N-CSRS 1 ilbf_ncsrs.htm N-CSRS

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM N-CSR

Certified Shareholder Report of

Registered Management Investment Companies

 

Investment Company Act File Number: 811-22746

 

American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

6455 Irvine Center Drive

Irvine, California 92618

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (949) 975-5000

 

Date of fiscal year end: November 30

 

Date of reporting period: May 31, 2022

 

Brian C. Janssen

American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund

6455 Irvine Center Drive

Irvine, California 92618

(Name and Address of Agent for Service)

 
 

 

ITEM 1 – Reports to Stockholders

 

American Funds Inflation
Linked Bond Fund®
 
 
Semi-annual report
for the six months ended
May 31, 2022
 

 

 

Invest with the
goal of preserving
purchasing power

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

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

 

This fund is one of more than 40 offered by Capital Group, home of American Funds, one of the nation’s largest mutual fund families. For over 90 years, Capital Group has invested with a long-term focus based on thorough research and attention to risk.

 

Fund results shown in this report, unless otherwise indicated, are for Class F-2 shares. Class A share results are shown at net asset value unless otherwise indicated. Results are for past periods and are not predictive of results for future periods. Current and future results may be lower or higher than those shown. Prices and returns will vary, so investors may lose money. Investing for short periods makes losses more likely. For current information and month-end results, visit capitalgroup.com.

 

Here are the total returns on a $1,000 investment with all distributions reinvested for the period ended June 30, 2022 (the most recent calendar quarter-end):

 

    1 year   5 years   Lifetime
(since 12/14/12)
             
Class F-2 shares   –5.48 %   3.39 %   1.81
Class A shares Reflecting 2.50% maximum sales charge   –8.12     2.59     1.37  

 

The total annual fund operating ratios were 0.39% for Class F-2 shares and 0.67% for Class A shares as of the prospectus dated February 1, 2022 (as supplemented to date). The expense ratios are restated to reflect current fees.

 

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

 

The fund’s 30-day yields are as of May 31, 2022, reflecting the 2.50% maximum sales charge, and calculated in accordance with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission formula, was 13.77% for Class F-2 and 13.14% for Class A.

 

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

 

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

 

Fellow investors:

 

Results for American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund for the periods ended May 31, 2022, are shown in the table below, as well as results of the fund’s benchmark and peer group average.

 

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

 

Contents

 

1   Results at a glance
     
2   Investment portfolio
     
12   Financial statements
     
16   Notes to financial statements
     
29   Financial highlights

 

Results at a glance

 

For periods ended May 31, 2022, with all distributions reinvested

 

   Cumulative total returns  Average annual total returns
   6 months  1 year  3 years  5 years  Lifetime
(since 12/14/12)
                
American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund (Class F-2 shares)   –5.66   –2.30   4.62%   3.81%   2.14%
American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund (Class A shares)   –5.78    –2.50    4.33    3.52    1.97 
Bloomberg U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS) Index*   –5.65    –1.45    4.45    3.68    1.82 
Lipper Inflation Protected Bond Funds Average   –4.22    –1.01    4.11    3.25    1.37 

 

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

 

American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund 1
 
Investment portfolio May 31, 2022 unaudited
   
Portfolio by type of security Percent of net assets

 

 

Portfolio quality summary*  Percent of
net assets
U.S. Treasury   90.27%
AAA/Aaa   1.76 
AA/Aa   1.63 
A/A   2.28 
BBB/Baa   2.78 
Short-term securities & other assets less liabilities   1.28 
* Bond ratings, which typically range from AAA/Aaa (highest) to D (lowest), are assigned by credit rating agencies such as Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s and/or Fitch as an indication of an issuer’s creditworthiness. In assigning a credit rating to a security, the fund looks specifically to the ratings assigned to the issuer of the security by Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s and/or Fitch. If agency ratings differ, the security will be considered to have received the highest of those ratings, consistent with the fund’s investment policies.
These securities are guaranteed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government.

 

Bonds, notes & other debt instruments 98.72%  Principal amount
(000)
   Value
(000)
 
U.S. Treasury bonds & notes 90.27%          
U.S. Treasury inflation-protected securities 89.41%          
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.125% 20221  USD17,142   $17,307 
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.125% 20231   37,289    38,221 
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.375% 20231   33,342    34,458 
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.125% 20241   87,384    90,316 
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.125% 20241,2   36,964    38,058 
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.50% 20241,2   306,173    317,280 
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.625% 20241   119,009    123,374 
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.125% 20251   468,601    479,866 
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.125% 20251   94,808    97,137 
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.25% 20251   288,473    297,004 
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.375% 20251,2   389,896    403,643 
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 2.375% 20251   35,752    38,849 
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.125% 20261   1,460,955    1,489,537 
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.125% 20261   680,594    692,484 
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.125% 20261   228,994    233,708 
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.625% 20261   198,956    206,639 
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 2.00% 20261,2   150,585    164,047 
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.125% 20271   594,515    602,802 
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.375% 20271   356,434    365,827 
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.375% 20271   212,642    218,578 
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 2.375% 20271,2   216,893    243,062 
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.50% 20281   267,267    274,714 
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 1.75% 20281   83,678    91,953 
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.25% 20291,2   247,393    250,408 
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.875% 20291   77,848    81,880 
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 2.50% 20291   2,677    3,101 
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.125% 20301,2   755,466    754,540 
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.125% 20301   606,019    603,798 
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.125% 20311,2   1,222,090    1,216,860 
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.125% 20311   214,448    213,951 
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.125% 20321   572,605    569,738 
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 2.125% 20401   59,832    74,842 
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 2.125% 20411   57,085    71,447 

 

2 American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund
 
Bonds, notes & other debt instruments (continued)  Principal amount
(000)
   Value
(000)
 
U.S. Treasury bonds & notes (continued)          
U.S. Treasury inflation-protected securities (continued)          
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.75% 20421  USD63,591   $63,086 
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.625% 20431   170,121    163,316 
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 1.375% 20441   80,274    88,818 
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.75% 20451   136,685    133,425 
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 1.00% 20461   117,460    121,058 
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.875% 20471   172,983    174,755 
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 1.00% 20481   175,624    183,560 
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 1.00% 20491   53,220    55,983 
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.25% 20501   197,031    170,852 
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.125% 20511,2   739,884    627,550 
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Security 0.125% 20521   12,388    10,579 
         12,192,411 
           
U.S. Treasury 0.86%          
U.S. Treasury 4.375% 2039   25,655    30,078 
U.S. Treasury 2.25% 20522   103,975    87,110 
         117,188 
           
Total U.S. Treasury bonds & notes        12,309,599 
           
Corporate bonds, notes & loans 3.21%          
Energy 0.77%          
Energy Transfer Partners LP 6.00% 2048   9,257    9,174 
Equinor ASA 3.625% 2028   13,165    13,113 
MPLX LP 4.00% 2028   2,430    2,377 
MPLX LP 4.70% 2048   10,000    8,944 
ONEOK, Inc. 6.35% 2031   7,508    8,188 
ONEOK, Inc. 7.15% 2051   2,782    3,130 
Petróleos Mexicanos 7.47% 2026  MXN30    1 
Qatar Petroleum 2.25% 20313  USD17,300    15,380 
Qatar Petroleum 3.125% 20413   13,495    11,326 
Qatar Petroleum 3.30% 20513   12,200    10,064 
Sabine Pass Liquefaction, LLC 4.50% 2030   8,109    8,091 
TransCanada PipeLines, Ltd. 4.10% 2030   6,315    6,241 
Williams Companies, Inc. 3.50% 2030   8,448    7,865 
Williams Companies, Inc. 2.60% 2031   1,450    1,258 
         105,152 
           
Consumer discretionary 0.74%          
Alibaba Group Holding, Ltd. 3.15% 2051   7,440    5,195 
Amazon.com, Inc. 3.10% 2051   40,000    33,475 
Boston University 4.061% 2048   2,075    1,960 
Duke University 2.832% 2055   5,000    3,759 
Home Depot, Inc. 2.95% 2029   8,408    8,011 
Home Depot, Inc. 4.50% 2048   1,240    1,257 
Massachusetts Institute of Technology 2.294% 2051   22,000    16,006 
Stellantis Finance US, Inc. 1.711% 20273   8,525    7,597 
Stellantis Finance US, Inc. 2.691% 20313   7,425    6,139 
The Board of Trustees of The Leland Stanford Junior University 1.289% 2027   4,950    4,491 
Yale University 1.482% 2030   15,000    12,785 
         100,675 
           
Information technology 0.42%          
Apple, Inc. 2.40% 2050   30,000    22,085 
Broadcom, Inc. 3.187% 20363   17,063    13,702 
Global Payments, Inc. 2.90% 2030   6,972    6,102 
PayPal Holdings, Inc. 1.65% 2025   11,647    11,125 
PayPal Holdings, Inc. 3.25% 2050   6,210    4,879 
         57,893 
           
Utilities 0.41%          
Consumers Energy Co. 4.05% 2048   8,570    8,055 
Duke Energy Corp. 0.90% 2025   6,850    6,306 
Entergy Corp. 2.80% 2030   4,425    3,907 
Entergy Corp. 3.75% 2050   4,700    3,887 
Exelon Corp. 4.05% 2030   700    687 
Exelon Corp. 4.10% 20523   1,300    1,161 

 

American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund 3
 
Bonds, notes & other debt instruments (continued)  Principal amount
(000)
   Value
(000)
 
Corporate bonds, notes & loans (continued)          
Utilities (continued)          
Mississippi Power Co. 4.25% 2042  USD1,660   $1,498 
Public Service Electric and Gas Co. 2.05% 2050   5,365    3,506 
Public Service Enterprise Group, Inc. 3.20% 2049   8,250    6,783 
Tampa Electric Co. 4.45% 2049   8,070    7,746 
Virginia Electric and Power Co. 3.80% 2028   7,925    7,922 
Virginia Electric and Power Co. 2.875% 2029   2,800    2,605 
Wisconsin Electric Power Co. 4.30% 2048   2,600    2,506 
         56,569 
           
Consumer staples 0.25%          
Anheuser-Busch InBev NV 3.50% 2030   7,500    7,234 
Anheuser-Busch InBev NV 4.60% 2048   8,519    8,128 
Anheuser-Busch InBev NV 4.50% 2050   1,481    1,412 
British American Tobacco PLC 5.65% 2052   11,876    10,720 
Conagra Brands, Inc. 4.85% 2028   6,400    6,493 
         33,987 
           
Health care 0.24%          
Becton, Dickinson and Company 3.70% 2027   7,700    7,646 
Sharp HealthCare 2.68% 2050   17,500    12,739 
Summa Health 3.511% 2051   9,945    8,424 
Trinity Health Corp. 2.632% 2040   5,000    3,840 
         32,649 
           
Communication services 0.15%          
SBA Tower Trust 1.631% 20263   22,469    20,274 
           
Financials 0.09%          
Morgan Stanley 2.239% 2032 (USD-SOFR + 1.178% on 7/21/2031)4   14,149    11,959 
           
Materials 0.07%          
Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. 1.50% 2025   6,427    6,093 
Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. 2.05% 2030   3,284    2,891 
         8,984 
           
Real estate 0.05%          
American Campus Communities, Inc. 3.875% 2031   2,892    2,907 
Corporacion Inmobiliaria Vesta, SAB de CV, 3.625% 20313   4,080    3,395 
         6,302 
           
Industrials  0.02%          
United Technologies Corp. 4.125% 2028   3,265    3,325 
           
Total corporate bonds, notes & loans        437,769 
           
Bonds & notes of governments & government agencies outside the U.S. 2.10%          
Colombia (Republic of) 5.00% 2045   600    467 
Hungary (Republic of) 2.125% 20313   13,860    11,207 
Hungary (Republic of) 3.125% 20513   17,300    11,773 
Italy (Republic of) 0.10% 20231  EUR66,889    74,685 
Japan, Series 18, 0.10% 20241  JPY2,272,550    18,191 
Japan, Series 20, 0.10% 20251   4,377,500    35,419 
Japan, Series 24, 0.10% 20291   106,697    878 
Peru (Republic of) 2.392% 2026  USD2,730    2,586 
PETRONAS Capital, Ltd. 3.50% 20303   5,490    5,298 
PETRONAS Capital, Ltd. 4.55% 20503   5,775    5,775 
Philippines (Republic of) 1.648% 2031   18,830    15,767 
Philippines (Republic of) 2.65% 2045   18,235    13,997 
Spain (Kingdom of) 1.25% 2030  EUR20,861    21,155 
United Kingdom 0.125% 20411  GBP9,340    15,600 
United Mexican States, Series M20, 10.00% 2024  MXN110,000    5,709 

 

4 American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund
 
Bonds, notes & other debt instruments (continued)  Principal amount
(000)
   Value
(000)
 
Bonds & notes of governments & government agencies outside the U.S. (continued)          
United Mexican States, Series M, 5.75% 2026  MXN521,500   $23,874 
United Mexican States, Series M, 7.50% 2027   110,000    5,322 
United Mexican States, Series M, 8.00% 2047   418,544    19,594 
         287,297 
           
