323, File No. 811-22215)

-   The Investment Company of America (File No. 002-10811, File No. 811-00116)

-   New Perspective Fund, Inc. (File No. 002-47749, File No. 811-02333)

-   New Perspective Fund

-   New World Fund, Inc. (File No. 333-67455, File No. 811-09105)

-   American Funds New World Fund, Inc.

-   SMALLCAP World Fund, Inc. (File No. 033-32785, File No. 811-05888)

-   SMALLCAP World Fund

hereby revoke all previous powers of attorney I have signed and otherwise act in my name and behalf in matters involving the Funds and do hereby constitute and appoint

Vincent P. Corti Steven I. Koszalka Patrick F. Quan Courtney R. Taylor Julie E. Lawton Tanya Schneider Raymond F. Sullivan, Jr. Brian D. Bullard Karl C. Grauman M. Susan Gupton Brian C. Janssen Jeffrey P. Regal

each of them singularly, my true and lawful attorneys-in-fact, with full power of substitution, and with full power to each of them, to sign for me and in my name in the appropriate capacities, all Registration Statements of the Funds on Form N-1A, any and all subsequent Amendments, or Post-Effective Amendments to said Registration Statement on Form N-1A or any successor thereto, and any supplements or other instruments in connection therewith, and generally to do all such things in my name and behalf in connection therewith as said attorneys-in-fact deem necessary or appropriate, to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940 as amended, and all related requirements of the U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission.  I hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys-in-fact or their substitutes may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

EXECUTED at Stanford, CA, this 15th day of November, 2011.

 (City, State)

/s/ John G. McDonald                                                             

John G. McDonald, Board member

POWER OF ATTORNEY

I, Bailey Morris-Eck, the undersigned Board member of the following registered investment companies (collectively, the “Funds”):

-   AMCAP Fund (File No. 002-26516, File No. 811-01435)

-   American Funds Global Balanced Fund (File No. 333-170605, File No. 811-22496)

-   American Mutual Fund (File No. 002-10607, File No. 811-00572)

-   The Investment Company of America (File No. 002-10811, File No. 811-00116)

hereby revoke all previous powers of attorney I have signed and otherwise act in my name and behalf in matters involving the Funds and do hereby constitute and appoint

Vincent P. Corti Steven I. Koszalka Patrick F. Quan Courtney R. Taylor Julie E. Lawton Tanya Schneider Raymond F. Sullivan, Jr. Jennifer M. Buchheim Brian D. Bullard Karl C. Grauman  

each of them singularly, my true and lawful attorneys-in-fact, with full power of substitution, and with full power to each of them, to sign for me and in my name in the appropriate capacities, all Registration Statements of the Funds on Form N-1A, any and all subsequent Amendments, or Post-Effective Amendments to said Registration Statement on Form N-1A or any successor thereto, and any supplements or other instruments in connection therewith, and generally to do all such things in my name and behalf in connection therewith as said attorneys-in-fact deem necessary or appropriate, to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940 as amended, and all related requirements of the U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission.  I hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys-in-fact or their substitutes may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

EXECUTED at Butler, MD, this 19th day of August, 2011.

(City, State)

/s/ Bailey Morris-Eck                                                             

Bailey Morris-Eck, Board member

POWER OF ATTORNEY

I, Steven B. Sample, the undersigned Board member of the following registered investment companies (collectively, the “Funds”):

-   AMCAP Fund (File No. 002-26516, File No. 811-01435)

-   American Funds Global Balanced Fund (File No. 333-170605, File No. 811-22496)

-   American Mutual Fund (File No. 002-10607, File No. 811-00572)

-   The Investment Company of America (File No. 002-10811, File No. 811-00116)

hereby revoke all previous powers of attorney I have signed and otherwise act in my name and behalf in matters involving the Funds and do hereby constitute and appoint

Vincent P. Corti Steven I. Koszalka Patrick F. Quan Courtney R. Taylor Julie E. Lawton Tanya Schneider Raymond F. Sullivan, Jr. Jennifer M. Buchheim Brian D. Bullard Karl C. Grauman  

each of them singularly, my true and lawful attorneys-in-fact, with full power of substitution, and with full power to each of them, to sign for me and in my name in the appropriate capacities, all Registration Statements of the Funds on Form N-1A, any and all subsequent Amendments, or Post-Effective Amendments to said Registration Statement on Form N-1A or any successor thereto, and any supplements or other instruments in connection therewith, and generally to do all such things in my name and behalf in connection therewith as said attorneys-in-fact deem necessary or appropriate, to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940 as amended, and all related requirements of the U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission.  I hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys-in-fact or their substitutes may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

EXECUTED at Los Angeles, CA, this 24th day of August, 2011.

    (City, State)

/s/ Steven B. Sample                                                             

Steven B. Sample, Board member

Exhibit Index

Exhibit No.	Description
EX-101.INS	XBRL Instance Document
EX-101.SCH	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
EX-101.CAL	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase
EX-101.DEF	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase
EX-101.LAB	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels Linkbase
EX-101.PRE	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase