<PAGE>
[LOGO OF THE AMERICAN FUNDS GROUP(R)]
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The Investment Company of America(R)
Prospectus
MARCH 1, 1997
<PAGE>
THE INVESTMENT COMPANY OF AMERICA
333 South Hope Street
Los Angeles, CA 90071
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Expenses 3
..................................
Financial Highlights 4
..................................
Investment Policies and Risks 5
..................................
Securities and Investment
Techniques 5
..................................
Multiple Portfolio Counselor
System 6
..................................
Investment Results 8
..................................
Dividends, Distributions and
Taxes 9
..................................
Fund Organization and
Management 10
..................................
Shareholder Services 13
</TABLE>
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The fund's investment objectives are long-term growth of capital and income.
The fund strives to accomplish these objectives through constant supervision,
careful selection and broad diversification of a portfolio which ordinarily
consists principally of common stocks.
This prospectus presents information you should know before investing in the
fund. You should keep it on file for future reference.
YOU MAY LOSE MONEY BY INVESTING IN THE FUND. THE LIKELIHOOD OF LOSS IS GREATER
IF YOU INVEST FOR A SHORTER PERIOD OF TIME. YOUR INVESTMENT IN THE FUND IS NOT
A DEPOSIT OR OBLIGATION OF, OR INSURED OR GUARANTEED BY, ANY ENTITY OR PERSON
INCLUDING THE U.S. GOVERNMENT AND THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION.
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION PASSED UPON
THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY
IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
04-010-0397
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EXPENSES
The effect of the expenses described below is reflected in the fund's share
price or return.
You may pay certain shareholder transaction expenses when you buy or sell
shares of the fund. Fund operating expenses are paid out of the fund's assets
and are factored into its share price.
SHAREHOLDER TRANSACTION EXPENSES
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Maximum sales charge on purchases
(as a percentage of offering price) 5.75%
</TABLE>
................................................................................
SALES CHARGES ARE REDUCED OR ELIMINATED FOR LARGER PURCHASES. There is no sales
charge on reinvested dividends, and no deferred sales charge or redemption or
exchange fees. A contingent deferred sales charge of 1% applies on certain
redemptions made within 12 months following purchases without a sales charge.
FUND OPERATING EXPENSES
(as a percentage of average net assets)
<TABLE>
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<S> <C>
Management fees 0.26%
................................................................................
12b-1 expenses 0.21%/1/
................................................................................
Other expenses 0.12%
................................................................................
Total fund operating expenses 0.59%
</TABLE>
/1/ 12b-1 expenses may not exceed 0.25% of the fund's average net assets
annually. Due to these distribution expenses, long-term shareholders may pay
more than the economic equivalent of the maximum front-end sales charge
permitted by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
EXAMPLES
Assuming a hypothetical annual return of 5% and shareholder transaction and
operating expenses as described above, for every $1,000 you invested, you would
pay the following total expenses over the following periods:
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<TABLE>
<S> <C>
One year $ 63
................................................................................
Three years $ 75
................................................................................
Five years $ 89
................................................................................
Ten years $127
</TABLE>
THESE EXAMPLES ARE NOT MEANT TO REPRESENT YOUR ACTUAL INVESTMENT RESULTS OR
EXPENSES, WHICH MAY VARY. YOUR EXPENSES WILL BE LESS IF YOU QUALIFY TO PURCHASE
SHARES AT A REDUCED OR NO SALES CHARGE.
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THE INVESTMENT COMPANY OF AMERICA / PROSPECTUS 3
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FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
The following information has been audited by Price Waterhouse llp, independent
accountants. This table should be read together with the financial statements
which are included in the statement of additional information and annual
report.
PER-SHARE DATA AND RATIOS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31
----------------------
1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987
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<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Net asset value,
beginning of year $21.61 $17.67 $18.72 $17.89 $17.48 $14.52 $15.24 $12.94 $12.61 $13.19
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INCOME FROM
INVESTMENT
OPERATIONS:
Net investment
income .49 .52 .51 .54 .49 .51 .57 .61 .51 .46
................................................................................................................
Net realized and
unrealized gain (loss)
on investments 3.66 4.83 (.48) 1.51 .71 3.27 (.48) 3.13 1.14 .23
................................................................................................................
Total from investment
operations 4.15 5.35 .03 2.05 1.20 3.78 .09 3.74 1.65 .69
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LESS DISTRIBUTIONS:
Dividends from net
investment
income (.50) (.50) (.48) (.47) (.47) (.44) (.59) (.59) (.56) (.52)
................................................................................................................
Distributions from net
realized gains (1.03) (.91) (.60) (.75) (.32) (.38) (.22) (.85) (.76) (.75)
................................................................................................................
Total distributions (1.53) (1.41) (1.08) (1.22) (.79) (.82) (.81) (1.44) (1.32) (1.27)
................................................................................................................
Net asset value,
end of year $24.23 $21.61 $17.67 $18.72 $17.89 $17.48 $14.52 $15.24 $12.94 $12.61
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Total return/1/ 19.35% 30.63% .16% 11.62% 6.99% 26.54% .68% 29.41% 13.34% 5.44%
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RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL
DATA:
Net assets, end
of year (in millions) $30,875 $25,678 $19,280 $19,005 $15,428 $10,526 $5,923 $5,376 $4,119 $3,889
...............................................................................................................
Ratio of expenses to
average net assets .59% .60% .60% .59% .58% .59% .55% .52% .48% .42%
...............................................................................................................
Ratio of net income to
average net assets 2.17% 2.70% 2.83% 3.03% 3.06% 3.29% 3.95% 4.11% 3.78% 3.14%
...............................................................................................................
Average
commissions paid per
share/2/ 5.79c 6.16c 5.11c 6.20c 7.43c 6.99c 5.88c 8.04c 8.24c 6.68c
...............................................................................................................
Portfolio turnover
rate
--common stocks 17.46% 20.91% 17.94% 19.57% 7.23% 5.79% 7.48% 14.47% 10.39% 10.76%
--investment securities 19.56% 20.37% 31.08% 17.57% 9.73% 6.21% 10.94% 18.22% 16.41% 11.47%
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</TABLE>
/1/ Calculated without deducting a sales charge. The maximum sales charge is
5.75% of the fund's offering price.
/2/ Brokerage commissions paid on portfolio transactions increase the cost of
securities purchased or reduce the proceeds of securities sold, and are not
reflected in the fund's statement of operations. Shares traded on a
principal basis (without commissions) are excluded. Generally, non-U.S.
commissions are lower that U.S. commissions when expressed as cents per
share but higher when expressed as a percentage of transactions because of
the lower per-share prices of many non-U.S. securities.
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4 THE INVESTMENT COMPANY OF AMERICA / PROSPECTUS
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INVESTMENT POLICIES AND RISKS
The fund's investment objectives are long-term growth of capital and income.
The fund strives to accomplish these objectives through constant supervision,
careful selection and broad diversification. In the selection of securities for
investment, the possibilities of appreciation and potential dividends are given
more weight than current yield. The fund ordinarily invests principally in
common stocks. However, assets may also be held in securities convertible into
common stocks, straight debt securities (rated in the top three quality
categories by Standard & Poor's Corporation or Moody's Investors Service, Inc.
or determined to be of equivalent quality by the fund's investment adviser,
Capital Research and Management Company), cash or cash equivalents (such as
commercial paper, commercial bank obligations, and securities of the U.S.
Government, it agencies or instrumentalities), U.S. Government securities,
private placement securities or nonconvertible preferred stocks. Additionally,
the fund may from time to time invest in common stocks and other securities
of issuers domiciled outside the U.S. MORE INFORMATION ON THE FUND'S
INVESTMENT POLICIES IS CONTAINED IN ITS STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
The fund's investments are limited to securities included on its eligible list,
which consists of securities deemed suitable investment media in light of the
fund's investment objectives and policies. Securities are added to, or deleted
from, the eligible list by the board of directors, reviewing and acting upon
the recommendations of Capital Research and Management Company.
The fund's fundamental investment restrictions (described in the statement of
additional information) and objectives may not be changed without shareholder
approval. All other investment practices may be changed by the fund's board of
directors.
ACHIEVEMENT OF THE FUND'S INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES CANNOT, OF COURSE, BE ASSURED
DUE TO THE RISK OF CAPITAL LOSS FROM FLUCTUATING PRICES INHERENT IN ANY
INVESTMENT IN SECURITIES.
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SECURITIES AND INVESTMENT TECHNIQUES
EQUITY SECURITIES
Equity securities represent an ownership position in a company. These
securities may include common stocks, preferred stocks, and securities with
equity conversion or purchase rights. The prices of equity securities fluctuate
based on changes in the financial condition of their issuers and on market and
economic conditions. The fund's results will be related to the overall market
for these securities.
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THE INVESTMENT COMPANY OF AMERICA / PROSPECTUS 5
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DEBT SECURITIES
Bonds and other debt securities are used by issuers to borrow money. Issuers
pay investors interest and generally must repay the amount borrowed at
maturity. Some debt securities, such as zero coupon bonds, do not pay current
interest, but are purchased at a discount from their face values. The prices of
debt securities fluctuate depending on such factors as interest rates, credit
quality and maturity. In general their prices decline when interest rates rise
and vice versa.
INVESTING IN VARIOUS COUNTRIES
The fund may invest up to 10% of its assets in securities of issuers that are
domiciled outside the U.S. and not included in the Standard & Poor's Composite
Index (a broad measure of the U.S. stock market). Investing outside the U.S.
can involve special risks, particularly in certain developing countries, caused
by, among other things, fluctuating currency values; different accounting,
auditing, and financial reporting regulations and practices in some countries;
changing local and regional economic, political and social conditions; greater
market volatility; differing securities market structures; and various
administrative difficulties such as delays in clearing and settling portfolio
transactions or in receiving payment of dividends. However, in the opinion of
Capital Research and Management Company, investing outside the U.S. also can
reduce certain portfolio risks due to greater diversification opportunities.
Additional costs could be incurred in connection with the fund's investment
activities outside the U.S. The fund can purchase and sell currencies to
facilitate transactions in securities denominated in currencies other than the
U.S. dollar. Brokerage commissions may be higher outside the U.S., and the fund
will bear certain expenses in connection with its currency transactions.
Furthermore, increased custodian costs may be associated with the maintenance
of assets in certain jurisdictions.
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MULTIPLE PORTFOLIO COUNSELOR SYSTEM
The basic investment philosophy of Capital Research and Management Company is
to seek fundamental values at reasonable prices, using a system of multiple
portfolio counselors in managing mutual fund assets. Under this system the
portfolio of the fund is divided into segments which are managed by individual
counselors. Counselors decide how their respective segments will be invested
(within the limits provided by the fund's objectives and policies and by
Capital Research and Management Company's investment committee). In addition,
Capital Research and Management Company's research professionals make
investment decisions with respect to a portion of the fund's portfolio.
The primary individual portfolio counselors for the fund are listed on the
following page.
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6 THE INVESTMENT COMPANY OF AMERICA / PROSPECTUS
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<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
AS
INVESTMENT
PROFESSIONAL
(APPROXIMATE)
......................
YEARS OF
EXPERIENCE
AS PORTFOLIO
COUNSELOR
(AND RESEARCH
PROFESSIONAL IF WITH CAPITAL
APPLICABLE) FOR RESEARCH AND
THE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT
PORTFOLIO COUNSELORS COMPANY OF COMPANY OR
FOR THE INVESTMENT AMERICA ITS TOTAL
COMPANY OF AMERICA PRIMARY TITLE(S) (APPROXIMATE) AFFILIATES YEARS
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<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
JON B. Chairman of the 39 years (plus 45 years 45 years
LOVELACE, JR. Board of the 5 years as a
Fund. Vice research
Chairman of the professional
Board of prior to
Directors, becoming a
Capital portfolio
Research and counselor for
Management the fund)
Company
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WILLIAM C. President and 35 years 38 years 44 years
NEWTON Director of the
Fund. Senior
Partner, The
Capital Group
Partners L.P.*
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WILLIAM R. Senior Vice 25 years 27 years 34 years
GRIMSLEY President of
the Fund.
Senior Vice
President and
Director,
Capital
Research and
Management
Company
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R. MICHAEL Senior Vice 6 years (plus 32 years 32 years
SHANAHAN President of 13 years as an
the Fund. investment
Chairman of the professional
Board and prior to
Principal becoming a
Executive portfolio
Officer, counselor for
Capital the fund)
Research and
Management
Company
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GREGG E. Vice President 5 years (plus 24 years 24 years
IRELAND of the Fund. 10 years as a
Vice President, research
Capital professional
Research and prior to
Management becoming a
Company portfolio
counselor for
the fund)
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JAMES B. Vice President 5 years (plus 4 15 years 15 years
LOVELACE of the Fund. years as a
Vice President, research
Capital professional
Research and prior to
Management becoming a
Company portfolio
counselor for
the fund)
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DONALD D. Vice President 5 years (plus 4 12 years 12 years
O'NEAL of the Fund. years as a
Vice President, research
Capital professional
Research and prior to
Management becoming a
Company portfolio
counselor for
the fund)
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DINA N. Vice President, 3 years (plus 2 5 years 30 years
PERRY Capital years as a
Research and research
Management professional
Company prior to
becoming a
portfolio
counselor for
the fund)
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JAMES F. President and 3 years (plus 9 27 years 27 years
ROTHENBERG Director, years as a
Capital research
Research and professional
Management prior to
Company becoming a
portfolio
counselor for
the fund)
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</TABLE>
*Company affiliated with Capital Research and Management Company.
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THE INVESTMENT COMPANY OF AMERICA / PROSPECTUS 7
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INVESTMENT RESULTS
The fund may from time to time compare investment results to various indices or
other mutual funds. Fund results may be calculated on a total return, yield
and/or distribution rate basis. Results calculated without a sales charge will
be higher.
X TOTAL RETURN is the change in value of an investment in the fund over a given
period, assuming reinvestment of any dividends and capital gain
distributions.
X YIELD is computed by dividing the net investment income per share earned by
the fund over a given period of time by the maximum offering price per share
on the last day of the period, according to a formula mandated by the
Securities and Exchange Commission. A yield calculated using this formula may
be different than the income actually paid to shareholders.
X DISTRIBUTION RATE reflects dividends that were paid by the fund. The
distribution rate is calculated by dividing the dividends paid over the last
12 months by the sum of the month-end price and the capital gain
distributions paid over the last 12 months.
INVESTMENT RESULTS
(FOR PERIODS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
AVERAGE
ANNUAL THE FUND THE FUND AT
TOTAL AT NET MAXIMUM
RETURNS: ASSET VALUE/1/ SALES CHARGE/1/,/2/ S&P 500/3/
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<S> <C> <C> <C>
One year 19.35% 12.48% 22.90%
................................................................................
Five years 13.27% 11.93% 15.18%
................................................................................
Ten years 13.90% 13.23% 15.26%
................................................................................
Lifetime/4/ 13.30% 13.19% 11.79%
</TABLE>
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Yield/1/,/2/: 1.90%
Distribution Rate/2/: 1.87%
/1/ These fund results were calculated according to a standard that is required
for all stock and bond funds.
/2/ The maximum sales charge has been deducted.
/3/ The Standard & Poor's 500 Index represents stocks. This index is unmanaged
and does not reflect sales charges, commissions or expenses.
/4/ The fund began investment operations January 1, 1934.
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8 THE INVESTMENT COMPANY OF AMERICA / PROSPECTUS
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<PAGE>
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Here are the fund's annual total returns calculated without a sales charge.
This information is being supplied on a calendar year basis.
[chart]
Year %
1987 5.44
1988 13.34
1989 29.41
1990 0.68
1991 26.54
1992 6.99
1993 11.62
1994 0.16
1995 30.63
1996 19.35
[end chart]
Past results are not an indication of future results.
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DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES
DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS
The fund usually pays dividends four times a year (in March, June, September
and December). Capital gains, if any, are also usually distributed in December.
When a dividend or capital gain is distributed, the net asset value per share
is reduced by the amount of the payment.
FEDERAL TAXES
In any fiscal year in which the fund qualifies as a regulated investment
company and distributes to shareholders all of its net investment income and
net capital gains, the fund itself is relieved of federal income tax.
Generally, all dividends and capital gains are taxable whether they are
reinvested or received in cash -- unless you are exempt from taxation or
entitled to tax deferral. Early each year, you will be notified as to the
amount and federal tax status of all income distributions paid during the prior
year. Such distributions may also be subject to state or local taxes. The tax
treatment of redemptions from a retirement plan account may differ from
redemptions from an ordinary shareholder account.
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THE INVESTMENT COMPANY OF AMERICA / PROSPECTUS 9
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YOU MUST PROVIDE THE FUND WITH A CERTIFIED CORRECT TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION
NUMBER (GENERALLY YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER) AND CERTIFY THAT YOU ARE NOT
SUBJECT TO BACKUP WITHHOLDING. IF YOU FAIL TO DO SO THE IRS CAN REQUIRE THE
FUND TO WITHHOLD 31% OF YOUR TAXABLE DISTRIBUTIONS AND REDEMPTIONS. Federal law
also requires the fund to withhold 30% or the applicable tax treaty rate from
dividends paid to certain nonresident alien, non-U.S. partnership and non-U.S.
corporation shareholder accounts.
This is a brief summary of some of the tax laws that affect your investment in
the fund. Please see the statement of additional information and your tax
adviser for further information.
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FUND ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT
FUND ORGANIZATION AND VOTING RIGHTS
The fund, an open-end, diversified management investment company, was organized
as a Delaware corporation in 1933. All fund operations are supervised by the
fund's board of directors who meet periodically and perform duties required by
applicable state and federal laws. Members of the board who are not employed by
Capital Research and Management Company or its affiliates are paid certain fees
for services rendered to the fund as described in the statement of additional
information. They may elect to defer all or a portion of these fees through a
deferred compensation plan in effect for the fund. Shareholders have one vote
per share owned. At the request of the holders of at least 10% of the shares,
the fund will hold a meeting at which any member of the board could be removed
by a majority vote.
THE INVESTMENT ADVISER
Capital Research and Management Company, a large and experienced investment
management organization founded in 1931, is the investment adviser to the fund
and other funds, including those in The American Funds Group. Capital Research
and Management Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Capital Group
Companies, Inc., is headquartered at 333 South Hope Street, Los Angeles, CA
90071. Capital Research and Management Company manages the investment portfolio
and business affairs of the fund. The management fee paid by the fund to
Capital Research and Management Company may not exceed 0.39% of the fund's
average net assets annually and declines at certain asset levels. The total
management fee paid by the fund, as a percentage of average net assets, for the
previous fiscal year is discussed earlier under "Expenses."
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10 THE INVESTMENT COMPANY OF AMERICA / PROSPECTUS
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<PAGE>
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Capital Research and Management Company and its affiliated companies have
adopted a personal investing policy that is consistent with the recommendations
contained in the May 9, 1994 report issued by the Investment Company
Institute's Advisory Group on Personal Investing. This policy has also been
incorporated into the fund's "code of ethics."
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
The fund has a Plan of Distribution or "12b-1 Plan" under which it may finance
activities primarily intended to sell shares, provided the categories of
expenses are approved in advance by the board and the expenses paid under the
Plan were incurred within the preceding 12 months and accrued while the Plan is
in effect. The 12b-1 fee paid by the fund, as a percentage of average net
assets, for the previous fiscal year is discussed earlier under "Expenses."
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS
Orders for the fund's portfolio securities transactions are placed by Capital
Research and Management Company, which strives to obtain the best available
prices, taking into account the costs and quality of executions. Fixed-income
securities are generally traded on a "net" basis with a dealer acting as
principal for its own account without a stated commission, although the price
of the security usually includes a profit to the dealer. In underwritten
offerings, securities are usually purchased at a fixed price which includes an
amount of compensation to the dealer, generally referred to as a concession or
discount. On occasion, securities may be purchased directly from an issuer, in
which case no commissions or discounts are paid. In the over-the-counter
market, purchases and sales are transacted directly with principal market-
makers except in those circumstances where it appears better prices and
executions are available elsewhere.
Subject to the above policy, when two or more brokers are in a position to
offer comparable prices and executions, preference may be given to brokers who
have sold shares of the fund or have provided investment research, statistical,
and other related services for the benefit of the fund and/or other funds
served by Capital Research and Management Company.
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THE INVESTMENT COMPANY OF AMERICA / PROSPECTUS 11
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<PAGE>
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PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER AND TRANSFER AGENT
American Funds Distributors, Inc. and American Funds Service Company serve as
the principal underwriter and transfer agent for the fund, respectively. They
are headquartered at 333 South Hope Street, Los Angeles, CA 90071 and 135 South
State College Boulevard, Brea, CA 92821, respectively.
AMERICAN FUNDS SERVICE COMPANY SERVICE AREAS
[MAP OF UNITED STATES OF AMERICA APPEARS HERE]
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12 THE INVESTMENT COMPANY OF AMERICA / PROSPECTUS
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<PAGE>
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SHAREHOLDER SERVICES
The fund offers you a valuable array of services you can use to alter your
investment program as your needs and circumstances change. These services,
which are summarized below, are available only in states where they may be
legally offered and may be terminated or modified at any time upon 60 days'
written notice. A COMPLETE DESCRIPTION OF SHAREHOLDER SERVICES AND ACCOUNT
POLICIES IS CONTAINED IN THE FUND'S STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. In
addition, an easy-to-read guide to owning a fund in The American Funds Group
titled "Welcome to the Family" is sent to new shareholders and is available by
writing or calling American Funds Service Company.
THE SERVICES DESCRIBED MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE THROUGH SOME RETIREMENT PLANS OR
ACCOUNTS HELD BY INVESTMENT DEALERS. IF YOU ARE INVESTING IN SUCH A MANNER,
YOU SHOULD CONTACT YOUR PLAN ADMINISTRATOR/TRUSTEE OR DEALER ABOUT WHAT
SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE AND WITH QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR ACCOUNT.
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PURCHASING SHARES
HOW TO PURCHASE SHARES
Generally, you may open an account by contacting any investment dealer
authorized to sell the fund's shares. You may add to your account through your
dealer or directly through American Funds Service Company by mail, wire, or
bank debit. You may also establish or add to your account by exchanging shares
from any of your other accounts in The American Funds Group. The fund and
American Funds Distributors reserve the right to reject any purchase order.
Various purchase options are available as described below subject to certain
investment minimums and limitations described in the statement of additional
information and "Welcome to the Family."
X Automatic Investment Plan
You may invest monthly or quarterly through automatic withdrawals from your
bank account.
X Automatic Reinvestment
You may reinvest your dividends and capital gain distributions into the fund
(with no sales charge). This will be done automatically unless you elect to
have the dividends and/or capital gain distributions paid to you in cash.
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THE INVESTMENT COMPANY OF AMERICA / PROSPECTUS 13
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<PAGE>
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X Cross-Reinvestment
You may invest your dividends and capital gain distributions into any other
fund in The American Funds Group.
X Exchange Privilege
You may exchange your shares into other funds in The American Funds Group
generally with no sales charge. Exchanges of shares from the money market
funds that were initially purchased with no sales charge will generally be
subject to the appropriate sales charge. You may also elect to automatically
exchange shares among any of the funds in The American Funds Group. Exchange
requests may be made in writing, by telephone including American
FundsLine(R) (see below) or by fax. EXCHANGES HAVE THE SAME TAX CONSEQUENCES
AS ORDINARY SALES AND PURCHASES.
X Retirement Plans
You may invest in the fund through various retirement plans. For further
information contact your investment dealer or American Funds Distributors.
SHARE PRICE
The fund's share price, also called net asset value, is determined as of the
close of trading (normally 4:00 p.m., Eastern time) every day the New York
Stock Exchange is open. The fund calculates its net asset value per share,
generally using market prices, by dividing the total value of its assets after
subtracting liabilities by the number of its shares outstanding. Shares are
purchased at the offering price next determined after your investment is
received and accepted by American Funds Service Company. The offering price is
the net asset value plus a sales charge, if applicable.
SHARE CERTIFICATES
Shares are credited to your account and certificates are not issued unless you
request them by writing to American Funds Service Company.
INVESTMENT MINIMUMS
<TABLE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
To establish an account $250
For a retirement plan account $250
For a retirement plan account through payroll deduction $ 25
To add to an account $ 50
For a retirement plan account $ 25
</TABLE>
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14 THE INVESTMENT COMPANY OF AMERICA / PROSPECTUS
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<PAGE>
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SALES CHARGES
A sales charge may apply, as described below, when purchasing shares. Sales
charges may be reduced for larger purchases as indicated below.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SALES CHARGE AS A
PERCENTAGE OF
..................... DEALER
NET CONCESSION AS
OFFERING AMOUNT % OF OFFERING
INVESTMENT PRICE INVESTED PRICE
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Less than $50,000 5.75% 6.10% 5.00%
................................................................................
$50,000 but less than $100,000 4.50% 4.71% 3.75%
................................................................................
$100,000 but less than $250,000 3.50% 3.63% 2.75%
................................................................................
$250,000 but less than $500,000 2.50% 2.56% 2.00%
................................................................................
$500,000 but less than $1 million 2.00% 2.04% 1.60%
................................................................................
$1 million or more and certain
other investments described below see below see below see below
</TABLE>
PURCHASES NOT SUBJECT TO SALES CHARGES
Investments of $1 million or more and investments made by employer-sponsored
defined contribution-type plans with 200 or more eligible employees are sold
with no initial sales charge. A 1% CONTINGENT DEFERRED SALES CHARGE MAY BE
IMPOSED ON CERTAIN REDEMPTIONS MADE WITHIN ONE YEAR OF PURCHASE BY THESE
ACCOUNTS. A dealer concession of up to 1% may be paid by the fund from its Plan
of Distribution on these investments. Investments by retirement plans,
foundations or endowments with $50 million or more in assets may be made with
no sales charge and are not subject to a contingent deferred sales charge. A
dealer concession of up to 1% may be paid by American Funds Distributors on
these investments. Investments by certain individuals and entities including
employees and other associated persons of dealers authorized to sell shares of
the fund and Capital Research and Management Company and its affiliated
companies are not subject to a sales charge.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE INVESTMENT COMPANY OF AMERICA / PROSPECTUS 15
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
================================================================================
ADDITIONAL DEALER COMPENSATION
In addition to the concessions listed, up to 0.25% of average net assets is
paid annually to qualified dealers for providing certain services pursuant to
the fund's Plan of Distribution. During 1997, American Funds Distributors will
also provide additional compensation to the top one hundred dealers who have
sold shares of funds in The American Funds Group based on the pro rata share of
a qualifying dealer's sales.
REDUCING YOUR SALES CHARGE
You and your immediate family may combine investments to reduce your costs. You
must let your investment dealer or American Funds Service Company know if you
qualify for a reduction in your sales charge using one or any combination of
the methods described below.
X Aggregation
Investments that may be aggregated include those made by you, your spouse
and your children under the age of 21, if all parties are purchasing shares
for their own account(s), including any business account solely "controlled
by," as well as any retirement plan or trust account solely for the benefit
of, these individuals. Investments made for multiple employee benefit plans
of a single employer or "affiliated" employers may be aggregated provided
they are not also aggregated with individual accounts. Finally, investments
made by a common trust fund or other diversified pooled account not
specifically formed for the purpose of accumulating fund shares may be
aggregated.
Purchases made for nominee or street name accounts will generally not be
aggregated with those made for other accounts unless qualified as described
above.
X Concurrent Purchases
You may combine concurrent purchases of two or more funds in The American
Funds Group, except direct purchases of the money market funds. Shares of
the money market funds purchased through an exchange, reinvestment or cross-
reinvestment from a fund having a sales charge do qualify.
X Right of Accumulation
You may take into account the current value of your existing holdings in The
American Funds Group to determine your sales charge. Direct purchases of the
money market funds are excluded.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
16 THE INVESTMENT COMPANY OF AMERICA / PROSPECTUS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
================================================================================
X Statement of Intention
You may enter into a non-binding commitment to invest a certain amount
(which, at your request, may include purchases made during the previous 90
days) in non-money market fund shares over a 13-month period. A portion of
your account may be held in escrow to cover additional sales charges which
may be due if your total investments over the statement period are
insufficient to qualify for the applicable sales charge reduction.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SELLING SHARES
HOW TO SELL SHARES
You may sell (redeem) shares in your account by contacting your investment
dealer or American Funds Service Company. You may also use American
FundsLine(R) (see below). In addition, you may sell shares in amounts of $50 or
more automatically. If you sell shares through your investment dealer you may
be charged for this service. Shares held for you in your dealer's street name
must be sold through the dealer.
Shares are sold at the net asset value next determined after your request is
received in good order by American Funds Service Company. Sale requests may be
made in writing, by telephone, including American FundsLine(R) (see below), or
by fax. Sales by telephone or fax are limited to $10,000 in accounts registered
to individual(s) (including non-retirement trust accounts). In addition, checks
must be made payable to the registered shareholder(s) and mailed to an address
of record that has been used with the account for at least 10 days. Proceeds
will not be mailed until sufficient time has passed to provide reasonable
assurance that checks or drafts (including certified or cashier's checks) for
shares purchased have cleared (which may take up to 15 calendar days from the
purchase date). Except for delays relating to clearance of checks for share
purchases or in extraordinary circumstances (and as permissible under the
Investment Company Act of 1940), sale proceeds will be paid on or before the
seventh day following receipt and acceptance of an order. The fund may, with 60
days' written notice, close your account if due to a sale of shares the account
has a value of less than the minimum required initial investment.
Generally, written requests to sell shares must be signed by you and must
include any shares you wish to sell that are in certificate form. Your
signature must be guaranteed by a bank, savings association, credit union, or
member firm of a domestic stock exchange or the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc., that is an eligible guarantor institution. A
signature guarantee is not currently required for any sale of $50,000 or less
provided the check is made
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE INVESTMENT COMPANY OF AMERICA / PROSPECTUS 17
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
================================================================================
payable to the registered shareholder(s) and is mailed to the address of record
on the account, and provided the address has been used with the account for at
least 10 days. Additional documentation may be required for sales of shares
held in corporate, partnership or fiduciary accounts.
You may reinvest proceeds from a redemption or a dividend or capital gain
distribution without a sales charge in any fund in The American Fund Group
within 90 days after the date of the redemption or distribution. Reinvestment
will be at the next calculated net asset value after receipt and acceptance by
American Funds Service Company.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OTHER IMPORTANT THINGS TO REMEMBER
AMERICAN FUNDSLINE(R)
You may check your share balance, the price of your shares, or your most recent
account transactions, sell shares (up to $10,000 per fund, per account each
day), or exchange shares around the clock with American FundsLine(R). To use
this service, call 800/325-3590 from a TouchTone(TM) telephone.
TELEPHONE PURCHASES, SALES AND EXCHANGES
Unless you opt out of the telephone (including American FundsLine(R)) or fax
purchase, sale and/or exchange options (see below), you agree to hold the fund,
American Funds Service Company, any of its affiliates or mutual funds managed
by such affiliates, and each of their respective directors, trustees, officers,
employees and agents harmless from any losses, expenses, costs or liability
(including attorney fees) which may be incurred in connection with the exercise
of these privileges provided American Funds Service Company employs reasonable
procedures to confirm that the instructions received from any person with
appropriate account information are genuine. If reasonable procedures are not
employed, the fund may be liable for losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent
instructions.
Generally, all shareholders are automatically eligible to use these options.
However, you may elect to opt out of these options by writing American Funds
Service Company. (You may also reinstate them at any time by writing to
American Funds Service Company.)
ACCOUNT STATEMENTS
You will receive regular confirmation statements reflecting transactions in
your account. Purchases through automatic investment plans and certain
retirement plans will be confirmed at least quarterly.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
18 THE INVESTMENT COMPANY OF AMERICA / PROSPECTUS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
================================================================================
NOTES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE INVESTMENT COMPANY OF AMERICA / PROSPECTUS 19
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
================================================================================
NOTES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
20 THE INVESTMENT COMPANY OF AMERICA / PROSPECTUS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
================================================================================
NOTES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE INVESTMENT COMPANY OF AMERICA / PROSPECTUS 21
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
================================================================================
NOTES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
22 THE INVESTMENT COMPANY OF AMERICA / PROSPECTUS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
================================================================================
NOTES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE INVESTMENT COMPANY OF AMERICA / PROSPECTUS 23
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
================================================================================
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FOR SHAREHOLDER FOR DEALER FOR 24-HOUR
SERVICES SERVICES INFORMATION
<S> <C> <C> <C>
American Funds American Funds American American Funds
Service Company Distributors FundsLine(R) Internet Web site
800/421-0180 ext.1 800/421-9900 ext.11 800/325-3590 http://www.americanfunds.com
</TABLE>
Telephone conversations may be recorded or monitored for
verification, recordkeeping and quality assurance purposes.
------------------------------------------------------------
OTHER FUND INFORMATION
ANNUAL/SEMI-ANNUAL STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL
REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS INFORMATION (SAI)
Includes financial Contains more detailed
statements, detailed information on all aspects
performance information, of the fund, including the
portfolio holdings, a fund's financial statements.
statement from portfolio
management and the A current SAI has been filed
independent accountants' with the Securities and
report. Exchange Commission ("SEC).
It is incorporated by
reference into this prospectus
and is available along with
other related materials on the
SEC's Internet Web site at
http://www.sec.gov.
CODE OF ETHICS
Includes a description of
the fund's personal
investing policy.
To request a free copy of any of the documents above:
Call American Funds or Write to the Secretary of
Service Company the fund
800/421-0180 ext. 1 333 South Hope Street
Los Angeles, CA 90071
This prospectus has been printed on recycled paper.
[LOGO OF
RECYCLE
PAPER]
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
24 THE INVESTMENT COMPANY OF AMERICA / PROSPECTUS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE FUND PROVIDES SPANISH TRANSLATIONS IN CONNECTION WITH THE PUBLIC OFFERING
AND SALE OF ITS SHARES. THE FOLLOWING IS A FAIR AND ACCURATE ENGLISH
TRANSLATION OF A SPANISH LANGUAGE PROSPECTUS FOR THE FUND.
/s/ Vincent P. Corti
Vincent P. Corti
Secretary
<PAGE>
PROSPECTUS
for Eligible Retirement Plans
THE INVESTMENT COMPANY OF AMERICA(R)
An opportunity for long-term
growth of capital and income
[LOGO OF THE AMERICAN FUNDS GROUP(R)]
March 1, 1997
THE INVESTMENT COMPANY OF AMERICA
333 South Hope Street
Los Angeles, CA 90071
The fund's investment objectives are long-term growth of capital and income.
The fund strives to accomplish these objectives through constant supervision,
careful selection and broad diversification of a portfolio which ordinarily
consists principally of common stocks.
This prospectus relates only to shares of the fund offered without a sales
charge through eligible retirement plans. For a prospectus regarding shares of
the fund to be acquired otherwise, contact the Secretary of the fund at the
address indicated above.
This prospectus presents information you should know before investing in the
fund. It should be retained for future reference.
More detailed information about the fund, including the fund's financial
statements, is contained in the statement of additional information dated
March 1, 1997, which is incorporated by reference and has been filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission. The statement of additional
information is available to you without charge, by writing to the Secretary
of the fund at the above address or calling American Funds Service
Company.
SHARES OF THE FUND ARE NOT DEPOSITS OR OBLIGATIONS OF, OR INSURED OR
GUARANTEED BY, THE U.S. GOVERNMENT, ANY FINANCIAL INSTITUTION, THE FEDERAL
DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION OR ANY OTHER AGENCY, ENTITY OR PERSON. THE
PURCHASE OF FUND SHARES INVOLVES INVESTMENT RISKS, INCLUDING THE POSSIBLE LOSS
OF PRINCIPAL.
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION PASSED UPON
THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE
CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
04-010-0397
<PAGE>
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY This table is designed to help you understand costs of
OF EXPENSES investing in the fund. These are historical expenses;
your actual expenses may vary.
Average annual SHAREHOLDER TRANSACTION EXPENSES
expenses paid over Certain retirement plans may purchase shares of the
a 10-year period fund with no sales charge./1/ The fund also has no
would be sales charge on reinvested dividends, redemption fees
approximately $7 or exchange fees.
per year, assuming
a $1,000 ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES (as a percentage of
investment and a average net assets)
5% annual return
with no sales
charge.
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Management fees......................................... 0.26%
12b-1 expenses.......................................... 0.21%/2/
Other expenses (including audit, legal, shareholder
services, transfer agent and custodian expenses)....... 0.12%
Total company operating expenses........................ 0.59%
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXAMPLE 1 YEAR 3 YEARS 5 YEARS 10 YEARS
------- ------ ------- ------- --------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
You would pay the following
cumulative expenses on a $1,000
investment, assuming $6 $19 $33 $74
a 5% annual return./3/
</TABLE>
/1/ Retirement plans of organizations with $100 million or more in
collective retirement plan assets may purchase shares of the
fund with no sales charge. In addition, any employer-sponsored
403(b) plan or defined contribution plan qualified under
Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code including a
"401(k)" plan with 200 or more eligible employees or any other
plan that invests at least $1 million in shares of the fund
(or in combination with shares of other funds in The American
Funds Group other than the money market funds) may purchase
shares at net asset value; however, a contingent deferred
sales charge of 1% applies on certain redemptions made within
12 months following such purchases. (See "Redeeming Shares--
Contingent Deferred Sales Charge.")
/2/ These expenses may not exceed 0.25% of the company's average
net assets annually. (See "Fund Organization and Management--
Plan of Distribution.") Due to these distribution expenses,
long-term shareholders may pay more than the economic
equivalent of the maximum front-end sales charge permitted by
the National Association of Securities Dealers.
/3/ Use of this assumed 5% return is required by the Securities
and Exchange Commission; it is not an illustration of past or
future investment results. THIS EXAMPLE SHOULD NOT BE
CONSIDERED A REPRESENTATION OF PAST OR FUTURE EXPENSES; ACTUAL
EXPENSES MAY BE GREATER OR LESSER THAN THOSE SHOWN.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Summary of Expenses....................... 2
Financial Highlights...................... 3
Investment Objectives and Policies........ 3
Investment Techniques..................... 4
Investment Results........................ 7
Dividends, Distributions and Taxes........ 7
Fund Organization and Management.......... 8
Purchasing Shares......................... 9
Shareholder Services...................... 11
Redeeming Shares.......................... 11
</TABLE>
2
<PAGE>
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FINANCIAL The following information has been audited by Price
HIGHLIGHTS Waterhouse LLP, independent accountants, whose unquali-
fied report relating to the most recent five years is
(For a share included in the statement of additional information.
outstanding This information should be read in conjunction with the
throughout the financial statements and accompanying notes which are
fiscal year) also included in the statement of additional informa-
tion.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Net Asset Value,
Beginning of Year...... $ 21.61 $17.67 $ 18.72 $ 17.89 $ 17.48 $ 14.52 $15.24 $12.94 $12.61 $13.19
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
INCOME FROM INVESTMENT
OPERATIONS:
Net investment income... .49 .52 .51 .54 .49 .51 .57 .61 .51 .46
Net realized and
unrealized gain (loss)
on investments......... 3.66 4.83 (.48) 1.51 .71 3.27 (.48) 3.13 1.14 .23
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
Total from Investment
Operations........... 4.15 5.35 .03 2.05 1.20 3.78 .09 3.74 1.65 .69
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS:
Dividends from net in-
vestment
income................ (.50) (.50) (.48) (.47) (.47) (.44) (.59) (.59) (.56) (.52)
Distributions from net
realized gains........ (1.03) (.91) (.60) (.75) (.32) (.38) (.22) (.85) (.76) (.75)
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
Total Distributions... (1.53) (1.41) (1.08) (1.22) (.79) (.82) (.81) (1.44) (1.32) (1.27)
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
Net Asset Value, End
of Year.............. $ 24.23 $21.61 $ 17.67 $ 18.72 $ 17.89 $ 17.48 $14.52 $15.24 $12.94 $12.61
======= ======= ======= ======= ======= ====== ====== ====== ====== ======
Total Return/1/........ 19.35% 30.63% .16% 11.62% 6.99% 26.54% .68% 29.41% 13.34% 5.44%
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DA-
TA:
Net Assets, End of Year
(in millions)......... $30,875 $25,678 $19,280 $19,005 $15,428 $10,526 $5,923 $5,376 $4,119 $3,889
Ratios of Expenses to
Average Net
Assets................ .59% .60% .60% .59% .58% .59% .55% .52% .48% .42%
Ratio of Net Income to
Average Net Assets.... 2.17% 2.70% 2.83% 3.03% 3.06% 3.29% 3.95% 4.11% 3.78% 3.14%
Average
commissions paid
per share /2/ 5.79cents 6.16cents 5.11cents 6.20cents 7.43cents 6.99cents 5.88cents 8.04cents 8.24cents 6.68cents
Portfolio Turnover Rate
--common stocks...... 17.46% 20.91% 17.94% 19.57% 7.23% 5.79% 7.48% 14.47% 10.39% 10.76%
--investment securi-
ties.................. 19.56% 20.37% 31.08% 17.57% 9.73% 6.21% 10.94% 18.22% 16.41% 11.47%
</TABLE>
--------
/1/ Calculated with no sales charge. The maximum sales charge is 5.75% of
the fund's offering price.
/2/ Brokerage commissions paid on portfolio transactions increase the
cost of securities purchased or reduce the proceeds of securities
sold, and are not reflected in the fund's statement of operations.
Shares traded on a principal basis (without commissions) are excluded.
Generally, non-U.S. commissions are lower that U.S. commissions when
expressed as cents per share but higher when expressed as a percentage
of transactions because of the lower per-share prices of many non-U.S.
securities.
INVESTMENT The fund's investment objectives are long-term growth
OBJECTIVES of capital and income. The fund strives to accomplish
AND POLICIES these objectives through constant supervision, careful
selection and broad diversification. In the selection
The fund aims to of securities for investment, the possibilities of
provide you with appreciation and potential dividends are given more
long-term growth weight than current yield. The fund ordinarily invests
of capital and principally in common stocks. However, assets may also
income. be held in securities convertible into common stocks,
straight debt securities (rated in the top three
quality categories by Standard & Poor's Corporation or
Moody's Investors Service, Inc. or determined to be of
equivalent quality by Capital Research and Management
Company), cash
3
<PAGE>
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
or cash equivalents (such as commercial paper,
commercial bank obligations, and securities of the U.S.
Government, its agencies or instrumentalities), U.S.
Government securities, or nonconvertible preferred
stocks. (See the statement of additional information
for a description of cash equivalents.)
Additionally, the fund may from time to time invest in
common stocks and other securities of issuers domiciled
outside the U.S. (See "Investment Techniques--Investing
in Various Countries.")
The fund's fundamental investments are limited to
securities included on its eligible list, which
consists of securities deemed suitable investment media
in light of the fund's investment objectives and
policies. Securities are added to, or deleted from, the
eligible list by the board of directors, reviewing and
acting upon the recommendations of Capital Research and
Management Company.
The fund's investment restrictions (which are described
in the statement of additional information) and objec-
tives cannot be changed without shareholder approval.
All other investment practices may be changed by the
fund's board.
ACHIEVEMENT OF THE FUND'S INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES CANNOT,
OF COURSE, BE ASSURED DUE TO THE RISK OF CAPITAL LOSS
FROM FLUCTUATING PRICES INHERENT IN ANY INVESTMENT IN
SECURITIES.
INVESTMENT RISKS OF INVESTING Because the fund invests in stocks,
TECHNIQUES it is subject to market risks, including, for example,
the possibility that stock prices in general may de-
Investing in cline over short or even extended periods. The fund may
stocks involves also invest in fixed-income securities, including
certain risks. bonds, which have market values which tend to vary in-
versely with the level of interest rates--when interest
rates rise, their values will tend to decline and vice
versa. Although under normal market conditions longer
term securities yield more than shorter term securities
of similar quality, they are subject to greater price
fluctuations. These fluctuations in the value of the
investments will be reflected in the fund's net asset
value per share.
INVESTING IN VARIOUS COUNTRIES The fund may invest up
to 10% of its assets in securities of issuers that are
not included in the Standard & Poor's 500 Composite
Index (a broad measure of the U.S. stock market) and
that are domiciled outside the U.S. Of course,
investing internationally involves special risks,
particularly in certain developing countries caused
by, among other things: fluctuating currency values;
different accounting, auditing, and financial
reporting regulations and practices in some countries;
changing local and regional economic, political, and
social conditions; differing securities market
structures; and occasional administrative difficulties
such as delays in clearing and settling portfolio
transactions or in receiving payment of dividends.
4
<PAGE>
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
However, in the opinion of Capital Research and
Management Company, global investing also can reduce
certain portfolio risks due to greater diversification
opportunities.
Additional costs could be incurred in connection with
the fund's investment activities outside the U.S.
Brokerage commissions are generally higher outside the
U.S., and the fund will bear certain expenses in
connection with its currency transactions. The fund may
enter into currency exchange contracts for the purpose
of fixing the dollar cost or proceeds for a
transaction. Furthermore, increased custodian costs may
be associated with the maintenance of assets in certain
jurisdictions.
U.S. PRIVATE PLACEMENTS Private placements may be either
purchased from another institutional investor that
originally acquired the securities in a private
placement or directly from the issuers of the securities.
Generally, securities acquired in such private placements
are subject to contractual restrictions on resale and may
not be resold except pursuant to a registration statement
under the Securities Act of 1933 or in reliance upon an
exemption from the registration requirements under the
Act (for example, private placements sold pursuant to
Rule 144A). Accordingly, all such private placements will
be considered illiquid unless they have been specifically
determined to be liquid taking into account factors such
as the frequency and volume of trading and the commitment
of dealers to make markets under procedures which may be
adopted by the fund's board of directors. Additionally,
investing in private placement securities could have the
effect of increasing the level of illiquidity of the
fund's portfolio to the extent that "qualified"
institutional investors become, for a period of time,
uninterested in purchasing these securities. The fund
will not invest more than 10% of its total assets in
illiquid securities.
MULTIPLE PORTFOLIO COUNSELOR SYSTEM The basic
investment philosophy of Capital Research and
Management Company is to seek fundamental values at
reasonable prices, using a system of multiple portfolio
counselors in managing mutual fund assets. Under this
system the portfolio of the fund is divided into
segments which are managed by individual counselors.
Each counselor decides how their segment will be
invested (within the limits provided by the fund's
objectives and policies and by Capital Research and
Management Company's investment committee). In
addition, Capital Research and Management Company's
research professionals make investment decisions with
respect to a portion of the fund's portfolio. The
primary individual portfolio counselors for the fund
are listed on the next page.
5
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
AS INVESTMENT
PROFESSIONAL
(APPROXIMATE)
YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
AS PORTFOLIO
PORTFOLIO COUNSELOR (AND
COUNSELORS FOR THE RESEARCH
INVESTMENT COMPANY PRIMARY TITLE(S) PROFESSIONAL IF WITH CAPITAL
OF AMERICA APPLICABLE) FOR RESEARCH AND
THE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT
COMPANY OF AMERICA COMPANY OR ITS TOTAL
(APPROXIMATE) AFFILIATES YEARS
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Jon B. Lovelace, Chairman of the Board of 39 years (plus 5 45 years 45 years
Jr. the Fund. Vice Chairman years as a research
of the Board of Directors professional prior
and Chairman of the to becoming
Executive Committee, portfolio counselor
Capital Research and for the fund)
Management Company
William C. Newton President and Director of 35 years 38 years 44 years
the Fund. Senior Partner,
The Capital Group
Partners L.P.*
William R. Grimsley Senior Vice President of 25 years 27 years 34 years
the Fund. Senior Vice
President and Director,
Capital Research and
Management Company
R. Michael Shanahan Senior Vice President of 6 years (plus 13 32 years 32 years
the Fund. Chairman years as an
of the Board and investment
Principal Executive professional prior
Officer, Capital to becoming a
Research and Management portfolio counselor
Company for the fund)
Gregg E. Ireland Vice President of the 5 years (plus 10 24 years 24 years
Fund. Vice President, years as a research
Capital Research and professional prior
Management Company to becoming a
portfolio counselor
for the fund)
James B. Lovelace Vice President of the 5 years (plus 4 15 years 15 years
Fund. Vice President, years as a research
Capital Research and professional prior
Management Company to becoming a
portfolio counselor
for the fund)
Donald D. O'Neal Vice President of the 5 years (plus 4 12 years 12
Fund. Vice President, years as a research years
Capital Research and professional prior
Management Company to becoming a
portfolio counselor
for the fund)
Dina N. Perry Vice President, Capital 3 years (plus 2 5 years 30
Research and Management years as a research years
Company professional prior
to becoming a
portfolio counselor
for the fund)
James F. President and Director, 3 years (plus 9 27 years 27
Rothenberg Capital Research and years as a research years
Management Company professional prior
to becoming a
portfolio counselor
for the fund)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Company affiliated with Capital Research and Management Company
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
6
<PAGE>
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INVESTMENT RESULTS The fund may from time to time compare its investment
results to various unmanaged indices or other mutual
The fund has funds in reports to shareholders, sales literature and
averaged a total advertisements. The results may be calculated on a to-
return (at no tal return, yield and/or distribution rate basis for
sales charge) of various periods, with or without sales charges. Results
13.30% a year over calculated without a sales charge will be higher. Total
its lifetime returns assume the reinvestment of all dividends and
(January 1, 1934 capital gain distributions.
through December
31, 1996). The fund's yield and the average annual total returns
are calculated with no sales charge in accordance with
Securities and Exchange Commission requirements. The
fund's distribution rate is calculated by dividing the
dividends paid by the fund over the last 12 months by
the sum of the month-end price and the capital gains
paid over the last 12 months. For the 30-day period
ended December 31, 1996, the fund's SEC yield was 2.01%
and the distribution rate was 1.98% with no sales
charge. Yield is computed by dividing the net
investment income per share earned by the fund over a
given period of time by the net asset value per share
on the last day of the period, according to a formula
mandated by the Securities and Exchange Commission. A
yield calculated using this formula may be different
than the income actually paid to shareholders. The
fund's total return over the past 12 months and average
annual total returns over the past five-year and
ten-year periods, as of December 31, 1996, were 19.35%,
13.27%, and 13.90%, respectively. Of course, past
results are not an indication of future results. Further
information regarding the fund's investment results is
contained in the fund's annual report which may be
obtained without charge by writing to the Secretary of
the fund at the address indicated on the cover of this
prospectus.
DIVIDENDS, DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS Dividends are usually paid
DISTRIBUTIONS AND in March, June, September and December. Capital gains,
TAXES if any, are usually distributed in December. When a
dividend or capital gain is distributed, the net asset
Income value per share is reduced by the amount of the pay-
distributions are ment.
usually made in
March, June, The terms of your plan will govern how your plan may
September and receive distributions from the fund. Generally, peri-
December. odic distributions from the fund to your plan are rein-
vested in additional fund shares, although your plan
may permit fund distributions from net investment in-
come to be received by you in cash while reinvesting
capital gains distributions in additional shares or all
fund distributions to be received in cash. Unless you
select another option, all distributions will be rein-
vested in additional fund shares.
FEDERAL TAXES The fund intends to operate as a
"regulated investment company" under the Internal
Revenue Code. In any fiscal year in which the fund so
qualifies and distributes to shareholders all of its
net investment income and net capital gains, the fund
itself is relieved of federal income tax. The tax
treatment of redemptions from a retirement plan may
differ from redemptions from an ordinary shareholder
account.
Please see the statement of additional information and
your tax adviser for further information.
7
<PAGE>
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FUND FUND ORGANIZATION AND VOTING RIGHTS The fund, an open-
ORGANIZATION end, diversified management investment company, was or-
AND ganized as a Delaware corporation in 1933. The fund's
MANAGEMENT board supervises fund operations and performs duties
required by applicable state and federal law. Members
The fund is a of the board who are not employed by Capital Research
member of The and Management Company or its affiliates are paid cer-
American Funds tain fees for services rendered to the fund as de-
Group, which is scribed in the statement of additional information.
managed by one of They may elect to defer all or a portion of these fees
the largest and through a deferred compensation plan in effect for the
most experienced fund. All shareholders have one vote per share owned
investment and, at the request of the holders of at least 10% of
advisers. the shares, the fund will hold a meeting at which any
member of the board could be removed by a majority
vote.
THE INVESTMENT ADVISER Capital Research and Management
Company, a large and experienced investment management
organization founded in 1931, is the investment adviser
to the fund and other funds, including those in The
American Funds Group. Capital Research and Management
Company is located at 333 South Hope Street, Los
Angeles, CA 90071 and at 135 South State College
Boulevard, Brea, CA 92621. Capital Research and
Management Company manages the investment portfolio and
business affairs of the fund and receives a fee at the
annual rate of 0.39% on the first $1.0 billion of the
fund's net assets, plus 0.336% on net assets over
$1 billion to $2 billion, plus 0.30% on net assets over
$2 billion to $3 billion, plus 0.276% on net assets
over $3 billion to $5 billion, plus 0.258% on net
assets over $5 billion to $8 billion, plus 0.246% on
net assets over $8 billion to $13 billion, plus 0.24%
on net assets over $13 billion to $21 billion, plus
0.235% on net assets over $21 billion to $34 billion,
plus 0.231% on net assets in excess of $34 billion.
Capital Research and Management Company is a wholly
owned subsidiary of The Capital Group Companies, Inc.
(formerly "The Capital Group, Inc."), which is located
at 333 South Hope Street, Los Angeles, CA 90071. The
research activities of Capital Research and Management
Company are conducted by affiliated companies which
have offices in Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York,
Washington, D.C., London, Geneva, Singapore, Hong Kong
and Tokyo.
Capital Research and Management Company and its
affiliated companies have adopted a personal investing
policy that is consistent with the recommendations
contained in the report dated May 9, 1994 issued by the
Investment Company Institute's Advisory Group on
Personal Investing. (See the statement of additional
information.) This policy has also been incorporated
into the fund's "code of ethics" which is available
from the fund's Secretary upon request.
8
<PAGE>
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS Orders for the fund's portfolio
securities transactions are placed by Capital Research
and Management Company, which strives to obtain the
best available prices, taking into account the costs
and quality of executions. In the over-the-counter
market, purchases and sales are transacted directly
with principal market-makers except in those
circumstances where it appears better prices and
executions are available elsewhere.
Subject to the above policy, when two or more brokers
are in a position to offer comparable prices and
executions, preference may be given to brokers that
have sold shares of the fund or have provided
investment research, statistical, and other related
services for the benefit of the fund and/or of other
funds served by Capital Research and Management
Company.
PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER American Funds Distributors,
Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Capital Research and
Management Company, is the principal underwriter of the
fund's shares. American Funds Distributors, Inc. is
located at 333 South Hope Street, Los Angeles, CA
90071, 135 South State College Boulevard, Brea, CA
92821, 8000 IH-10 West, San Antonio, TX 78230, 8332
Woodfield Crossing Boulevard, Indianapolis, IN 46240,
and 5300 Robin Hood Road, Norfolk, VA 23513. Telephone
conversations with American Funds Distributors may be
recorded or monitored for verification, recordkeeping
and quality assurance purposes.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION The fund has a plan of
distribution or "12b-1 Plan" under which it may finance
activities primarily intended to sell shares, provided
these expenses are approved in advance by the board and
the expenses paid under the plan were incurred within
the last 12 months and accrued while the plan is in
effect. Expenditures by the fund under the plan may not
exceed 0.25% of its average net assets annually (all of
which may be for service fees).
TRANSFER AGENT American Funds Service Company, 800/421-
0180, a wholly owned subsidiary of Capital Research and
Management Company, is the transfer agent and performs
shareholder service functions. American Funds Service
Company is located at 333 South Hope Street, Los
Angeles, CA 90071, 135 South State College Boulevard,
Brea, CA 92821, 8000 IH-10 West, San Antonio, TX 78230,
8332 Woodfield Crossing Boulevard, Indianapolis, IN
46240, and 5300 Robin Hood Road, Norfolk, VA 23513. It
was paid a fee of $21,426,000 for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 1996. Telephone conversations with
American Funds Service Company may be recorded or
monitored for verification, recordkeeping and quality
assurance purposes.
PURCHASING ALL ORDERS TO PURCHASE SHARES MUST BE MADE THROUGH YOUR
SHARES RETIREMENT PLAN. FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT HOW TO PUR-
CHASE SHARES OF THE FUND THROUGH YOUR EMPLOYER'S PLAN
OR LIMITATIONS ON THE AMOUNT THAT MAY BE PURCHASED,
PLEASE CONSULT WITH YOUR EMPLOYER. Shares are
9
<PAGE>
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
sold to eligible retirement plans at the net asset
value per share next determined after receipt of an or-
der by the fund or American Funds Service Company. Or-
ders must be received before the close of regular trad-
ing on the New York Stock Exchange in order to receive
that day's net asset value. Plans of organizations with
collective retirement plan assets of $100 million or
more may purchase shares at net asset value. In addi-
tion, any employer-sponsored 403(b) plan or defined
contribution plan qualified under Section 401(a) of the
Internal Revenue Code including a "401(k)" plan with
200 or more eligible employees or any other plan that
invests at least $1 million in shares of the fund (or
in combination with shares of other funds in The Ameri-
can Funds Group other than the money market funds) may
purchase shares at net asset value; however, a contin-
gent deferred sales charge of 1% is imposed on certain
redemptions made within twelve months of such purchase.
(See "Redeeming Shares--Contingent Deferred Sales
Charge.") Plans may also qualify to purchase shares at
net asset value by completing a statement of intention
to purchase $1 million in fund shares subject to a com-
mission over a maximum of 13 consecutive months. Cer-
tain redemptions of such shares may also be subject to
a contingent deferred sales charge as described above.
(See the statement of additional information.)
The minimum initial investment is $250, except that the
money market funds have a minimum of $1,000 for indi-
vidual retirement accounts (IRAs). Minimums are reduced
to $50 for purchases through "Automatic Investment
Plans" (except for the money market funds) or to $25
for purchases by retirement plans through payroll de-
ductions and may be reduced or waived for shareholders
of other funds in The American Funds Group.
During 1997, American Funds Distributors will provide
additional compensation to the top one hundred dealers
who have sold shares of the fund or other funds in The
American Funds Group, based on a pro rata share of a
qualifying dealer's sales. American Funds Distributors
will, on an annual basis, determine the advisability
of continuing these payments.
Qualified dealers currently are paid a continuing serv-
ice fee not to exceed 0.25% of average net assets
(0.15% in the case of the money market funds) annually
in order to promote selling efforts and to compensate
them for providing certain services. (See "Fund Organi-
zation and Management--Plan of Distribution.") These
services include processing purchase and redemption
transactions, establishing shareholder accounts and
providing certain information and assistance with re-
spect to the fund.
Shares of the fund are offered to other shareholders
pursuant to another prospectus at public offering
prices that may include an initial sales charge.
10
<PAGE>
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SHARE PRICE Shares are offered to eligible retirement
plans at the net asset value next determined after the
order is received by the fund or American Funds Service
Company. In the case of orders sent directly to the
fund or American Funds Service Company, an investment
dealer MUST be indicated. Dealers are responsible for
promptly transmitting orders. (See the statement of
additional information under "Purchase of Shares--Price
of Shares.")
The fund's net asset value per share is determined as
of the close of trading (currently 4:00 p.m., New York
time) on each day the New York Stock Exchange is open.
The current value of the fund's total assets, less all
liabilities, is divided by the total number of shares
outstanding and the result, rounded to the nearer cent,
is the net asset value per share.
SHAREHOLDER Subject to any restrictions contained in your plan, you
SERVICES can exchange your shares for shares of other funds in
The American Funds Group which are offered through the
plan at net asset value. In addition, again depending
on any restrictions in your plan, you may be able to
exchange shares automatically or cross-reinvest
dividends in shares of other funds. Contact your plan
administrator/trustee regarding how to use these
services. Also, see the fund's statement of additional
information for a description of these and other
services that may be available through your plan. These
services are available only in states where the fund to
be purchased may be legally offered and may be
terminated or modified at any time upon 60 days'
written notice.
REDEEMING Subject to any restrictions imposed by your plan, you
SHARES can sell your shares through the plan any day the New
York Stock Exchange is open. For more information about
how to sell shares of the fund through your retirement
plan, including any charges that may be imposed by the
plan, please consult with your employer.
By contacting Your plan administrator/trustee must
your plan send a letter of instruction
administrator/ specifying the name of the fund, the
trustee number of shares or dollar amount to
be sold, and, if applicable, your
name and account number. For your
protection, if you redeem more than
$50,000, the signatures of the
registered owners or their legal
representatives must be guaranteed by
a bank, savings association, credit
union, or member firm of a domestic
stock exchange or the National
Association of Securities Dealers,
Inc., that is an eligible guarantor
institution. Your plan
administrator/trustee should verify
with the institution that it is an
eligible guarantor prior to signing.
Additional documentation may be
required to redeem shares from
certain accounts. Notarization by a
Notary Public is not an acceptable
signature guarantee.
--------------------------------------------------------
By contacting Shares may also be redeemed through
your an investment dealer; however you or
investment your plan may be charged for this
dealer service. SHARES HELD FOR YOU IN AN
INVESTMENT DEALER'S STREET NAME MUST
BE REDEEMED THROUGH THE DEALER.