Asset-backed obligations 1.73%          
Allegro CLO, Ltd., Series 2016-1A, Class AR2, (3-month USD-LIBOR + 0.95%) 1.994% 20303,5,6  USD3,182    3,162 
Allegro CLO, Ltd., Series 2017-1A, Class AR, (3-month USD-LIBOR + 0.95%) 1.994% 20303,5,6   2,112    2,080 
Ares CLO, Ltd., Series 2017-42A, Class AR, (3-month USD-LIBOR + 0.92%) 2.056% 20283,5,6   3,911    3,861 
Ballyrock CLO, Ltd., Series 2019-2A, Class A1AR, (3-month USD-LIBOR + 1.00%) 2.478% 20303,5,6   5,500    5,427 
Bankers Healthcare Group Securitization Trust, Series 2020-A, Class A, 2.56% 20313,5   1,353    1,340 
Cent CLO, Ltd., Series 2014-21A, Class AR, (3-month USD-LIBOR + 0.97%) 2.195% 20303,5,6   6,705    6,619 
CF Hippolyta, LLC, Series 2020-1, Class A1, 1.69% 20603,5   4,782    4,392 
CF Hippolyta, LLC, Series 2020-1, Class A2, 1.99% 20603,5   773    680 
Dryden Senior Loan Fund, CLO, Series 2017-47A, Class A1R, (3-month USD-LIBOR + 0.98%) 2.024% 20283,5,6   6,966    6,909 
FirstKey Homes Trust, Series 2020-SFR2, Class A, 1.266% 20373,5   6,552    6,033 
Global SC Finance V SRL, Series 2020-1A, Class A, 2.17% 20403,5   24,764    22,853 
Global SC Finance V SRL, Series 2020-1A, Class B, 3.55% 20403,5   3,397    3,210 
Global SC Finance VII SRL, Series 2020-2A, Class A, 2.26% 20403,5   20,534    18,987 
Hertz Vehicle Financing III, LLC, Series 2021-A, Class B, 3.65% 20233,5,7,8   17,780    17,323 
Hertz Vehicle Financing III, LLC, Series 2021-1A, Class A, 1.21% 20253,5   8,127    7,684 
Hertz Vehicle Financing III, LLC, Series 2021-1A, Class B, 1.56% 20253,5   5,490    5,140 
Hertz Vehicle Financing III, LLC, Series 2021-1A, Class C, 2.05% 20253,5   779    724 
Hertz Vehicle Financing III, LLC, Series 2021-2A, Class A, 1.68% 20273,5   8,811    7,959 
Hertz Vehicle Financing III, LLC, Series 2021-2A, Class B, 2.12% 20273,5   5,925    5,319 
Hertz Vehicle Financing III, LLC, Series 2021-2A, Class C, 2.52% 20273,5   826    721 
Longfellow Place CLO, Ltd., Series 2013-1A, Class AR3, (3-month USD-LIBOR + 1.00%) 2.044% 20293,5,6   2,262    2,248 
Madison Park Funding, Ltd., CLO, Series 2015-17A, Class AR2, (3-month USD-LIBOR + 1.00%) 2.098% 20303,5,6   7,175    7,104 
Marathon CLO, Ltd., Series 2017-9A, Class A1AR, (3-month USD-LIBOR + 1.15%) 2.194% 20293,5,6   3,994    3,970 
Navient Student Loan Trust, Series 2021-C, Class A, 1.06% 20693,5   7,291    6,824 
Nelnet Student Loan Trust, Series 2021-A, Class APT1, 1.36% 20623,5   10,846    10,098 
Newark BSL CLO 2, Ltd., Series 2017-1A, Class A1R, (3-month USD-LIBOR + 0.97%) 2.154% 20303,5,6   2,296    2,268 
Palmer Square Loan Funding, CLO, Series 2020-4, Class A1, (3-month USD-LIBOR + 1.00%) 2.524% 20283,5,6   12,338    12,292 
Palmer Square Loan Funding, CLO, Series 2021-1, Class A1, (3-month USD-LIBOR + 0.90%) 1.963% 20293,5,6   4,991    4,944 
Race Point CLO, Ltd., Series 2015-9A, Class A1A2, (3-month USD-LIBOR + 0.94%) 1.984% 20303,5,6   5,997    5,949 
Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Trust, Series 2020-A, Class B, 2.26% 20253,5   6,250    6,226 
Sound Point CLO, Ltd., Series 2015-1RA, Class AR, (3-month USD-LIBOR + 1.08%) 2.124% 20303,5,6   4,485    4,436 
SuttonPark Structured Settlements, Series 2021-1, Class A, 1.95% 20753,5   18,781    17,660 
TAL Advantage V, LLC, Series 2020-1A, Class A, 2.05% 20453,5   8,592    7,846 
Textainer Marine Containers, Ltd., Series 2020-2A, Class B, 3.34% 20453,5   6,250    5,811 
Triton Container Finance VIII, LLC, Series 2020-1, Class A, 2.11% 20453,5   2,970    2,692 
Triton Container Finance VIII, LLC, Series 2020-1, Class B, 3.74% 20453,5   5,326    4,896 
         235,687 

 

American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund 5
 
Bonds, notes & other debt instruments (continued)  Principal amount
(000)
   Value
(000)
 
Municipals 0.78%          
California 0.18%          
Regents of the University of California, General Rev. Bonds, Series 2020-BG, 0.883% 2025  USD7,500   $7,030 
Regents of the University of California, General Rev. Bonds, Series 2020-BG, 1.316% 2027   9,200    8,326 
Regents of the University of California, General Rev. Bonds, Series 2020-BG, 1.614% 2030   10,100    8,548 
         23,904 
           
Florida 0.24%          
Board of Administration Fin. Corp., Rev. Bonds, Series 2020-A, 1.258% 2025   18,085    16,890 
Board of Administration Fin. Corp., Rev. Bonds, Series 2020-A, 2.154% 2030   17,885    15,615 
         32,505 
           
Illinois 0.04%          
G.O. Bonds, Pension Funding, Series 2003, 4.95% 2023   631    638 
Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Auth., McCormick Place Expansion Project Rev. Ref. Bonds, Series 2020-C, 3.955% 2026   5,000    4,874 
         5,512 
           
Michigan 0.05%          
Building Auth., Rev. Ref. Bonds (Facs. Program), Series 2020-II, 2.705% 2040   9,715    7,504 
           
Ohio 0.17%          
Cleveland-Cuyahoga Port Auth., Federal Lease Rev. Bonds (VA Cleveland Health Care Center Project), Series 2021, 4.425% 2031   24,475    23,165 
           
Wisconsin 0.10%          
Public Fin. Auth., Federal Lease Rev. Bonds (Fort Sam Acquisition Fncg.), Series 2022, 4.95% 2034   14,715    14,094 
           
Total municipals        106,684 
           
Mortgage-backed obligations 0.63%          
Collateralized mortgage-backed obligations (privately originated) 0.47%          
Arroyo Mortgage Trust, Series 2022-1, Class A1A, 2.495% 2056 (3.495% on 2/25/2026)3,4,5   3,460    3,313 
Legacy Mortgage Asset Trust, Series 2019-GS5, Class A1, 3.20% 20593,5,6   5,953    5,950 
Mello Warehouse Securitization Trust, Series 2020-2, Class A, (1-month USD-LIBOR + 0.80%) 1.806% 20533,5,6   11,190    11,131 
Mello Warehouse Securitization Trust, Series 2021-3, Class A, (1-month USD-LIBOR + 0.85%) 1.856% 20553,5,6   12,120    11,919 
MRA Issuance Trust, Series 2020-10, Class A3, (1-month USD-LIBOR + 1.30%) 2.10% 20223,5,6   11,407    11,413 
Towd Point Mortgage Trust, Series 2016-5, Class A1, 2.50% 20563,5,6   1,314    1,309 
Towd Point Mortgage Trust, Series 2020-4, Class A1, 1.75% 20603,5   20,506    19,137 
         64,172 
           
Commercial mortgage-backed securities 0.16%          
LUXE Commercial Mortgage Trust, Series 2021-TRIP, Class B, (1-month USD-LIBOR + 1.40%) 2.275% 20383,5,6   19,041    18,344 
Morgan Stanley Bank of America Merrill Lynch Trust, Series 2013-C9, Class A4, 3.102% 20465   3,000    2,988 
         21,332 
           
Total mortgage-backed obligations        85,504 
Total bonds, notes & other debt instruments (cost: $14,048,100,000)        13,462,540 

 

6 American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund
 
Short-term securities 0.92%  Shares   Value
(000)
 
Money market investments 0.92%          
Capital Group Central Cash Fund 0.85%9,10   1,251,208   $125,121 
           
Total short-term securities (cost: $125,120,000)        125,121 
Total investment securities 99.64% (cost: $14,173,220,000)        13,587,661 
Other assets less liabilities 0.36%        49,205 
           
Net assets 100.00%       $13,636,866 

 

Futures contracts

 

                Value and 
                unrealized 
                (depreciation) 
            Notional   appreciation 
      Number of     amount   at 5/31/2022 
Contracts  Type  contracts  Expiration  (000)   (000) 
30 Day Federal Funds Futures  Short  3,925  June 2022  USD(1,623,036)     $(88)
30 Day Federal Funds Futures  Long  1,743  August 2022   716,140      (4,135)
30 Day Federal Funds Futures  Short  866  September 2022   (354,276)     2,091 
30 Day Federal Funds Futures  Short  5,319  February 2023   (2,156,140)     (2,120)
90 Day Euro Dollar Futures  Long  6,388  December 2022   1,547,573      (34,392)
90 Day Euro Dollar Futures  Long  11,305  September 2023   2,737,082      (64,937)
90 Day Euro Dollar Futures  Short  27,459  December 2023   (6,654,689)     142,200 
90 Day Euro Dollar Futures  Short  9,087  December 2024   (2,206,210)     28,492 
2 Year U.S. Treasury Note Futures  Short  30,929  September 2022   (6,529,160)     2,965 
5 Year U.S. Treasury Note Futures  Short  15,452  September 2022   (1,745,352)     3,690 
10 Year Japanese Government Bond Futures  Short  720  June 2022   (836,975)     6,124 
10 Year Euro-Bund Futures  Long  315  September 2022   51,378      (234)
10 Year U.S. Treasury Note Futures  Short  1,702  September 2022   (203,309)     1,036 
10 Year Ultra U.S. Treasury Note Futures  Short  3,943  September 2022   (506,614)     3,026 
10 Year UK Gilt Futures  Short  1,096  September 2022   (160,163)     3,286 
20 Year U.S. Treasury Bond Futures  Long  3,617  September 2022   504,345      (3,792)
30 Year Euro-Buxl Futures  Long  62  September 2022   11,573      (97)
30 Year Ultra U.S. Treasury Bond Futures  Long  605  September 2022   94,229      (1,781)
                   $81,334 

 

Forward currency contracts

 

Contract amount         Unrealized
appreciation
(depreciation)
 
Currency purchased
(000)
  Currency sold
(000)
  Counterparty Settlement
date
  at 5/31/2022
(000)
 
CLP 27,879,900   USD 32,477   Citibank 6/6/2022              $ 1,333  
JPY 8,481,000   USD 64,917   Morgan Stanley 6/6/2022   974  
NOK 780,420   USD 83,336   UBS AG 6/9/2022   (67 )
USD 160,459   AUD 223,900   Morgan Stanley 6/9/2022   (243 )
JPY 15,643,690   USD 120,113   Goldman Sachs 6/10/2022   1,447  
JPY 15,643,690   USD 120,113   Citibank 6/10/2022   1,447  
JPY 12,890,793   USD 98,976   Morgan Stanley 6/10/2022   1,193  
JPY 1,992,700   EUR 14,459   Standard Chartered Bank 6/10/2022   (45 )
EUR 208,150   USD 219,728   Morgan Stanley 6/13/2022   3,876  
GBP 216,449   USD 270,981   Morgan Stanley 6/13/2022   1,774  
EUR 22   USD 24   Morgan Stanley 6/13/2022   11
USD 216,441   EUR 201,550   Morgan Stanley 6/13/2022   (72 )
EUR 21,329   MXN 460,000   JPMorgan Chase 6/13/2022   (399 )
USD 29,482   EUR 27,953   UBS AG 6/13/2022   (546 )
USD 245,405   GBP 199,250   Citibank 6/13/2022   (5,677 )
CAD 103,500   USD 81,003   Morgan Stanley 6/16/2022   815  
CAD 20,019   USD 15,361   UBS AG 6/16/2022   464  
USD 45,735   CAD 59,602   UBS AG 6/16/2022   (1,381 )
USD 94,397   NZD 151,300   JPMorgan Chase 6/16/2022   (4,162 )
USD 25,638   KRW 32,489,550   Citibank 6/24/2022   (510 )
   
American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund 7
 

Forward currency contracts (continued)

 

Contract amount         Unrealized
appreciation
(depreciation)
 
Currency purchased
(000)
  Currency sold
(000)
  Counterparty Settlement
date
  at 5/31/2022
(000)
 
EUR 199,575   USD 214,002   Morgan Stanley 6/27/2022               $ 572  
EUR 54,472   USD 58,140   UBS AG 6/27/2022   425  
GBP 1,710   USD 2,141   Morgan Stanley 6/27/2022   14  
USD 58,537   EUR 54,468   Morgan Stanley 6/27/2022   (24 )
USD 18,692   GBP 14,882   Citibank 6/27/2022   (63 )
USD 37,232   MXN 747,233   Citibank 6/27/2022   (521 )
USD 176,371   EUR 165,243   UBS AG 6/27/2022   (1,291 )
USD 109,448   IDR 1,611,400,000   Citibank 6/28/2022   (1,362 )
COP 570,316,094   USD 144,304   Morgan Stanley 6/29/2022   6,413  
USD 131,973   PHP 6,927,900   Morgan Stanley 7/1/2022   227  
USD 10,161   SEK 100,000   JPMorgan Chase 7/7/2022     (91 )
                    $ 4,520  

 

Swap contracts

 

Interest rate swaps

 

Centrally cleared interest rate swaps

 

Receive  Pay     Notional  Value at  Upfront
premium
paid
 Unrealized
(depreciation)
appreciation
 
Rate   Payment
frequency
   Rate   Payment
frequency
    Expiration
date
    amount
(000)
   5/31/2022
(000)
   (received)
(000)
  at 5/31/2022
(000)
 
0.745%  Annual  U.S. EFFR  Annual  6/15/2022  USD10,981,400  $(946)  $           $(946)
0.775%  Annual  U.S. EFFR  Annual  6/15/2022   36,945,335   (2,752)       (2,752)
U.S. EFFR  Annual  1.395%  Annual  7/27/2022   10,692,100   (1,201)       (1,201)
1.5675%  Semi-annual  3-month USD-LIBOR  Quarterly  8/17/2023   270,000   (3,645)       (3,645)
1.2475%  Semi-annual  3-month NZD-BBR-FRA  Quarterly  8/20/2023  NZD34,659   (650)       (650)
1.234974%  Semi-annual  3-month NZD-BBR-FRA  Quarterly  8/20/2023  USD295,353   (5,567)       (5,567)
1.2375%  Semi-annual  3-month NZD-BBR-FRA  Quarterly  8/26/2023   108,854   (2,115)       (2,115)
1.264%  Semi-annual  3-month NZD-BBR-FRA  Quarterly  8/27/2023  NZD272,097   (5,237)       (5,237)
1.26%  Semi-annual  3-month NZD-BBR-FRA  Quarterly  8/30/2023  USD44,882   (872)       (872)
1.28%  Semi-annual  3-month NZD-BBR-FRA  Quarterly  8/31/2023  NZD44,882   (868)       (868)
1.30%  Semi-annual  3-month NZD-BBR-FRA  Quarterly  9/3/2023  USD49,273   (954)       (954)
2.26%  Semi-annual  3-month NZD-BBR-FRA  Quarterly  11/2/2023  NZD346,075   (4,616)       (4,616)
2.215%  Semi-annual  3-month NZD-BBR-FRA  Quarterly  11/3/2023  USD691,568   (9,538)       (9,538)
0.207%  Annual  U.S. EFFR  Annual  2/26/2024   2,517,000   (103,075)       (103,075)
U.S. EFFR  Annual  0.11%  Annual  5/18/2024   978,900   26,731        26,731 
6.23%  28-day  28-day MXN-TIIE  28-day  3/28/2025  MXN1,280,750   (4,300)       (4,300)
U.S. EFFR  Annual  0.126%  Annual  6/25/2025  USD148,300   10,943        10,943 
U.S. EFFR  Annual  0.1275%  Annual  6/25/2025   148,300   10,936        10,936 
U.S. EFFR  Annual  0.106%  Annual  6/30/2025   165,539   12,362        12,362 
3-month USD-LIBOR  Quarterly  1.867%  Semi-annual  7/11/2025   274,100   8,418        8,418 
(0.445)%  Annual  6-month EURIBOR  Semi-annual  12/3/2025   344,500   (23,074)       (23,074)
(0.452)%  Annual  6-month EURIBOR  Semi-annual  12/3/2025  EUR344,500   (23,163)       (23,163)
5.39%  28-day  28-day MXN-TIIE  28-day  3/6/2026  MXN300,000   (1,627)       (1,627)
5.395%  28-day  28-day MXN-TIIE  28-day  3/6/2026  USD1,000,000   (5,416)       (5,416)
5.43%  28-day  28-day MXN-TIIE  28-day  3/10/2026   540,000   (2,898)       (2,898)
5.455%  28-day  28-day MXN-TIIE  28-day  3/11/2026   202,000   (1,076)       (1,076)
5.4167%  28-day  28-day MXN-TIIE  28-day  3/11/2026  MXN620,000   (3,343)       (3,343)
5.55%  28-day  28-day MXN-TIIE  28-day  3/12/2026  USD200,000   (1,035)       (1,035)
5.50%  28-day  28-day MXN-TIIE  28-day  3/12/2026  MXN260,000   (1,367)       (1,367)
5.6275%  28-day  28-day MXN-TIIE  28-day  3/12/2026   405,000   (2,044)       (2,044)
5.63%  28-day  28-day MXN-TIIE  28-day  3/13/2026   205,000   (1,034)       (1,034)
5.62%  28-day  28-day MXN-TIIE  28-day  3/13/2026  USD305,000   (1,544)       (1,544)
5.6412%  28-day  28-day MXN-TIIE  28-day  3/13/2026   463,000   (2,327)       (2,327)
6.20%  28-day  28-day MXN-TIIE  28-day  3/19/2026   182,000   (751)       (751)
6.105%  28-day  28-day MXN-TIIE  28-day  3/19/2026   176,000   (754)       (754)
6.17%  28-day  28-day MXN-TIIE  28-day  3/19/2026  MXN184,000   (768)       (768)
6.05%  28-day  28-day MXN-TIIE  28-day  3/19/2026  USD184,000   (805)       (805)
   
8 American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund
 

Swap contracts (continued)

 

Interest rate swaps (continued)

 

Centrally cleared interest rate swaps (continued)

 

Receive  Pay     Notional  Value at  Upfront
premium
paid
 Unrealized
(depreciation)
appreciation
 
Rate   Payment
frequency
   Rate   Payment
frequency
    Expiration
date
    amount
(000)
   5/31/2022
(000)
   (received)
(000)
  at 5/31/2022
(000)
 
6.08%  28-day  28-day MXN-TIIE  28-day  3/19/2026  MXN188,000  $(813)  $   $(813)
6.03%  28-day  28-day MXN-TIIE  28-day  3/19/2026   840,000   (3,701)       (3,701)
6.08%  28-day  28-day MXN-TIIE  28-day  3/20/2026   182,300   (788)       (788)
5.815%  28-day  28-day MXN-TIIE  28-day  4/9/2026  USD455,000   (2,186)       (2,186)
5.82%  28-day  28-day MXN-TIIE  28-day  4/9/2026  MXN1,355,000   (6,498)       (6,498)
5.73%  28-day  28-day MXN-TIIE  28-day  4/10/2026   666,700   (3,299)       (3,299)
5.734%  28-day  28-day MXN-TIIE  28-day  4/10/2026  USD1,125,000   (5,559)       (5,559)
6.35%  28-day  28-day MXN-TIIE  28-day  6/12/2026   269,000   (1,083)       (1,083)
6.3967%  28-day  28-day MXN-TIIE  28-day  6/15/2026  MXN272,000   (1,074)       (1,074)
6.435%  28-day  28-day MXN-TIIE  28-day  6/15/2026  USD365,000   (1,417)       (1,417)
6.42%  28-day  28-day MXN-TIIE  28-day  6/15/2026  MXN542,000   (2,119)       (2,119)
6.49%  28-day  28-day MXN-TIIE  28-day  6/16/2026  USD181,000   (686)       (686)
6.50%  28-day  28-day MXN-TIIE  28-day  6/17/2026   131,300   (495)       (495)
6.5375%  28-day  28-day MXN-TIIE  28-day  6/17/2026   136,000   (504)       (504)
6.47%  28-day  28-day MXN-TIIE  28-day  6/17/2026  MXN134,200   (513)       (513)
6.55%  28-day  28-day MXN-TIIE  28-day  6/17/2026   410,000   (1,511)       (1,511)
6.55%  28-day  28-day MXN-TIIE  28-day  6/18/2026  USD132,700   (489)       (489)
6.50%  28-day  28-day MXN-TIIE  28-day  6/18/2026  MXN262,700   (992)       (992)
6.71%  28-day  28-day MXN-TIIE  28-day  6/19/2026  USD178,800   (610)       (610)
6.65%  28-day  28-day MXN-TIIE  28-day  6/19/2026  MXN178,800   (629)       (629)
6.715%  28-day  28-day MXN-TIIE  28-day  6/19/2026   267,200   (909)       (909)
6.69%  28-day  28-day MXN-TIIE  28-day  6/19/2026  USD357,500   (1,232)       (1,232)
6.59%  28-day  28-day MXN-TIIE  28-day  6/25/2026  MXN87,000   (316)       (316)
6.58%  28-day  28-day MXN-TIIE  28-day  6/25/2026  USD93,400   (340)       (340)
6.585%  28-day  28-day MXN-TIIE  28-day  6/25/2026   114,200   (415)       (415)
6.64%  28-day  28-day MXN-TIIE  28-day  6/25/2026  MXN140,500   (497)       (497)
6.6175%  28-day  28-day MXN-TIIE  28-day  6/25/2026   372,600   (1,334)       (1,334)
6.633%  28-day  28-day MXN-TIIE  28-day  6/25/2026  USD387,400   (1,376)       (1,376)
6.63%  28-day  28-day MXN-TIIE  28-day  6/26/2026  MXN397,000   (1,413)       (1,413)
7.135%  28-day  28-day MXN-TIIE  28-day  9/25/2026   463,300   (1,279)       (1,279)
7.10%  28-day  28-day MXN-TIIE  28-day  9/25/2026  USD648,700   (1,832)       (1,832)
7.065%  28-day  28-day MXN-TIIE  28-day  9/28/2026  MXN370,618   (1,074)       (1,074)
7.19%  28-day  28-day MXN-TIIE  28-day  9/29/2026  USD185,400   (495)       (495)
7.3023%  28-day  28-day MXN-TIIE  28-day  9/30/2026  MXN241,300   (594)       (594)
7.28%  28-day  28-day MXN-TIIE  28-day  9/30/2026  USD370,600   (928)       (928)
TONAR  Annual  (0.01246731)%  Annual  10/1/2026   3,447,100   161    (8)   169 
7.30%  28-day  28-day MXN-TIIE  28-day  10/1/2026  MXN92,652   (228)       (228)
7.24%  28-day  28-day MXN-TIIE  28-day  10/2/2026  USD77,830   (201)       (201)
7.52%  28-day  28-day MXN-TIIE  28-day  10/19/2026  MXN92,700   (192)       (192)
7.55%  28-day  28-day MXN-TIIE  28-day  10/23/2026  USD276,000   (555)       (555)
7.64%  28-day  28-day MXN-TIIE  28-day  10/28/2026  MXN191,100   (354)       (354)
7.39%  28-day  28-day MXN-TIIE  28-day  10/30/2026  USD187,200   (434)       (434)
7.335%  28-day  28-day MXN-TIIE  28-day  11/6/2026  MXN277,900   (675)       (675)
7.20%  28-day  28-day MXN-TIIE  28-day  11/6/2026  USD374,500   (1,005)       (1,005)
7.335%  28-day  28-day MXN-TIIE  28-day  11/26/2026  MXN305,229   (746)       (746)
3-month USD-LIBOR  Quarterly  0.64%  Semi-annual  3/30/2027  USD127,000   12,643        12,643 
U.S. EFFR  Annual  2.045%  Annual  11/2/2027   33,700   921        921 
2.925%  Semi-annual  3-month USD-LIBOR  Quarterly  2/1/2028   56,200   (34)       (34)
2.91%  Semi-annual  3-month USD-LIBOR  Quarterly  2/1/2028   70,300   (91)       (91)
2.908%  Semi-annual  3-month USD-LIBOR  Quarterly  2/1/2028   70,300   (97)       (97)
2.92%  Semi-annual  3-month USD-LIBOR  Quarterly  2/2/2028   53,200   (44)       (44)
28-day MXN-TIIE  28-day  6.95%  28-day  3/22/2030   775,250   3,466        3,466 
U.S. EFFR  Annual  0.666%  Annual  11/19/2030   118,200   17,504        17,504 
3-month USD-LIBOR  Quarterly  1.83%  Semi-annual  8/17/2031   58,000   5,044        5,044 
3-month USD-LIBOR  Quarterly  2.9625%  Semi-annual  2/1/2038   42,100   450        450 
3-month USD-LIBOR  Quarterly  2.963%  Semi-annual  2/1/2038   42,200   450        450 
3-month USD-LIBOR  Quarterly  2.986%  Semi-annual  2/1/2038   33,900   303        303 
3-month USD-LIBOR  Quarterly  2.967%  Semi-annual  2/2/2038   32,800   340        340 
U.S. EFFR  Annual  0.6193%  Annual  4/6/2050   30,300   11,712        11,712 
   
American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund 9
 

Swap contracts (continued)

 

Interest rate swaps (continued)

 

Centrally cleared interest rate swaps (continued)

 

Receive  Pay     Notional  Value at  Upfront
premium
paid
 Unrealized
(depreciation)
appreciation
 
Rate   Payment
frequency
   Rate   Payment
frequency
    Expiration
date
    amount
(000)
   5/31/2022
(000)
   (received)
(000)
  at 5/31/2022
(000)
 
U.S. EFFR  Annual  0.60602%  Annual  4/6/2050  USD13,870  $5,398   $   $5,398 
U.S. EFFR  Annual  0.616917%  Annual  4/6/2050   12,500   4,838        4,838 
6-month EURIBOR  Semi-annual  0.0897%  Annual  6/4/2050  EUR22,000   8,776        8,776 
1.1295%  Semi-annual  3-month USD-LIBOR  Quarterly  10/19/2050  USD27,400   (9,393)       (9,393)
6-month EURIBOR  Semi-annual  0.0175%  Annual  12/3/2050  EUR51,650   21,660        21,660 
6-month EURIBOR  Semi-annual  0.071%  Annual  1/14/2051  USD51,920   21,115        21,115 
6-month EURIBOR  Semi-annual  0.068%  Annual  1/15/2051  EUR56,080   22,844        22,844 
0.702%  Annual  6-month EURIBOR  Semi-annual  3/3/2052  USD27,500   (7,049)       (7,049)
0.672%  Annual  6-month EURIBOR  Semi-annual  3/3/2052  EUR27,500   (7,254)       (7,254)
0.649%  Annual  6-month EURIBOR  Semi-annual  3/3/2052  USD32,325   (8,711)       (8,711)
                   $(98,410)  $(8)  $(98,402)

 

Credit default swaps

 

Centrally cleared credit default swaps on credit indices — buy protection

 

Reference
index
  Financing
rate paid
  Payment
frequency
  Expiration
date
  Notional
amount
(000)
     Value at
5/31/2022
(000)
     Upfront
premium
received
(000)
     Unrealized
appreciation
at 5/31/2022
(000)
 
CDX.NA.IG.38  1.00%  Quarterly  6/20/2027  USD4,259,915    $(40,414)   $(56,378)   $15,964 

 

Investments in affiliates10

 

   Value of
affiliate at
12/1/2021
(000)
   Additions
(000)
   Reductions
(000)
   Net
realized
gain
(000)
   Net
unrealized
appreciation
(000)
   Value of
affiliate at
5/31/2022
(000)
   Dividend
income
(000)
 
Short-term securities 0.92%                                   
Money market investments 0.92%                                   
Capital Group Central Cash Fund 0.85%9  $23,263   $3,428,919   $3,327,101   $40   $11   $125,121   $635 

 

1 Index-linked bond whose principal amount moves with a government price index.
2 All or a portion of this security was pledged as collateral. The total value of pledged collateral was $242,266,000, which represented 1.78% of the net assets of the fund.
3 Acquired in a transaction exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. May be resold in the U.S. in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. The total value of all such securities was $441,294,000, which represented 3.24% of the net assets of the fund.
4 Step bond; coupon rate may change at a later date.
5 Principal payments may be made periodically. Therefore, the effective maturity date may be earlier than the stated maturity date.
6 Coupon rate may change periodically. Reference rate and spread are as of the most recent information available. Some coupon rates are determined by the issuer or agent based on current market conditions; therefore, the reference rate and spread are not available.
7 Valued under fair value procedures adopted by authority of the board of trustees. The total value of the security was $17,323,000, which represented .13% of the net assets of the fund.
8 Value determined using significant unobservable inputs.
9 Rate represents the seven-day yield at 5/31/2022.
10 Part of the same “group of investment companies” as the fund as defined under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
11 Amount less than one thousand.
   