THE PRICE YOU RECEIVE FOR THE SHARES YOU REDEEM IS THE
NET ASSET VALUE NEXT DETERMINED AFTER YOUR ORDER AND
ALL REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION ARE
11
<PAGE>
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RECEIVED BY THE FUND OR AMERICAN FUNDS SERVICE COMPANY.
(SEE "PURCHASING SHARES--SHARE PRICE.")
CONTINGENT DEFERRED SALES CHARGE A contingent deferred
sales charge of 1% applies to certain redemptions made
within 12 months of purchase on investments of $1
million or more and on any investment made with no
initial sales charge by any employer-sponsored 403(b)
plan or defined contribution plan qualified under
Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code including a
"401(k)" plan with 200 or more eligible employees. The
charge is 1% of the lesser of the value of the shares
redeemed (exclusive of reinvested dividends and capital
gain distributions) or the total cost of such shares.
Shares held for the longest period are assumed to be
redeemed first for purposes of calculating this charge.
The charge is waived for exchanges (except if shares
acquired by exchange were then redeemed within 12
months of the initial purchase); for distributions from
qualified retirement plans and other employee benefit
plans; for redemptions resulting from participant-
directed switches among investment options within a
participant-directed employer-sponsored retirement
plan; and for redemptions in connection with loans made
by qualified retirement plans.
OTHER IMPORTANT THINGS TO REMEMBER The net asset value
for redemptions is determined as indicated under
"Purchasing Shares--Share Price." Because the fund's
net asset value fluctuates, reflecting the market value
of the portfolio, the amount you receive for shares
redeemed may be more or less than the amount paid for
them.
Redemption proceeds will not be mailed until sufficient
time has passed to provide reasonable assurance that
checks or drafts (including certified or cashier's
checks) for shares purchased have cleared (which may
take up to 15 calendar days from the purchase date).
Except for delays relating to clearance of checks for
share purchases or in extraordinary circumstances (and
as permissible under the Investment Company Act of
1940), redemption proceeds will be paid on or before
the seventh day following receipt of a proper
redemption request.
[RECYCLE LOGO] This prospectus has been printed on
recycled paper that meets the
guidelines of the United States
Environmental Protection Agency.
THIS PROSPECTUS RELATES ONLY TO SHARES OF THE FUND
OFFERED WITHOUT A SALES CHARGE TO ELIGIBLE RETIREMENT
PLANS. FOR A PROSPECTUS REGARDING SHARES OF THE FUND
TO BE ACQUIRED OTHERWISE, CONTACT THE SECRETARY OF
THE FUND AT THE ADDRESS INDICATED ON THE FRONT.
12
<PAGE>
THE INVESTMENT COMPANY OF AMERICA
PART B
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
MARCH 1, 1997
This document is not a prospectus but should be read in conjunction with the
current prospectus of The Investment Company of America (the fund or ICA) dated
March 1, 1997. The prospectus may be obtained from your investment dealer or
financial planner or by writing to the fund at the following address:
THE INVESTMENT COMPANY OF AMERICA
ATTENTION: SECRETARY
333 SOUTH HOPE STREET
LOS ANGELES, CA 90071
(213) 486-9200
Shareholders who purchase shares at net asset value through eligible retirement
plans should note that not all of the services or features described below may
be available to them, and they should contact their employer for details.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ITEM PAGE NO.
<S> <C>
DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN SECURITIES 2
INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS 4
FUND DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS 6
ADVISORY BOARD 11
MANAGEMENT 13
DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND FEDERAL TAXES 16
PURCHASE OF SHARES 18
REDEEMING SHARES 25
SHAREHOLDER ACCOUNT SERVICES AND PRIVILEGES 26
EXECUTION OF PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS 28
GENERAL INFORMATION 29
INVESTMENT RESULTS 30
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ATTACHED
</TABLE>
DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN SECURITIES
The descriptions below are intended to supplement the material in the
prospectus under "Investment Policies and Risks."
EQUITY SECURITIES - The fund may invest without limitation in securities with
equity conversion rights and that are rated in any investment quality category;
however, the fund has no current intention (at least during the next 12 months)
to invest in securities rated below the top three quality categories by
Standard & Poor's Corporation or Moody's Investment Service, Inc. or unrated
but determined to be of equivalent quality by Capital Research and Management
Company (the Investment Adviser).
BOND RATINGS - The fund may invest in debt securities which are rated in the
top three quality categories by Standard & Poor's Corporation or Moody's
Investors Service, Inc. or determined to be of equivalent quality by the
Investment Adviser. The top three rating categories for Standard & Poor's and
Moody's are described below:
STANDARD & POOR'S CORPORATION:
"Debt rated 'AAA' has the highest rating assigned by Standard & Poor's.
Capacity to pay interest and repay principal is extremely strong."
"Debt rated 'AA' has a very strong capacity to pay interest and repay
principal and differs from the higher rated issues only in small degree."
"Debt rated 'A' has a strong capacity to pay interest and repay principal,
although they are somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of change in
circumstances and economic conditions, than debt in higher categories."
MOODY'S INVESTORS SERVICE, INC.:
"Bonds rated Aaa are judged to be of the best quality. They carry the
smallest degree of investment risk and are generally referred to as 'gilt
edge.' Interest payments are protected by a large or by an exceptionally
stable margin, and principal is secure. While the various protective elements
are likely to change, such changes as can be visualized are most unlikely to
impair the fundamentally strong position of such issues."
"Bonds rated Aa are judged to be of high quality by all standards. Together
with the Aaa group, they comprise what are generally known as high-grade bonds.
They are rated lower than the best bonds because margins of protection may not
be as large as in Aaa securities, or fluctuation of protective elements may be
of greater amplitude, or there may be other elements present which make the
long-term risks appear somewhat larger than the Aaa securities."
"Bonds rated A are judged to be of upper medium grade obligations. These
bonds possess many favorable investment attributes. Factors giving security to
principal and interest are considered adequate, but elements may be present
which suggest a susceptibility to impairment sometime in the future."
U.S. GOVERNMENT SECURITIES - Securities guaranteed by the U.S. Government
include: (1) direct obligations of the U.S. Treasury (such as Treasury bills,
notes and bonds) and (2) federal agency obligations guaranteed as to principal
and interest by the U.S. Treasury. In these securities, the payment of
principal and interest is unconditionally guaranteed by the U.S. Government,
and thus they are of the highest possible credit quality. Such securities are
subject to variations in market value due to fluctuations in interest rates,
but, if held to maturity, will be paid in full.
Certain securities issued by U.S. Government instrumentalities and certain
federal agencies are neither direct obligations of, nor guaranteed by, the
Treasury. However, they generally involve federal sponsorship in one way or
another; some are backed by specific types of collateral; some are supported by
the issuer's right to borrow from the Treasury; some are supported by the
discretionary authority of the Treasury to purchase certain obligations of the
issuer; and others are supported only by the credit of the issuing government
agency or instrumentality. These agencies and instrumentalities include, but
are not limited to, Federal Land Banks, Farmers Home Administration, Central
Bank Cooperatives, and Federal Intermediate Credit Banks.
CASH EQUIVALENTS - These securities include (1) commercial paper (short-term
notes up to 9 months in maturity issued by corporations or governmental
bodies), (2) commercial bank obligations (E.G., certificates of deposit
(interest-bearing time deposits), and bankers' acceptances (time drafts on a
commercial bank where the bank accepts an irrevocable obligation to pay at
maturity, (3) savings association and savings bank obligations (e.g.,
certificates of deposit issued by savings banks or savings and loan
associations), (4) securities of the U.S. Government, its agencies or
instrumentalities that mature, at the time of purchase, or may be redeemed, in
one year or less, and (5) corporate bonds and notes that mature, at the time of
purchase, or that may be redeemed, in one year or less.
CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS
Although the fund has no current intention to do so, it has the ability to
enter into forward currency contracts to protect against changes in currency
exchange rates. A forward currency contract is an obligation to purchase or
sell a specific currency at a future date and price, both of which are set at
the time of the contract. The fund intends to enter into forward currency
contracts solely to hedge into the U.S. dollar its exposure to other
currencies. The fund will segregate liquid assets which will be marked to
market daily to meet its forward contract commitments to the extent required by
the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Certain provisions of the Internal Revenue Code may affect the extent to which
the fund may enter into forward contracts. Such transactions may also affect,
for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the character and timing of income, gain
or loss recognized by the fund.
U.S. PRIVATE PLACEMENTS Private placements may be either purchased from another
institutional investor that originally acquired the securities in a private
placement or directly from the issuers of the securities. Generally,
securities acquired in such private placements are subject to contractual
restrictions on resale and may not be resold except pursuant to a registration
statement under the Securities Act of 1933 or in reliance upon an exemption
from the registration requirements under the Act (for example, private
placements sold pursuant to Rule 144A). Accordingly, all such private
placements will be considered illiquid unless they have been specifically
determined to be liquid taking into account factors such as the frequency and
volume of trading and the commitment of dealers to make markets under
procedures which may be adopted by the fund's board of directors.
Additionally, investing in private placement securities could have the effect
of increasing the level of illiquidity of the fund's portfolio to the extent
that "qualified" institutional investors become, for a period of time,
uninterested in purchasing these securities. The fund has no current intention
of investing in private placements sold pursuant to Rule 144A, and, in any
case, the fund will not invest more than 10% of its total assets in illiquid
securities.
INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS
The fund has adopted certain investment restrictions, which are fundamental
policies and cannot be changed without a majority vote of its outstanding
shares. A majority vote is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the
1940 Act) as the vote of the lesser of (i) 67% or more of the outstanding
voting securities present at a meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of the
outstanding voting securities are present in person or by proxy, or (ii) more
than 50% of the outstanding voting securities.
These restrictions (which do not apply to the purchase of securities issued or
guaranteed by the U.S. Government) provide that the fund shall make no
investment:
Which involves promotion or business management by the fund;
In any security about which reliable information is not available with respect
to the history, management, assets, earnings, and income of the issuer;
If the investment would cause more than 5% of the value of the total assets of
the fund, as they exist at the time of investment, to be invested in the
securities of any one issuer;
If the investment would cause more than 20% of the value of the total assets of
the fund to be invested in the securities in any one industry;
If the investment would cause the fund to own more than 10% of the outstanding
voting securities of any one issuer, provided that this restriction shall apply
as to 75% of the fund's total assets; or
In any security which has not been placed on the fund's Eligible List. (See the
prospectus).