10 American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund
 

Key to abbreviations

AUD = Australian dollars

Auth. = Authority

BBR = Bank Base Rate

CAD = Canadian dollars

CLO = Collateralized Loan Obligations

CLP = Chilean pesos

COP = Colombian pesos

EFFR = Effective Federal Funds Rate

EUR = Euros

EURIBOR = Euro Interbank Offered Rate

Facs. = Facilities

Fin. = Finance

Fncg. = Financing

FRA = Forward Rate Agreement

G.O. = General Obligation

GBP = British pounds

IDR = Indonesian rupiah

JPY = Japanese yen

KRW = South Korean won

LIBOR = London Interbank Offered Rate

MXN = Mexican pesos

NOK = Norwegian kroner

NZD = New Zealand dollars

PHP = Philippine pesos

Ref. = Refunding

Rev. = Revenue

SEK = Swedish kronor

SOFR = Secured Overnight Financing Rate

TIIE = Equilibrium Interbank Interest Rate

TONAR = Tokyo Overnight Average Rate

USD = U.S. dollars

 

Refer to the notes to financial statements.

 

American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund 11
 

Financial statements

 

Statement of assets and liabilities unaudited
at May 31, 2022 (dollars in thousands)

 

Assets:          
Investment securities, at value:          
Unaffiliated issuers (cost: $14,048,101)  $13,462,540      
Affiliated issuers (cost: $125,120)   125,121   $13,587,661 
Cash        6,012 
Cash collateral pledged for swap contracts        821 
Cash denominated in currencies other than U.S. dollars (cost: $1,558)        1,558 
Unrealized appreciation on open forward currency contracts        20,974 
Receivables for:          
Sales of fund’s shares   20,611      
Dividends and interest   21,935      
Variation margin on futures contracts   27,400      
Variation margin on centrally cleared swap contracts   15,851      
Other   56    85,853 
         13,702,879 
Liabilities:          
Unrealized depreciation on open forward currency contracts        16,454 
Payables for:          
Purchases of investments   183      
Repurchases of fund’s shares   11,612      
Investment advisory services   2,931      
Services provided by related parties   709      
Trustees’ deferred compensation   69      
Variation margin on futures contracts   12,039      
Variation margin on centrally cleared swap contracts   21,926      
Other   90    49,559 
Net assets at May 31, 2022       $13,636,866 
           
Net assets consist of:          
Capital paid in on shares of beneficial interest       $13,690,036 
Total accumulated loss        (53,170)
Net assets at May 31, 2022       $13,636,866 

 

Refer to the notes to financial statements.

 

12 American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund
 

Financial statements (continued)

 

Statement of assets and liabilities
at May 31, 2022 (continued)
unaudited

 

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

 

Shares of beneficial interest issued and outstanding (no stated par value) —
unlimited shares authorized (1,318,954 total shares outstanding)

 

   Net assets   Shares
outstanding
   Net asset value
per share
 
Class A  $2,481,939    241,333   $10.28 
Class C   104,523    10,291    10.16 
Class T   11    1    10.31 
Class F-1   168,344    16,366    10.29 
Class F-2   1,600,417    154,699    10.35 
Class F-3   1,072,566    103,873    10.33 
Class 529-A   83,127    8,077    10.29 
Class 529-C   3,695    360    10.25 
Class 529-E   3,772    369    10.23 
Class 529-T   12    1    10.31 
Class 529-F-1   12    1    10.33 
Class 529-F-2   10,717    1,041    10.30 
Class 529-F-3   10    1    10.29 
Class R-1   4,855    478    10.16 
Class R-2   14,532    1,438    10.10 
Class R-2E   3,342    326    10.26 
Class R-3   31,546    3,095    10.19 
Class R-4   61,064    5,940    10.28 
Class R-5E   29,278    2,841    10.31 
Class R-5   11,193    1,081    10.35 
Class R-6   7,951,911    767,342    10.36 

 

Refer to the notes to financial statements.

 

American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund 13
 

Financial statements (continued)

 

Statement of operations unaudited
for the six months ended May 31, 2022 (dollars in thousands)

 

Investment income:          
Income:          
Interest  $523,066      
Dividends from affiliated issuers   635   $523,701 
Fees and expenses*:          
Investment advisory services   17,640      
Distribution services   4,767      
Transfer agent services   1,946      
Administrative services   2,068      
529 plan services   27      
Reports to shareholders   112      
Registration statement and prospectus   985      
Trustees’ compensation   12      
Auditing and legal   12      
Custodian   46      
Other   30      
Total fees and expenses before waiver   27,645      
Less waiver of fees and expenses:          
Investment advisory services waiver   139      
Total fees and expenses after waiver        27,506 
Net investment income        496,195 
           
Net realized gain and unrealized depreciation:          
Net realized (loss) gain on:          
Investments:          
Unaffiliated issuers   (6,008)     
Affiliated issuers   40      
Futures contracts   146,738      
Forward currency contracts   (22,579)     
Swap contracts   74,501      
Currency transactions   (452)   192,240 
Net unrealized (depreciation) appreciation on:          
Investments:          
Unaffiliated issuers   (1,524,591)     
Affiliated issuers         
Futures contracts   130,606      
Forward currency contracts   (12,532)     
Swap contracts   (90,351)     
Currency translations   102    (1,496,766)
Net realized gain and unrealized depreciation        (1,304,526)
           
Net decrease in net assets resulting from operations       $(808,331)

 

* Additional information related to class-specific fees and expenses is included in the notes to financial statements.
Amount less than one thousand.

 

Refer to the notes to financial statements.    

 

14 American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund
 

Financial statements (continued)

 

Statements of changes in net assets  
  (dollars in thousands)

 

   Six months ended
May 31, 2022*
   Year ended
November 30, 2021
 
Operations:          
Net investment income  $496,195   $427,947 
Net realized gain (loss)   192,240    (111,862)
Net unrealized (depreciation) appreciation   (1,496,766)   241,544 
Net (decrease) increase in net assets resulting from operations   (808,331)   557,629 
           
Distributions paid to shareholders   (460,384)   (331,461)
           
Net capital share transactions   1,668,408    4,614,959 
           
Total increase in net assets   399,693    4,841,127 
           
Net assets:          
Beginning of period   13,237,173    8,396,046 
End of period  $13,636,866   $13,237,173 

 

* Unaudited.

 

Refer to the notes to financial statements.

 

American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund 15
 
Notes to financial statements unaudited

 

1. Organization

 

American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund (the “fund”) is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end, diversified management investment company. The fund seeks to provide inflation protection and income consistent with investment in inflation linked securities.

 

The fund has 21 share classes consisting of six retail share classes (Classes A, C, T, F-1, F-2 and F-3), seven 529 college savings plan share classes (Classes 529-A, 529-C, 529-E, 529-T, 529-F-1, 529-F-2 and 529-F-3) and eight retirement plan share classes (Classes R-1, R-2, R-2E, R-3, R-4, R-5E, R-5 and R-6). The 529 college savings plan share classes can be used to save for college education. The retirement plan share classes are generally offered only through eligible employer-sponsored retirement plans. The fund’s share classes are described further in the following table:

 

Share class   Initial sales charge   Contingent deferred sales
charge upon redemption
  Conversion feature  
Classes A and 529-A   Up to 2.50%   None (except 1.00% for certain redemptions within 18 months of purchase without an initial sales charge)   None  
Classes C and 529-C*   None   1.00% for redemptions within one year of purchase   Class C converts to Class A after eight years and Class 529-C converts to Class 529-A after five years  
Class 529-E   None   None   None  
Classes T and 529-T*   Up to 2.50%   None   None  
Classes F-1, F-2, F-3, 529-F-1, 529-F-2 and 529-F-3   None   None   None  
Classes R-1, R-2, R-2E, R-3, R-4, R-5E, R-5 and R-6   None   None   None  

 

* Class C, T, 529-C and 529-T shares are not available for purchase.

 

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

 

2. Significant accounting policies

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

16 American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund
 

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

 

3. Valuation

 

Capital Research and Management Company (“CRMC”), the fund’s investment adviser, values the fund’s investments at fair value as defined by U.S. GAAP. The net asset value per share is calculated once daily as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange, normally 4 p.m. New York time, each day the New York Stock Exchange is open.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

When the fund’s investment adviser deems it appropriate to do so (such as when vendor prices are unavailable or deemed to be not representative), fixed-income securities will be valued in good faith at the mean quoted bid and ask prices that are reasonably and timely available (or bid prices, if ask prices are not available) or at prices for securities of comparable maturity, quality and type. The Capital Group Central Cash Fund (“CCF”), a fund within the Capital Group Central Fund Series (“Central Funds”), is valued based upon a floating net asset value, which fluctuates with changes in the value of CCF’s portfolio securities. The underlying securities are valued based on the policies and procedures in CCF’s statement of additional information.

 

Exchange-traded futures are generally valued at the official settlement price of the exchange or market on which such instruments are traded, as of the close of business on the day the futures are being valued. Forward currency contracts are valued based on the spot and forward exchange rates obtained from one or more pricing vendors. Interest rate swaps and credit default swaps are generally valued by pricing vendors based on market inputs that include the index and term of index, reset frequency, payer/receiver, currency and pay frequency.

 

Securities and other assets for which representative market quotations are not readily available or are considered unreliable by the fund’s investment adviser are fair valued as determined in good faith under fair valuation guidelines adopted by authority of the fund’s board of trustees as further described. The investment adviser follows fair valuation guidelines, consistent with U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission rules and guidance, to consider relevant principles and factors when making fair value determinations. The investment adviser considers relevant indications of value that are reasonably and timely available to it in determining the fair value to be assigned to a particular security, such as the type and cost of the security; contractual or legal restrictions on resale of the security; relevant financial or

 

American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund 17
 

business developments of the issuer; actively traded similar or related securities; conversion or exchange rights on the security; related corporate actions; significant events occurring after the close of trading in the security; and changes in overall market conditions. In addition, the closing prices of equity securities that trade in markets outside U.S. time zones may be adjusted to reflect significant events that occur after the close of local trading but before the net asset value of each share class of the fund is determined. Fair valuations and valuations of investments that are not actively trading involve judgment and may differ materially from valuations that would have been used had greater market activity occurred.

 

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

 

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

 

Classifications — The fund’s investment adviser classifies the fund’s assets and liabilities into three levels based on the inputs used to value the assets or liabilities. Level 1 values are based on quoted prices in active markets for identical securities. Level 2 values are based on significant observable market inputs, such as quoted prices for similar securities and quoted prices in inactive markets. Certain securities trading outside the U.S. may transfer between Level 1 and Level 2 due to valuation adjustments resulting from significant market movements following the close of local trading. Level 3 values are based on significant unobservable inputs that reflect the investment adviser’s determination of assumptions that market participants might reasonably use in valuing the securities. The valuation levels are not necessarily an indication of the risk or liquidity associated with the underlying investment. For example, U.S. government securities are reflected as Level 2 because the inputs used to determine fair value may not always be quoted prices in an active market. The following tables present the fund’s valuation levels as of May 31, 2022 (dollars in thousands):

 

   Investment securities 
   Level 1   Level 2   Level 3   Total 
Assets:                    
Bonds, notes & other debt instruments:                    
U.S. Treasury bonds & notes  $   $12,309,599   $   $12,309,599 
Corporate bonds, notes & loans       437,769        437,769 
Bonds & notes of governments & government agencies outside the U.S.       287,297        287,297 
Asset-backed obligations       218,364    17,323    235,687 
Municipals       106,684        106,684 
Mortgage-backed obligations       85,504        85,504 
Short-term securities   125,121            125,121 
Total  $125,121   $13,445,217   $17,323   $13,587,661 
                   
   Other investments*  
    Level 1    Level 2    Level 3    Total 
Assets:                    
Unrealized appreciation on futures contracts  $192,910   $   $   $192,910 
Unrealized appreciation on open forward currency contracts       20,974        20,974 
Unrealized appreciation on centrally cleared interest rate swaps       207,023        207,023 
Unrealized appreciation on centrally cleared credit default swaps       15,964        15,964 
Liabilities:                    
Unrealized depreciation on futures contracts   (111,576)           (111,576)
Unrealized depreciation on open forward currency contracts        (16,454)       (16,454)
Unrealized depreciation on centrally cleared interest rate swaps       (305,425)       (305,425)
Total  $81,334   $(77,918)  $   $3,416 

 

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

 

18 American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund
 

4. Risk factors

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Rising interest rates will generally cause the prices of bonds and other debt securities to fall. A general rise in interest rates may cause investors to sell debt securities on a large scale, which could also adversely affect the price and liquidity of debt securities and could also result in increased redemptions from the fund. Falling interest rates may cause an issuer to redeem, call or refinance a debt security before its stated maturity, which may result in the fund failing to recoup the full amount of its initial investment and having to reinvest the proceeds in lower yielding securities. Longer maturity debt securities generally have greater sensitivity to changes in interest rates and may be subject to greater price fluctuations than shorter maturity debt securities.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund 19
 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

5. Certain investment techniques

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

On a daily basis, the fund pays or receives variation margin based on the increase or decrease in the value of the futures contracts and records variation margin on futures contracts in the statement of assets and liabilities. In addition, the fund segregates liquid assets equivalent to the fund’s outstanding obligations under the contract in excess of the initial margin and variation margin, if any. Futures contracts may involve a risk of loss in excess of the variation margin shown on the fund’s statement of assets and liabilities. The fund records realized gains or losses at the time the futures contract is closed or expires. Net realized gains or losses and net unrealized appreciation or depreciation from futures contracts are recorded in the fund’s statement of operations. The average month-end notional amount of futures contracts while held was $29,047,291,000.

 

20 American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund
 

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

 

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

 

Closed forward currency contracts that have not reached their settlement date are included in the respective receivables or payables for closed forward currency contracts in the fund’s statement of assets and liabilities. Net realized gains or losses from closed forward currency contracts and net unrealized appreciation or depreciation from open forward currency contracts are recorded in the fund’s statement of operations. The average month-end notional amount of open forward currency contracts while held was $2,094,893,000.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Interest rate swaps — The fund has entered into interest rate swaps, which seek to manage the interest rate sensitivity of the fund by increasing or decreasing the duration of the fund or a portion of the fund’s portfolio. An interest rate swap is an agreement between two parties to exchange or swap payments based on changes in an interest rate or rates. Typically, one interest rate is fixed and the other is variable based on a designated short-term interest rate such as the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR), prime rate or other benchmark. In other types of interest rate swaps, known as basis swaps, the parties agree to swap variable interest rates based on different designated short-term interest rates. Interest rate swaps generally do not involve the delivery of securities or other principal amounts. Rather, cash payments are exchanged by the parties based on the application of the designated interest rates to a notional amount, which is the predetermined dollar principal of the trade upon which payment obligations are computed. Accordingly, the fund’s current obligation or right under the swap agreement is generally equal to the net amount to be paid or received under the swap agreement based on the relative value of the position held by each party. The average month-end notional amount of interest rate swaps while held was $26,852,052,000.

 

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

 

American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund 21
 

The fund may enter into a CDSI transaction as either protection buyer or protection seller. If the fund is a protection buyer, it would pay the counterparty a periodic stream of payments over the term of the contract and would not recover any of those payments if no credit events were to occur with respect to any of the underlying reference obligations. However, if a credit event did occur, the fund, as a protection buyer, would have the right to deliver the referenced debt obligations or a specified amount of cash, depending on the terms of the applicable agreement, and to receive the par value of such debt obligations from the counterparty protection seller. As a protection seller, the fund would receive fixed payments throughout the term of the contract if no credit events were to occur with respect to any of the underlying reference obligations. If a credit event were to occur, however, the value of any deliverable obligation received by the fund, coupled with the periodic payments previously received by the fund, may be less than the full notional value that the fund, as a protection seller, pays to the counterparty protection buyer, effectively resulting in a loss of value to the fund. Furthermore, as a protection seller, the fund would effectively add leverage to its portfolio because it would have investment exposure to the notional amount of the swap transaction. The average month-end notional amount of credit default swaps while held was $5,064,461,000.

 

The following tables identify the location and fair value amounts on the fund’s statement of assets and liabilities and the effect on the fund’s statement of operations resulting from the fund’s use of futures contracts, forward currency contracts, interest rate swaps and credit default swaps as of, or for the six months ended, May 31, 2022 (dollars in thousands):

 

      Assets   Liabilities 
Contracts  Risk type  Location on statement of
assets and liabilities
  Value   Location on statement of
assets and liabilities
  Value 
Futures  Interest  Unrealized appreciation*  $192,910   Unrealized depreciation*  $111,576 
Forward currency  Currency  Unrealized appreciation on open forward currency contracts   20,974   Unrealized depreciation on open forward currency contracts   16,454 
Swap (centrally cleared)  Interest  Unrealized appreciation*   207,023   Unrealized depreciation*   305,425 
Swap (centrally cleared)  Credit  Unrealized appreciation*   15,964   Unrealized depreciation*    
         $436,871      $433,455 
            
      Net realized gain (loss)   Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) 
Contracts  Risk type  Location on statement of operations   Value   Location on statement of operations   Value 
Futures  Interest  Net realized gain on futures contracts  $146,738   Net unrealized appreciation on futures contracts  $130,606 
Forward currency  Currency  Net realized loss on forward currency contracts   (22,579)  Net unrealized depreciation on forward currency contracts   (12,532)
Swap  Interest  Net realized gain on swap contracts   33,307   Net unrealized depreciation on swap contracts   (87,230)
Swap  Credit  Net realized gain on swap contracts   41,194   Net unrealized depreciation on swap contracts   (3,121)
                    
         $198,660      $27,723 

 

* Includes cumulative appreciation/depreciation on futures contracts, centrally cleared interest rate swaps and centrally cleared credit default swaps as reported in the applicable tables following the fund’s investment portfolio. Only current day’s variation margin is reported within the fund’s statement of assets and liabilities.

 

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

 

22 American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund
 

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

 

The following table presents the fund’s forward currency contracts by counterparty that are subject to master netting agreements but that are not offset in the fund’s statement of assets and liabilities. The net amount column shows the impact of offsetting on the fund’s statement of assets and liabilities as of May 31, 2022, if close-out netting was exercised (dollars in thousands):

 

   Gross amounts
recognized in the
   Gross amounts not offset in the
statement of assets and liabilities and
subject to a master netting agreement
     
Counterparty  statement of assets
and liabilities
   Available
to offset
   Non-cash
collateral*
   Cash
collateral*
   Net
amount
 
Assets:                    
Citibank  $2,780   $(2,780)  $   $   $ 
Goldman Sachs   1,447            (1,447)    
Morgan Stanley   15,858    (339)       (15,269)   250 
UBS AG   889    (889)            
Total  $20,974   $(4,008)  $   $(16,716)  $250 
Liabilities:                         
Citibank  $8,133   $(2,780)  $(5,341)  $   $12 
JPMorgan Chase   4,652        (4,611)       41 
Morgan Stanley   339    (339)            
Standard Chartered Bank   45                45 
UBS AG   3,285    (889)   (2,396)        
Total  $16,454   $(4,008)  $(12,348)  $   $98 

 

* Collateral is shown on a settlement basis.

 

6. Taxation and distributions

 

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

 

As of and during the period ended May 31, 2022, the fund did not have a liability for any unrecognized tax benefits. The fund recognizes interest and penalties, if any, related to unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense in the statement of operations. During the period, the fund did not incur any significant interest or penalties.

 

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

 

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

 

Distributions — Distributions determined on a tax basis may differ from net investment income and net realized gains for financial reporting purposes. These differences are due primarily to different treatment for items such as currency gains and losses; short-term capital gains and losses; capital losses related to sales of certain securities within 30 days of purchase; cost of investments sold; net capital losses and income on certain investments. The fiscal year in which amounts are distributed may differ from the year in which the net investment income and net realized gains are recorded by the fund for financial reporting purposes.

 

American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund 23
 

The components of distributable earnings on a tax basis are reported as of the fund’s most recent year-end. As of November 30, 2021, the components of distributable earnings on a tax basis were as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

Undistributed ordinary income  $433,667 
Capital loss carryforward*   (134,501)

 

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

 

As of May 31, 2022, the tax basis unrealized appreciation (depreciation) and cost of investments were as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

Gross unrealized appreciation on investments  $555,924 
Gross unrealized depreciation on investments   (1,146,701)
Net unrealized depreciation on investments   (590,777)
Cost of investments   14,238,240 

 

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

 

   Six months ended May 31, 2022   Year ended November 30, 2021 
Share class  Ordinary
income
   Long-term
capital gains
   Total
distributions
paid
   Ordinary
income
   Long-term
capital gains
   Total
distributions
paid
 
Class A  $74,030   $   $74,030   $35,039   $4,083   $39,122 
Class C   3,054        3,054    544    75    619 
Class T                        
Class F-1   8,436        8,436    4,888    547    5,435 
Class F-2   58,663        58,663    28,356    3,082    31,438 
Class F-3   36,467        36,467    13,147    1,405    14,552 
Class 529-A   2,387        2,387    1,357    160    1,517 
Class 529-C   79        79    31    6    37 
Class 529-E   91        91    78    9    87 
Class 529-T                        
Class 529-F-1   1        1             
Class 529-F-2   322        322    226    25    251 
Class 529-F-3                        
Class R-1   96        96    108    12    120 
Class R-2   346        346    269    38    307 
Class R-2E   70        70    41    6    47 
Class R-3   859        859    599    73    672 
Class R-4   2,229        2,229    511    59    570 
Class R-5E   583        583    275    30    305 
Class R-5   497        497    260    28    288 
Class R-6   272,174        272,174    213,300    22,794    236,094 
Total  $460,384   $   $460,384   $299,029   $32,432   $331,461 

 

Amount less than one thousand.

 

24 American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund
 

7. Fees and transactions with related parties

 

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

 

Investment advisory services — The fund has an investment advisory and service agreement with CRMC that provides for monthly fees accrued daily. At the beginning of the year, these fees were based on a series of decreasing annual rates beginning with 0.360% on the first $500 million of daily net assets and decreasing to 0.240% on such assets in excess of $6.5 billion. On March 9, 2022, the fund’s board of trustees approved an amended investment advisory and service agreement effective May 1, 2022, replacing the prior series of rates and breakpoints with a new series of decreasing annual rates beginning with 0.252% on the first $15.0 billion of daily net assets and decreasing to 0.230% on such assets in excess of $15.0 billion. CRMC waived investment advisory services fees of $139,000 in advance of the amended investment advisory agreement. CRMC does not intend to recoup this waiver. As a result, the fees shown on the fund’s statement of operations of $17,640,000, which were equivalent to an annualized rate of 0.256% of average daily net assets, were reduced to $17,501,000, which were equivalent to an annualized rate of 0.254% of average daily 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 further described below:

 

Distribution services — The fund has plans of distribution for all share classes, except Class F-2, F-3, 529-F-2, 529-F-3, R-5E, R-5 and R-6 shares. Under the plans, the board of trustees approves certain categories of expenses that are used to finance activities primarily intended to sell fund shares and service existing accounts. The plans provide for payments, based on an annualized percentage of average daily net assets, ranging from 0.30% to 1.00% as noted in this section. In some cases, the board of trustees has limited the amounts that may be paid to less than the maximum allowed by the plans. All share classes with a plan may use up to 0.25% of average daily net assets to pay service fees, or to compensate AFD for paying service fees, to firms that have entered into agreements with AFD to provide certain shareholder services. The remaining amounts available to be paid under each plan are paid to dealers to compensate them for their sales activities.

 

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

 

For Class A and 529-A shares, distribution-related expenses include the reimbursement of dealer and wholesaler commissions paid by AFD for certain shares sold without a sales charge. These share classes reimburse AFD for amounts billed within the prior 15 months but only to the extent that the overall annual expense limits are not exceeded. As of May 31, 2022, unreimbursed expenses subject to reimbursement totaled $2,703,000 for Class A shares. There were no unreimbursed expenses subject to reimbursement for Class 529-A shares.

 

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

 

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

 

American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund 25
 

529 plan services — Each 529 share class is subject to service fees to compensate the Virginia College Savings Plan (“Virginia529”) for its oversight and administration of the CollegeAmerica 529 college savings plan. The fees are based on the combined net assets invested in Class 529 and ABLE shares of the American Funds. Class ABLE shares are offered on other American Funds by Virginia529 through ABLEAmerica®, a tax-advantaged savings program for individuals with disabilities. Virginia529 is not considered a related party to the fund.

 

Prior to January 1, 2022, the quarterly fees were based on a series of decreasing annual rates beginning with 0.09% on the first $20 billion of the combined net assets invested in the American Funds and decreasing to 0.03% on such assets in excess of $100 billion. Effective January 1, 2022, the quarterly fees were amended to a series of decreasing annual rates beginning with 0.09% on the first $20 billion of the combined net assets invested in the American Funds and decreasing to 0.03% on such assets in excess of $75 billion. The fees for any given calendar quarter are accrued and calculated on the basis of the average net assets of Class 529 and ABLE shares of the American Funds for the last month of the prior calendar quarter. For the six months ended May 31, 2022, the 529 plan services fees were $27,000, which were equivalent to 0.056% of the average daily net assets of each 529 share class.

 

For the six months ended May 31, 2022, class-specific expenses under the agreements were as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

Share class  Distribution
services
   Transfer agent
services
   Administrative
services
   529 plan
services
 
Class A   $3,611    $827    $361   Not applicable  
Class C   526    36    16   Not applicable  
Class T       *   *  Not applicable  
Class F-1   270    141    32   Not applicable  
Class F-2   Not applicable    794    254   Not applicable  
Class F-3   Not applicable    2    160   Not applicable  
Class 529-A   93    25    12   $22  
Class 529-C   17    1    *  1  
Class 529-E   9    *   1   1  
Class 529-T       *   *  *
Class 529-F-1       *   *  *
Class 529-F-2   Not applicable    2    1   3  
Class 529-F-3   Not applicable        *  *
Class R-1   21    3    1   Not applicable  
Class R-2   52    21    2   Not applicable  
Class R-2E   9    3    *  Not applicable  
Class R-3   75    22    5   Not applicable  
Class R-4   84    34    10   Not applicable  
Class R-5E   Not applicable    15    3   Not applicable  
Class R-5   Not applicable    4    2   Not applicable  
Class R-6   Not applicable    16    1,208   Not applicable  
Total class-specific expenses   $4,767    $1,946    $2,068   $27  

 

* Amount less than one thousand.

 

Trustees’ deferred compensation — Trustees who are unaffiliated with CRMC may elect to defer the cash payment of part or all of their compensation. These deferred amounts, which remain as liabilities of the fund, are treated as if invested in shares of the fund or other American Funds. These amounts represent general, unsecured liabilities of the fund and vary according to the total returns of the selected funds. Trustees’ compensation of $12,000 in the fund’s statement of operations reflects $22,000 in current fees (either paid in cash or deferred) and a net decrease of $10,000 in the value of the deferred amounts.

 

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

 

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

 

26 American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund
 

Security transactions with related funds — The fund may purchase securities from, or sell securities to, other funds managed by CRMC (or funds managed by certain affiliates of CRMC) under procedures adopted by the fund’s board of trustees. The funds involved in such transactions are considered related by virtue of having a common investment adviser (or affiliated investment advisers), common trustees and/or common officers. When such transactions occur, each transaction is executed at the current market price of the security and no brokerage commissions or fees are paid in accordance with Rule 17a-7 of the 1940 Act. During the six months ended May 31, 2022, the fund did not engage in any such purchase or sale transactions with any related funds.

 

Interfund lending — Pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the SEC, the fund, along with other CRMC-managed funds (or funds managed by certain affiliates of CRMC), may participate in an interfund lending program. The program provides an alternate credit facility that permits the funds to lend or borrow cash for temporary purposes directly to or from one another, subject to the conditions of the exemptive order. The fund did not lend or borrow cash through the interfund lending program at any time during the six months ended May 31, 2022.

 

8. Indemnifications

 

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

 

9. Capital share transactions

 

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

 

   Sales*   Reinvestments of
distributions
   Repurchases*   Net increase
(decrease)
 
Share class  Amount   Shares   Amount   Shares   Amount   Shares   Amount   Shares 
                      
Six months ended May 31, 2022                     
                      
Class A  $816,765    76,051   $73,730    6,802   $(362,533)   (34,200)  $527,962    48,653 
Class C   37,726    3,542    3,043    283    (25,127)   (2,398)   15,642    1,427 
Class T                                
Class F-1   33,584    3,094    8,412    776    (115,254)   (10,730)   (73,258)   (6,860)
Class F-2   595,522    55,247    58,343    5,358    (559,703)   (52,627)   94,162    7,978 
Class F-3   366,666    34,084    35,642    3,282    (231,188)   (21,719)   171,120    15,647 
Class 529-A   27,333    2,552    2,387    220    (12,055)   (1,129)   17,665    1,643 
Class 529-C   1,925    180    78    7    (820)   (77)   1,183    110 
Class 529-E   1,800    168    91    8    (685)   (65)   1,206    111 
Class 529-T                                
Class 529-F-1                                
Class 529-F-2   3,980    369    322    30    (1,250)   (117)   3,052    282 
Class 529-F-3                                
Class R-1   1,790    168    96    9    (466)   (44)   1,420    133 
Class R-2   5,896    560    346    32    (3,011)   (288)   3,231    304 
Class R-2E   2,166    204    70    6    (1,079)   (102)   1,157    108 
Class R-3   9,487    897    855    80    (4,529)   (429)   5,813    548 
Class R-4   21,626    2,025    2,229    206    (20,637)   (1,985)   3,218    246 
Class R-5E   16,323    1,557    583    54    (3,001)   (284)   13,905    1,327 
Class R-5   2,718    250    497    46    (4,674)   (444)   (1,459)   (148)
Class R-6   981,163    90,741    272,176    24,970    (370,950)   (34,390)   882,389    81,321 
Total net increase (decrease)  $2,926,470    271,689   $458,900    42,169   $(1,716,962)   (161,028)  $1,668,408    152,830 

 

Refer to the end of the table for footnotes.

 

American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund 27
 
   Sales*   Reinvestments of
distributions
   Repurchases*   Net (decrease)
increase
 
Share class  Amount   Shares   Amount   Shares   Amount   Shares   Amount   Shares 
                                 
Year ended November 30, 2021                    
                                 
Class A  $1,315,653    119,115   $38,953    3,590   $(261,622)   (23,849)  $1,092,984    98,856 
Class C   91,731    8,408    617    57    (13,380)   (1,230)   78,968    7,235 
Class T                                
Class F-1   228,823    20,882    5,426    500    (110,218)   (10,099)   124,031    11,283 
Class F-2   1,274,354    115,476    31,163    2,861    (457,717)   (41,630)   847,800    76,707 
Class F-3   714,556    64,882    13,755    1,267    (105,896)   (9,638)   622,415    56,511 
Class 529-A   39,044    3,538    1,517    140    (11,042)   (1,005)   29,519    2,673 
Class 529-C   2,447    222    36    3    (1,205)   (109)   1,278    116 
Class 529-E   1,103    101    87    8    (647)   (59)   543    50 
Class 529-T                                
Class 529-F-1                                
Class 529-F-2   4,171    379    251    23    (2,721)   (246)   1,701    156 
Class 529-F-3                                
Class R-1   1,329    122    119    11    (900)   (82)   548    51 
Class R-2   8,438    781    306    29    (5,823)   (542)   2,921    268 
Class R-2E   1,890    174    46    4    (914)   (83)   1,022    95 
Class R-3   17,243    1,587    669    62    (7,807)   (722)   10,105    927 
Class R-4   58,797    5,403    570    53    (12,515)   (1,133)   46,852    4,323 
Class R-5E   12,631    1,155    305    28    (4,241)   (387)   8,695    796 
Class R-5   8,749    793    288    27    (3,438)   (311)   5,599    509 
Class R-6   2,048,457    186,830    236,098    21,660    (544,577)   (48,802)   1,739,978    159,688 
Total net increase (decrease)  $5,829,416    529,848   $330,206    30,323   $(1,544,663)   (139,927)  $4,614,959    420,244 

 

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

 

10. Investment transactions

 

The fund made purchases and sales of investment securities, excluding short-term securities and U.S. government obligations, if any, of $57,656,000 and $499,891,000, respectively, during the six months ended May 31, 2022.

 

11. Ownership concentration

 

At May 31, 2022, two shareholders held more than 10% of the fund’s outstanding shares. The two shareholders were American Funds 2025 Target Date Retirement Fund and American Funds 2030 Target Date Retirement Fund, with aggregate ownership of the fund’s outstanding shares of 14% and 12%, respectively. CRMC is the investment adviser to the two target date retirement funds.

 

28 American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund
 

Financial highlights

 

       (Loss) income from
investment operations1 
   Dividends and distributions                         
Year ended   Net asset
value,
beginning
of year
    Net
investment
income
    Net (losses)
gains on
securities
(both
realized and
unrealized)
    Total from
investment
operations
    Dividends
(from net
investment
income)
    Distributions
(from capital
gains)
    Total
dividends
and
distributions
    Net asset
value,
end
of year
    Total return2,3    Net assets,
end of
year
(in millions)
    Ratio of
expenses to
average net
assets before
waivers/
reimburse-
ments4
    Ratio of
expenses to
average net
assets after
waivers/
reimburse-
ments3,4
    Ratio of
net income
to average
net assets3
 
Class A:                                                                 
5/31/20225,6   $11.29   $.37   $(1.01)  $(.64)  $(.37)  $   $(.37)  $10.28    (5.78)%7   $2,482    .67%8    .67%8    7.00%8 
11/30/2021   11.19    .40    .11    .51    (.22)   (.19)   (.41)   11.29    4.68    2,175    .68    .68    3.60 
11/30/2020   9.89    .13    1.26    1.39    (.09)       (.09)   11.19    14.22    1,050    .70    .70    1.23 
11/30/2019   9.54    .16    .44    .60    (.21)   (.04)   (.25)   9.89    6.43    656    .72    .72    1.61 
11/30/2018   9.77    .22    (.31)   (.09)   (.11)   (.03)   (.14)   9.54    (.86)   635    .71    .71    2.25 
11/30/2017   9.70    .19    (.03)   .16    (.09)       (.09)   9.77    1.64    533    .73    .73    1.96 
Class C:                                                                 
5/31/20225,6    11.15    .33    (.99)   (.66)   (.33)       (.33)   10.16    (6.11)7    104    1.378    1.378    6.288 
11/30/2021   11.08    .34    .08    .42    (.16)   (.19)   (.35)   11.15    3.92    99    1.37    1.37    3.09 
11/30/2020   9.78    .05    1.26    1.31    (.01)       (.01)   11.08    13.44    18    1.40    1.40    .47 
11/30/2019   9.42    .08    .45    .53    (.13)   (.04)   (.17)   9.78    5.67    11    1.44    1.44    .82 
11/30/2018   9.64    .14    (.29)   (.15)   (.04)   (.03)   (.07)   9.42    (1.55)   14    1.45    1.45    1.49 
11/30/2017   9.60    .11    (.02)   .09    (.05)       (.05)   9.64    .90    15    1.48    1.48    1.19 
Class T:                                                                 
5/31/20225,6    11.32    .38    (1.01)   (.63)   (.38)       (.38)   10.31    (5.71)7,9    10    .378,9    .378,9    7.198,9 
11/30/2021   11.21    .41    .13    .54    (.24)   (.19)   (.43)   11.32    4.979    10    .409    .409    3.769 
11/30/2020   9.90    .15    1.28    1.43    (.12)       (.12)   11.21    14.519    10    .419    .419    1.449 
11/30/2019   9.55    .18    .44    .62    (.23)   (.04)   (.27)   9.90    6.819    10    .449    .449    1.909 
11/30/2018   9.78    .24    (.30)   (.06)   (.14)   (.03)   (.17)   9.55    (.63)9    10    .479    .479    2.469 
11/30/20175,11    9.70    .15    (.07)   .08                9.78    .827,9    10    .468,9    .468,9    2.298,9 
Class F-1:                                                                 
5/31/20225,6    11.28    .35    (.98)   (.63)   (.36)       (.36)   10.29    (5.74)7    168    .688    .688    6.538 
11/30/2021   11.21    .40    .09    .49    (.23)   (.19)   (.42)   11.28    4.54    262    .67    .67    3.67 
11/30/2020   9.89    .18    1.23    1.41    (.09)       (.09)   11.21    14.26    134    .67    .67    1.67 
11/30/2019   9.53    .16    .44    .60    (.20)   (.04)   (.24)   9.89    6.54    33    .72    .72    1.60 
11/30/2018   9.76    .21    (.29)   (.08)   (.12)   (.03)   (.15)   9.53    (.85)   39    .73    .73    2.17 
11/30/2017   9.70    .19    (.04)   .15    (.09)       (.09)   9.76    1.57    49    .75    .75    1.95 
Class F-2:                                                                 
5/31/20225,6    11.36    .38    (1.00)   (.62)   (.39)       (.39)   10.35    (5.66)7    1,600    .408    .398    7.168 
11/30/2021   11.26    .44    .10    .54    (.25)   (.19)   (.44)   11.36    4.90    1,666    .40    .40    3.96 
11/30/2020   9.94    .17    1.27    1.44    (.12)       (.12)   11.26    14.54    788    .41    .41    1.55 
11/30/2019   9.59    .17    .46    .63    (.24)   (.04)   (.28)   9.94    6.81    426    .44    .44    1.75 
11/30/2018   9.81    .25    (.30)   (.05)   (.14)   (.03)   (.17)   9.59    (.54)   518    .46    .46    2.55 
11/30/2017   9.73    .22    (.04)   .18    (.10)       (.10)   9.81    1.88    339    .49    .49    2.21 
Class F-3:                                                                 
5/31/20225,6    11.34    .39    (1.01)   (.62)   (.39)       (.39)   10.33    (5.60)7    1,073    .308    .308    7.358 
11/30/2021   11.24    .46    .08    .54    (.25)   (.19)   (.44)   11.34    4.98    1,000    .31    .31    4.13 
11/30/2020   9.93    .17    1.27    1.44    (.13)       (.13)   11.24    14.69    356    .33    .32    1.64 
11/30/2019   9.57    .20    .44    .64    (.24)   (.04)   (.28)   9.93    6.89    204    .36    .34    2.08 
11/30/2018   9.80    .25    (.31)   (.06)   (.14)   (.03)   (.17)   9.57    (.56)   133    .39    .39    2.57 
11/30/20175,12    9.66    .20    (.06)   .14                9.80    1.457    99    .388    .388    2.458 
Class 529-A:                                                                 
5/31/20225,6    11.29    .37    (1.01)   (.64)   (.36)       (.36)   10.29    (5.80)7    83    .668    .668    7.048 
11/30/2021   11.19    .40    .10    .50    (.21)   (.19)   (.40)   11.29    4.63    73    .67    .67    3.60 
11/30/2020   9.89    .13    1.26    1.39    (.09)       (.09)   11.19    14.10    42    .73    .73    1.20 
11/30/2019   9.54    .16    .44    .60    (.21)   (.04)   (.25)   9.89    6.57    26    .72    .72    1.65 
11/30/2018   9.77    .22    (.30)   (.08)   (.12)   (.03)   (.15)   9.54    (.84)   24    .71    .71    2.30 
11/30/2017   9.71    .19    (.04)   .15    (.09)       (.09)   9.77    1.58    16    .72    .72    1.97 

 

Refer to the end of the table for footnotes.

 

American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund 29
 

Financial highlights (continued)

 

       (Loss) income from
investment operations1
   Dividends and distributions                         
Year ended  Net asset
value,
beginning
of year
   Net
investment
income
   Net (losses)
gains on
securities
(both
realized and
unrealized)
   Total from
investment
operations
   Dividends
(from net
investment
income)
   Distributions
(from capital
gains)
   Total
dividends
and
distributions
   Net asset
value,
end
of year
   Total return2,3   Net assets,
end of
year
(in millions)
   Ratio of
expenses to
average net
assets before
waivers/
reimburse-
ments4
   Ratio of
expenses to
average net
assets after
waivers/
reimburse-
ments3,4
   Ratio of
net income
to average
net assets3
 
Class 529-C:                                                                 
5/31/20225,6   $11.23   $.34   $(1.02)  $(.68)  $(.30)  $   $(.30)  $10.25    (6.19)%7   $4    1.42%8    1.42%8    6.34%8 
11/30/2021   11.08    .32    .11    .43    (.09)   (.19)   (.28)   11.23    3.84    3    1.41    1.41    2.87 
11/30/2020   9.79    .01    1.30    1.31    (.02)       (.02)   11.08    13.40    2    1.41    1.41    .14 
11/30/2019   9.43    .09    .45    .54    (.14)   (.04)   (.18)   9.79    5.87    3    1.39    1.39    .93 
11/30/2018   9.62    .14    (.30)   (.16)       (.03)   (.03)   9.43    (1.64)   3    1.51    1.51    1.43 
11/30/2017   9.60    .11    (.04)   .07    (.05)       (.05)   9.62    .79    3    1.54    1.54    1.13 
Class 529-E:                                                                 
5/31/20225,6    11.21    .36    (1.00)   (.64)   (.34)       (.34)   10.23    (5.90)7    4    .888    .888    6.798 
11/30/2021   11.13    .36    .12    .48    (.21)   (.19)   (.40)   11.21    4.41    3    .89    .89    3.32 
11/30/2020   9.84    .11    1.26    1.37    (.08)       (.08)   11.13    13.96    2    .91    .91    1.04 
11/30/2019   9.49    .14    .43    .57    (.18)   (.04)   (.22)   9.84    6.29    1    .93    .93    1.44 
11/30/2018   9.73    .19    (.30)   (.11)   (.10)   (.03)   (.13)   9.49    (1.08)   1    .96    .96    2.02 
11/30/2017   9.68    .17    (.04)   .13    (.08)       (.08)   9.73    1.35    1    .99    .99    1.73 
Class 529-T:                                                                 
5/31/20225,6    11.31    .38    (1.00)   (.62)   (.38)       (.38)   10.31    (5.67)7,9    10    .428,9    .428,9    7.138,9 
11/30/2021   11.21    .41    .11    .52    (.23)   (.19)   (.42)   11.31    4.839    10    .459    .459    3.729 
11/30/2020   9.90    .15    1.27    1.42    (.11)       (.11)   11.21    14.559    10    .489    .489    1.379 
11/30/2019   9.55    .18    .44    .62    (.23)   (.04)   (.27)   9.90    6.649    10    .509    .509    1.849 
11/30/2018   9.78    .23    (.30)   (.07)   (.13)   (.03)   (.16)   9.55    (.65)9    10    .529    .529    2.429 
11/30/20175,11    9.70    .14    (.06)   .08                9.78    .827,9    10    .508,9    .508,9    2.258,9 
Class 529-F-1:                                                                 
5/31/20225,6    11.34    .38    (1.01)   (.63)   (.38)       (.38)   10.33    (5.67)7,9    10    .498,9    .498,9    7.068,9 
11/30/2021   11.24    .41    .12    .53    (.24)   (.19)   (.43)   11.34    4.819    10    .479    .479    3.719 
11/30/2020   9.92    .15    1.28    1.43    (.11)       (.11)   11.24    14.499    10    .469    .469    1.429 
11/30/2019   9.57    .17    .45    .62    (.23)   (.04)   (.27)   9.92    6.81    5    .50    .50    1.78 
11/30/2018   9.80    .24    (.31)   (.07)   (.13)   (.03)   (.16)   9.57    (.68)   5    .50    .50    2.50 
11/30/2017   9.73    .21    (.05)   .16    (.09)       (.09)   9.80    1.72    2    .53    .53    2.20 
Class 529-F-2:                                                                 
5/31/20225,6    11.30    .39    (1.01)   (.62)   (.38)       (.38)   10.30    (5.63)7    11    .398    .398    7.318 
11/30/2021   11.20    .42    .11    .53    (.24)   (.19)   (.43)   11.30    4.86    9    .42    .42    3.85 
11/30/20205,13    11.03    .01    .16    .17                11.20    1.547    7    .047    .047    .117 
Class 529-F-3:                                                                 
5/31/20225,6    11.29    .38    (.99)   (.61)   (.39)       (.39)   10.29    (5.61)7    10    .378    .378    7.198 
11/30/2021   11.20    .42    .11    .53    (.25)   (.19)   (.44)   11.29    4.91    10    .41    .37    3.80 
11/30/20205,13    11.03    .01    .16    .17                11.20    1.547    10    .057    .037    .127 
Class R-1:                                                                 
5/31/20225,6    11.10    .34    (1.00)   (.66)   (.28)       (.28)   10.16    (6.12)7    5    1.438    1.438    6.468 
11/30/2021   11.11    .30    .11    .41    (.23)   (.19)   (.42)   11.10    3.81    4    1.46    1.46    2.76 
11/30/2020   9.80    .05    1.27    1.32    (.01)       (.01)   11.11    13.44    3    1.40    1.40    .54 
11/30/2019   9.46    .07    .46    .53    (.15)   (.04)   (.19)   9.80    5.73    10    1.46    1.46    .77 
11/30/2018   9.70    .14    (.30)   (.16)   (.05)   (.03)   (.08)   9.46    (1.62)   10    1.47    1.47    1.49 
11/30/2017   9.63    .10    (.02)   .08    (.01)       (.01)   9.70    .839    10    1.559    1.549    1.079 

 

Refer to the end of the table for footnotes.

 

30 American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund
 

Financial highlights (continued)

 

       (Loss) income from
investment operations1
   Dividends and distributions                         
Year ended  Net asset
value,
beginning
of year
   Net
investment
income
   Net (losses)
gains on
securities
(both
realized and
unrealized)
   Total from
investment
operations
   Dividends
(from net
investment
income)
   Distributions
(from capital
gains)
   Total
dividends
and
distributions
   Net asset
value,
end
of year
   Total return2,3   Net assets,
end of
year
(in millions)
   Ratio of
expenses to
average net
assets before
waivers/
reimburse-
ments4
   Ratio of
expenses to
average net
assets after
waivers/
reimburse-
ments3,4
   Ratio of
net income
to average
net assets3
 
Class R-2:                                                                 
5/31/20225,6   $11.06   $.33   $(1.00)  $(.67)  $(.29)  $   $(.29)  $10.10    (6.07)%7   $15    1.36%8    1.35%8    6.37%8 
11/30/2021   10.99    .31    .11    .42    (.16)   (.19)   (.35)   11.06    3.89    13    1.36    1.36    2.83 
11/30/2020   9.72    .06    1.24    1.30    (.03)       (.03)   10.99    13.46    10    1.40    1.40    .56 
11/30/2019   9.39    .08    .45    .53    (.16)   (.04)   (.20)   9.72    5.73    5    1.44    1.44    .88 
11/30/2018   9.62    .15    (.30)   (.15)   (.05)   (.03)   (.08)   9.39    (1.54)   4    1.41    1.41    1.57 
11/30/2017   9.59    .12    (.03)   .09    (.06)       (.06)   9.62    .90    2    1.41    1.41    1.28 
Class R-2E:                                                                 
5/31/20225,6    11.23    .35    (1.00)   (.65)   (.32)       (.32)   10.26    (5.95)7    3    1.118    1.118    6.668 
11/30/2021   11.13    .37    .09    .46    (.17)   (.19)   (.36)   11.23    4.11    2    1.11    1.11    3.38 
11/30/2020   9.85    .07    1.27    1.34    (.06)       (.06)   11.13    13.71    2    1.17    1.16    .70 
11/30/2019   9.50    .15    .40    .55    (.16)   (.04)   (.20)   9.85    6.03    2    1.15    1.15    1.55 
11/30/2018   9.73    .17    (.29)   (.12)   (.08)   (.03)   (.11)   9.50    (1.27)   1    1.18    1.18    1.74 
11/30/2017   9.71    .14    (.03)   .11    (.09)       (.09)   9.73    1.16    1    1.21    1.21    1.40 
Class R-3:                                                                 
5/31/20225,6    11.17    .35    (1.00)   (.65)   (.33)       (.33)   10.19    (5.85)7    32    .958    .958    6.728 
11/30/2021   11.10    .37    .09    .46    (.20)   (.19)   (.39)   11.17    4.27    28    .95    .95    3.35 
11/30/2020   9.81    .10    1.27    1.37    (.08)       (.08)   11.10    13.90    18    .97    .97    .97 
11/30/2019   9.47    .14    .43    .57    (.19)   (.04)   (.23)   9.81    6.22    10    .99    .99    1.50 
11/30/2018   9.70    .19    (.30)   (.11)   (.09)   (.03)   (.12)   9.47    (1.12)   6    1.01    1.01    2.03 
11/30/2017   9.65    .16    (.03)   .13    (.08)       (.08)   9.70    1.40    4    .99    .99    1.68 
Class R-4:                                                                 
5/31/20225,6    11.28    .36    (.99)   (.63)   (.37)       (.37)   10.28    (5.79)7    61    .658    .658    6.878 
11/30/2021   11.19    .44    .06    .50    (.22)   (.19)   (.41)   11.28    4.63    64    .65    .64    4.03 
11/30/2020   9.89    .13    1.27    1.40    (.10)       (.10)   11.19    14.33    15    .66    .66    1.26 
11/30/2019   9.54    .17    .43    .60    (.21)   (.04)   (.25)   9.89    6.49    8    .69    .69    1.79 
11/30/2018   9.77    .22    (.30)   (.08)   (.12)   (.03)   (.15)   9.54    (.85)   5    .71    .71    2.34 
11/30/2017   9.70    .19    (.03)   .16    (.09)       (.09)   9.77    1.64    3    .72    .72    1.98 
Class R-5E:                                                                 
5/31/20225,6    11.31    .41    (1.03)   (.62)   (.38)       (.38)   10.31    (5.64)7    29    .458    .458    7.818 
11/30/2021   11.22    .45    .07    .52    (.24)   (.19)   (.43)   11.31    4.77    17    .45    .45    4.07 
11/30/2020   9.91    .15    1.28    1.43    (.12)       (.12)   11.22    14.51    8    .45    .45    1.38 
11/30/2019   9.57    .19    .43    .62    (.24)   (.04)   (.28)   9.91    6.72    4    .47    .47    1.91 
11/30/2018   9.79    .22    (.28)   (.06)   (.13)   (.03)   (.16)   9.57    (.56)   2    .51    .51    2.26 
11/30/2017   9.70    .20    (.03)   .17    (.08)       (.08)   9.79    1.78    1    .50    .50    2.08 
Class R-5:                                                                 
5/31/20225,6    11.36    .38    (1.00)   (.62)   (.39)       (.39)   10.35    (5.63)7    11    .368    .368    7.038 
11/30/2021   11.26    .44    .10    .54    (.25)   (.19)   (.44)   11.36    4.93    14    .36    .36    3.96 
11/30/2020   9.95    .18    1.26    1.44    (.13)       (.13)   11.26    14.62    8    .36    .36    1.68 
11/30/2019   9.59    .18    .46    .64    (.24)   (.04)   (.28)   9.95    6.86    3    .39    .39    1.88 
11/30/2018   9.82    .24    (.30)   (.06)   (.14)   (.03)   (.17)   9.59    (.59)   3    .41    .41    2.50 
11/30/2017   9.73    .24    (.05)   .19    (.10)       (.10)   9.82    1.95    2    .44    .44    2.43 
Class R-6:                                                                 
5/31/20225,6    11.38    .39    (1.02)   (.63)   (.39)       (.39)   10.36    (5.59)7    7,952    .308    .308    7.288 
11/30/2021   11.27    .44    .11    .55    (.25)   (.19)   (.44)   11.38    5.05    7,805    .31    .31    3.99 
11/30/2020   9.96    .17    1.27    1.44    (.13)       (.13)   11.27    14.66    5,933    .32    .32    1.57 
11/30/2019   9.60    .20    .45    .65    (.25)   (.04)   (.29)   9.96    6.90    4,680    .33    .33    2.05 
11/30/2018   9.82    .25    (.30)   (.05)   (.14)   (.03)   (.17)   9.60    (.46)   3,405    .36    .36    2.60 
11/30/2017   9.74    .22    (.04)   .18    (.10)       (.10)   9.82    1.89    2,682    .38    .38    2.29 

 

Refer to the end of the table for footnotes.

 

American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund 31
 

Financial highlights (continued)

 

   Six months
ended
May 31,
  Year ended November 30,
   20225,6,7  2021  2020  2019  2018  2017
Portfolio turnover rate for all share classes14   17%   29%   114%   78%   57%   123%

 

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

 

Refer to the notes to financial statements.

 

32 American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund
 
Expense example unaudited

 

As a fund shareholder, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, such as initial sales charges on purchase payments and contingent deferred sales charges on redemptions (loads), and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution and service (12b-1) fees, and other expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the fund so you can compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire six-month period (December 1, 2021, through May 31, 2022).

 

Actual expenses:

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

 

Hypothetical example for comparison purposes:

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

 

Notes:

Retirement plan participants may be subject to certain fees charged by the plan sponsor, and Class F-1, F-2, F-3, 529-F-1, 529-F-2 and 529-F-3 shareholders may be subject to fees charged by financial intermediaries, typically ranging from 0.75% to 1.50% of assets annually depending on services offered. You can estimate the impact of these fees by adding the amount of the fees to the total estimated expenses you paid on your account during the period as calculated above. In addition, your ending account value would be lower by the amount of these fees.

 

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

 

American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund 33
 

Expense example (continued)

 

   Beginning
account value
12/1/2021
   Ending
account value
5/31/2022
   Expenses paid
during period*
   Annualized
expense ratio
 
Class A – actual return  $1,000.00   $942.16   $3.24    .67%
Class A – assumed 5% return   1,000.00    1,021.59    3.38    .67 
Class C – actual return   1,000.00    938.90    6.62    1.37 
Class C – assumed 5% return   1,000.00    1,018.10    6.89    1.37 
Class T – actual return   1,000.00    942.94    1.79    .37 
Class T – assumed 5% return   1,000.00    1,023.09    1.87    .37 
Class F-1 – actual return   1,000.00    942.64    3.29    .68 
Class F-1 – assumed 5% return   1,000.00    1,021.54    3.43    .68 
Class F-2 – actual return   1,000.00    943.44    1.89    .39 
Class F-2 – assumed 5% return   1,000.00    1,022.99    1.97    .39 
Class F-3 – actual return   1,000.00    944.02    1.45    .30 
Class F-3 – assumed 5% return   1,000.00    1,023.44    1.51    .30 
Class 529-A – actual return   1,000.00    941.98    3.20    .66 
Class 529-A – assumed 5% return   1,000.00    1,021.64    3.33    .66 
Class 529-C – actual return   1,000.00    938.07    6.86    1.42 
Class 529-C – assumed 5% return   1,000.00    1,017.85    7.14    1.42 
Class 529-E – actual return   1,000.00    941.04    4.26    .88 
Class 529-E – assumed 5% return   1,000.00    1,020.54    4.43    .88 
Class 529-T – actual return   1,000.00    943.32    2.03    .42 
Class 529-T – assumed 5% return   1,000.00    1,022.84    2.12    .42 
Class 529-F-1 – actual return   1,000.00    943.28    2.37    .49 
Class 529-F-1 – assumed 5% return   1,000.00    1,022.49    2.47    .49 
Class 529-F-2 – actual return   1,000.00    943.73    1.89    .39 
Class 529-F-2 – assumed 5% return   1,000.00    1,022.99    1.97    .39 
Class 529-F-3 – actual return   1,000.00    943.88    1.79    .37 
Class 529-F-3 – assumed 5% return   1,000.00    1,023.09    1.87    .37 
Class R-1 – actual return   1,000.00    938.83    6.91    1.43 
Class R-1 – assumed 5% return   1,000.00    1,017.80    7.19    1.43 
Class R-2 – actual return   1,000.00    939.26    6.53    1.35 
Class R-2 – assumed 5% return   1,000.00    1,018.20    6.79    1.35 
Class R-2E – actual return   1,000.00    940.45    5.37    1.11 
Class R-2E – assumed 5% return   1,000.00    1,019.40    5.59    1.11 
Class R-3 – actual return   1,000.00    941.53    4.60    .95 
Class R-3 – assumed 5% return   1,000.00    1,020.19    4.78    .95 
Class R-4 – actual return   1,000.00    942.08    3.15    .65 
Class R-4 – assumed 5% return   1,000.00    1,021.69    3.28    .65 
Class R-5E – actual return   1,000.00    943.64    2.18    .45 
Class R-5E – assumed 5% return   1,000.00    1,022.69    2.27    .45 
Class R-5 – actual return   1,000.00    943.67    1.74    .36 
Class R-5 – assumed 5% return   1,000.00    1,023.14    1.82    .36 
Class R-6 – actual return   1,000.00    944.15    1.45    .30 
Class R-6 – assumed 5% return   1,000.00    1,023.44    1.51    .30 

 

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

 

34 American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund
 

Approval of Investment Advisory and Service Agreement

 

The fund’s board has approved the continuation of the fund’s Investment Advisory and Service Agreement (the “agreement”) with Capital Research and Management Company (“CRMC”) for an additional one-year term through April 30, 2023. The agreement was amended to lower the current fee schedule resulting in an overall lower advisory fee. The board approved the agreement following the recommendation of the fund’s Contracts Committee (the “committee”), which is composed of all the fund’s independent board members. The board and the committee determined in the exercise of their business judgment that the fund’s advisory fee structure was fair and reasonable in relation to the services provided, and that approving the agreement was in the best interests of the fund and its shareholders.

 

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

 

1. Nature, extent and quality of services

 

The board and the committee considered the depth and quality of CRMC’s investment management process, including its global research capabilities; the experience, capability and integrity of its senior management and other personnel; the low turnover rates of its key personnel; the overall financial strength and stability of CRMC and the Capital Group organization; the resources and systems CRMC devotes to investment management (the manner in which the fund’s assets are managed, including liquidity management), financial, investment operations, compliance, trading, proxy voting, shareholder communications, and other services; and the ongoing evolution of CRMC’s organizational structure designed to maintain and strengthen these qualities. The board and the committee also considered the nature, extent and quality of administrative and shareholder services provided by CRMC to the fund under the agreement and other agreements, as well as the benefits to fund shareholders from investing in a fund that is part of a large family of funds. The board and the committee considered the risks assumed by CRMC in providing services to the fund, including operational, business, financial, reputational, regulatory and litigation risks. The board and the committee concluded that the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by CRMC have benefited and should continue to benefit the fund and its shareholders.

 

2. Investment results

 

The board and the committee considered the investment results of the fund in light of its objective. They compared the fund’s investment results with those of other funds (including funds that currently form the basis of the Lipper index for the category in which the fund is included) and data such as relevant market and fund indexes over various periods (including the fund’s lifetime) through September 30, 2021. They generally placed greater emphasis on investment results over longer term periods. On the basis of this evaluation and the board’s and the committee’s ongoing review of investment results, and considering the relative market conditions during certain reporting periods, the board and the committee concluded that the fund’s investment results have been satisfactory for renewal of the agreement, and that CRMC’s record in managing the fund indicated that its continued management should benefit the fund and its shareholders.

 

3. Advisory fees and total expenses

 

The board and the committee compared the advisory fees and total expense levels of the fund to those of other relevant funds. They observed that the fund’s advisory fees and expenses generally compared favorably to those of other similar funds included in the comparable Lipper category. The board and the committee also considered the breakpoint discounts in the fund’s advisory fee structure that reduce the level of fees charged by CRMC to the fund as fund assets increase. The board also considered and approved the amended fee schedule to the agreement that lowered the current fee schedule and resulted in an overall lower advisory fee. The board noted that there would be no diminution in services provided as a result of the lower advisory fee.

 

In addition, the board and the committee reviewed information regarding the effective advisory fees charged to non-mutual fund clients by CRMC and its affiliates. They noted that, to the extent there were differences between the advisory fees paid by the fund and the advisory fees paid by those clients, the differences appropriately reflected the investment, operational, regulatory and market differences between advising the fund and the other clients. The board and the committee concluded that the fund’s cost structure was fair and reasonable in relation to the services provided, as well as in relation to the risks assumed by the adviser in sponsoring and managing the fund, and that the fund’s shareholders receive reasonable value in return for the advisory fees and other amounts paid to CRMC by the fund.

 

 American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund 35
 

4. Ancillary benefits

 

The board and the committee considered a variety of other benefits that CRMC and its affiliates receive as a result of CRMC’s relationship with the fund and other American Funds, including fees for administrative services provided to certain share classes; fees paid to CRMC’s affiliated transfer agent; sales charges and distribution fees received and retained by the fund’s principal underwriter, an affiliate of CRMC; and possible ancillary benefits to CRMC and its institutional management affiliates in managing other investment vehicles. The board and the committee reviewed CRMC’s portfolio trading practices, noting that through December 31, 2018, CRMC benefited from research obtained with commissions from portfolio transactions made on behalf of each fund, and since that time has undertaken to bear the cost of obtaining such research. The board and the committee took these ancillary benefits into account in evaluating the reasonableness of the advisory fees and other amounts paid to CRMC by the fund.

 

5. Adviser financial information

 

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

 

36 American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund
 

Liquidity Risk Management Program

 

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

 

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

 

The fund’s board reviewed a report prepared by CRMC regarding the operation and effectiveness of the program for the period October 1, 2021, through September 30, 2022. No significant liquidity events impacting the fund were noted in the report. In addition, CRMC provided its assessment that the program had been effective in managing the fund’s liquidity risk.

 

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 American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund 43
 

Office of the fund

6455 Irvine Center Drive
Irvine, CA 92618-4518

 

Investment adviser

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

 

Transfer agent for shareholder accounts

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

 

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

 

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

 

Custodian of assets

State Street Bank and Trust Company
One Lincoln Street
Boston, MA 02111-2900

 

Counsel

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
One Federal Street
Boston, MA 02110-1726

 

Independent registered public accounting firm

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

 

Principal underwriter

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

 

44 American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund
 

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

 

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

 

American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund files a complete list of its portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form NPORT-P. This filing is available free of charge on the SEC website at sec.gov and on our website.

 

This report is for the information of shareholders of American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund, but it also may be used as sales literature when preceded or accompanied by the current prospectus or summary prospectus, which gives details about charges, expenses, investment objectives and operating policies of the fund. If used as sales material after September 30, 2022, this report must be accompanied by an American Funds statistical update for the most recently completed calendar quarter.

 

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

 

American Funds Distributors, Inc., member FINRA.

 

The Capital Advantage®

 

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

 

Aligned with investor success

We base our decisions on a long-term perspective, which we believe aligns our goals with the interests of our clients. Our portfolio managers average 27 years of investment industry experience, including 21 years at our company, reflecting a career commitment to our long-term approach.1

 

The Capital System

The Capital System combines individual accountability with teamwork. Funds using The Capital System are divided into portions that are managed independently by investment professionals with diverse backgrounds, ages and investment approaches. An extensive global research effort is the backbone of our system.

 

American Funds’ superior outcomes

Equity funds have beaten their Lipper peer indexes in 90% of 10-year periods and 99% of 20-year periods.2 Fixed income funds have helped investors achieve diversification through attention to correlation between bonds and equities.3 Fund management fees have been among the lowest in the industry.4

 

  1 Investment industry experience as of December 31, 2021.
  2 Based on Class F-2 share results for rolling calendar-year periods starting the first full calendar year after each fund’s inception through December 31, 2021. Periods covered are the shorter of the fund’s lifetime or since the comparable Lipper index inception date (except Capital Income Builder and SMALLCAP World Fund, for which the Lipper average was used). Expenses differ for each share class, so results will vary.
  3 Based on Class F-2 share results as of December 31, 2021. Thirteen of the 17 fixed income American Funds that have been in existence for the three-year period showed a three-year correlation below 0.3. S&P 500 Index was used as an equity market proxy. Correlation based on monthly total returns. Correlation is a statistical measure of how two securities move in relation to each other. A correlation ranges from –1 to 1. A positive correlation close to 1 implies that as one security moves, either up or down, the other security will move in “lockstep,” in the same direction. A negative correlation close to –1 indicates that the securities have moved in the opposite direction.
  4 On average, our management fees were in the lowest quintile 63% of the time, based on the 20-year period ended December 31, 2021, versus comparable Lipper categories, excluding funds of funds.

 

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

 

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

 

 

 

ITEM 2 – Code of Ethics

 

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

 

ITEM 3 – Audit Committee Financial Expert

 

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

 

ITEM 4 – Principal Accountant Fees and Services

 

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

 

ITEM 5 – Audit Committee of Listed Registrants

 

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

 

ITEM 6 – Schedule of Investments

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

ITEM 11 – Controls and Procedures

 

(a) The Registrant’s Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer have concluded, based on their evaluation of the Registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 30a-3 under the Investment Company Act of 1940), that such controls and procedures are adequate and reasonably designed to achieve the purposes described in paragraph (c) of such rule.
   
(b)

There were no changes in the Registrant’s internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) that occurred during the Registrant’s semi-annual period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

 

ITEM 12 – Exhibits

 

(a)(1) Not applicable for filing of semi-annual reports to shareholders.
   
(a)(2) The certifications required by Rule 30a-2 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 and Sections 302 and 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 are attached as exhibits hereto.

 

 
 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

  AMERICAN FUNDS INFLATION LINKED BOND FUND
   
  By __/s/ Kristine M. Nishiyama____________________
 

Kristine M. Nishiyama,

Principal Executive Officer

   
  Date: July 29, 2022

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

 

 

By __/s/ Kristine M. Nishiyama_________________

Kristine M. Nishiyama,

Principal Executive Officer

 
Date: July 29, 2022

 

 

 

By ___/s/ Brian C. Janssen    __________

Brian C. Janssen, Treasurer and

Principal Financial Officer

 
Date: July 29, 2022