The fund is not permitted to buy securities on margin, sell securities short,
borrow money, or to invest in real estate. (Although it has not been the
practice of the fund to make such investments (and it has no current intention
of doing so at least for the next 12 months), the fund may invest in the
securities of real estate investment trusts.)
The fund has also adopted other fundamental policies which cannot be changed
without shareholder approval. These policies require the fund not to:
Concentrate its investment in any particular industry or group of industries.
Some degree of concentration may occur from time to time (within the 20%
limitation of the Certificate of Incorporation) as certain industries appear to
present desirable fields for investment.
Engage generally in the making of loans. Although the fund has reserved the
right to make loans to unaffiliated persons subject to certain restrictions,
including requirements concerning collateral and amount of any loan, no loans
have been made since adoption of this fundamental policy more than 50 years
ago.
Act as underwriter of securities issued by others, engage in distribution of
securities for others, engage in the purchase and sale of commodities or
commodity contracts, borrow money, invest in real estate, or make investments
in other companies for the purpose of exercising control or management.
Pledge, encumber or assign all or any part of its property and assets as
security for a debt.
Invest in the securities of other investment companies.
Notwithstanding the restriction on investing in the securities of other
investment companies, the fund may invest in securities of other investment
companies if deemed advisable by its officers in connection with the
administration of a deferred compensation plan adopted by Directors pursuant to
an exemptive order granted by the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Additional investment restrictions adopted by the fund and which may be changed
by the Board of Directors without shareholder approval, provide that the fund
may not:
Purchase and sell securities for short-term profits; however, securities will
be sold without regard to the time that they have been held whenever investment
judgment makes such action seem advisable.
Purchase or retain the securities of any issuer if those officers and directors
of the fund or the Investment Adviser who own beneficially more than one half
of 1% of such issuer together own more than 5% of the securities of such
issuer.
Invest in securities of companies which, with their predecessors, have a record
of less than three years' continuous operations.
Invest in puts, calls, straddles, spreads or any combination thereof.
Purchase partnership interests in oil, gas or mineral exploration, drilling or
mining ventures.
Invest in excess of 10% of the market value of its total assets in securities
which may require registration under the Securities Act of 1933 prior to sale
by the fund (restricted securities), or other securities that are not readily
marketable.
FUND DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
Directors and Director Compensation
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME, ADDRESS POSITION PRINCIPAL AGGREGATE TOTAL COMPENSATION TOTAL
AND AGE WITH OCCUPATION(S) COMPENSATION (INCLUDING NUMBER
REGISTRANT DURING (INCLUDING VOLUNTARILY OF
PAST 5 YEARS VOLUNTARILY DEFERRED FUND
(POSITIONS WITHIN DEFERRED COMPENSATION/1/) BOARDS
THE ORGANIZATIONS COMPENSATION/1/) FROM ALL FUNDS ON
LISTED MAY FROM THE FUND MANAGED WHICH
HAVE CHANGED DURING FISCAL BY CAPITAL DIRECTOR
DURING THIS YEAR ENDED RESEARCH AND SERVES/3/
PERIOD) 12/31/96 MANAGEMENT
COMPANY/2/
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Charles H. Director Private investor $60,400 $115,400 4
Black and consultant;
525 Alma Real former Executive
Drive Vice President
Pacific and Director,
Palisades, CA KaiserSteel
90272 Corporation
Age: 70
Ann S. Bowers Director Senior Trustee, $55,800 $55,800 1
The Noyce The Noyce
Foundatioin Foundation; Human
450 Sheridan resources
Avenue consultant,
Palo Alto, CA Enterprise 2000
94306
Age: 59
Malcolm R. Director Chairman $48,600/4/ $48,600 1
Currie Emeritus, Hughes
28780 Wagon Aircraft Company
Road
Agoura, CA
91301
Age: 69
+Jon B. Chairman of Vice Chairman of None/5/ None/5/ 4
Lovelace, Jr. the Board the Board,
333 South Hope Capital Research
Street and Management
Los Angeles, CA Company
90071
Age: 70
John G. Director The IBJ Professor $62,200/4/ $153,800 7
McDonald of Finance,
Graduate School Graduate School
of Business of Business,
Stanford Stanford
University University
Stanford, CA
94305
Age: 59
Bailey Morris-Eck Director Senior Advisor, $49,800 $49,800 1
ARA/SCO Room Inter-American
3250 Affairs, Clinton
U.S. Department Administration;
of State Senior Feloow,
Washington, Institute for
D.C. 20520 International
Age: 52 Economics;
Consultant, THE
INDEPENDENT OF
LONDON
Richard G. Director Chairman, $29,200/4/ /6/ $72,500 13
Newman President and
3250 Wilshire CEO, AECOM
Blvd. Technology
Los Angeles, CA Corporation
90010 (architectural
Age: 62 engineering)
+William C. President Senior Partner, None/5/ None/5/ 1
Newton and The Capital Group
333 South Hope Director Partners, L.P.
Street
Los Angeles, CA
90071
Age: 66
+James W. Executive Senior Partner, None/5/ None/5/ 8
Ratzlaff Vice The Capital Group
P.O. Box 7650 President Partners L.P.;
San Francisco, and
CA 94120 Director
Age: 60
Olin C. Robison Director President of the $52,200 $77,500 2
The Marble Salzburg Seminar;
Works President
2 Maple Street Emeritus,
Middlebury, VT Middlebury
05753 College
Age: 60
William J. Director Chairman and $None/7/ $None 1
Spencer Chief Executive
2706 Montopolis Officer, SEMATECH
Drive (research and
Austin, TX development
78741 consortium)
Age: 66
</TABLE>
+ Directors who are considered "interested persons" as defined in the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), on the basis of
their affiliation with the fund's Investment Adviser, Capital Research and
Management Company.
/1/ Amounts may be deferred by eligible directors under a non-qualified
deferred compensation plan adopted by the fund in 1993. Deferred amounts
accumulate at an earnings rate determined by the total return of one or more
funds in The American Funds Group as designated by the Director.
/2/ Capital Research and Management Company manages The American Funds Group
consisting of 28 funds: AMCAP Fund, American Balanced Fund, Inc., American
High-Income Municipal Bond Fund, Inc., American High-Income Trust, American
Mutual Fund, Inc., The Bond Fund of America, Inc., The Cash Management Trust of
America, Capital Income Builder, Inc., Capital World Growth and Income Fund,
Inc., Capital World Bond Fund, Inc., EuroPacific Growth Fund, Fundamental
Investors, Inc., The Growth Fund of America, Inc., The Income Fund of America,
Inc., Intermediate Bond Fund of America, The Investment Company of America,
Limited Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America, The New Economy Fund, New
Perspective Fund, Inc., SMALLCAP World Fund, Inc., The Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of
America, Inc., The Tax-Exempt Fund of California, The Tax-Exempt Fund of
Maryland, The Tax-Exempt Fund of Virginia, The Tax-Exempt Money Fund of
America, The U.S. Treasury Money Fund of America, U.S. Government Securities
Fund and Washington Mutual Investors Fund Inc. American Variable Insurance
Series and the Anchor Pathway Fund are two other funds managed by Capital
Research and Management Company that serve as underlying investment vehicles
for certain variable insurance contracts.
/3/ Includes funds managed by Capital Research and Management Company and
affiliates.
/4/ Since the plan's adoption, the total amount of deferred compensation
accrued by the fund (plus earnings thereon) for participating Directors is as
follows: Malcolm R. Currie ($46,484), John G. McDonald ($188,120) and Richard
G. Newman ($31,127). Amounts deferred and accumulated earnings thereon are not
funded and are general unsecured liabilities of the fund until paid to the
Director.
/5/ Jon B. Lovelace, Jr., William C. Newton, and James W. Ratzlaff are
affiliated with the Investment Adviser and, accordingly, receive no
compensation from the fund.
/6/ Richard G. Newman was elected to the Board on April 23, 1996 and,
therefore, did not receive a full year of compensation.
/7/ William J. Spencer was elected to the Board on January 15, 1997 and,
therefore, received no compensation from the fund during the fiscal year ended
December 31, 1996.
OTHER OFFICERS
(with their principal occupations during the past five years)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME AND ADDRESS AGE POSITION(S) PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION(S)
WITH REGISTRANT DURING PAST 5 YEARS
<S> <C> <C> <C>
William R. Grimsley 58 Senior Vice Senior Vice President and
P.O. Box 7650 President Director, Capital Research
San Francisco, CA 94120 and Management Company
R. Michael Shanahan 58 Senior Vice Chairman of the Board and
333 South Hope Street President Principal Executive Officer,
Los Angeles, CA 90071 Capital Research and
Management Company
Gregg E. Ireland 47 Vice Vice President, Capital
3000 K Street, N.W. President Research and Management
Washington, DC 20007 Company
Anne M. Llewellyn 49 Vice Associate, Capital Research
333 South Hope Stree President and Management Company
Los Angeles, CA 90071
James B. Lovelace 40 Vice Vice President, Capital
333 South Hope Street President Research and Management
Los Angeles, CA 90071 Company
Donald D. O'Neal 36 Vice Vice President, Capital
P.O. Box 7650 President Research and Management
San Francisco, CA 94120 Company
Patricia L. Vaughn 40 Vice Vice President, Capital
333 South Hope Street President Research and Management
Los Angeles, CA 90071 Company
Vincent P. Corti 40 Secretary Vice President - Fund
333 South Hope Street Business Management Group,
Los Angeles, CA 90071 Capital Research and
Management Company
Steven N. Kearsley 55 Treasurer Vice President and
135 South State College Blvd. Treasurer, Capital Research
Brea, CA 92821 and Management Company
Julie F. Williams 48 Assistant Vice President - Fund
333 South Hope Street Secretary Business Managment Group,
Los Angeles, CA 90071 Capital Research and
Management Company
R. Marcia Gould 42 Assistant Vice President - Fund
135 South State College Blvd. Treasurer Business Managment Group,
Brea, CA 92821 Capital Research and
Management Company
Mary C. Hall 39 Assistant Senior Vice President - Fund
135 South State College Blvd. Treasurer Business Management Group,
Brea, CA 92821 Capital Research and
Management Company
</TABLE>
All of the officers listed are officers or employees of the Investment Adviser
or affiliated companies. No compensation is paid by the fund to any officer or
director who is a director, officer or employee of the Investment Adviser or
affiliated companies. Each unaffiliated Director is paid a fee of $36,000 per
annum, plus $2,000 for each Board of Directors meeting attended, plus $600 for
each meeting attended as a member of a committee of the Board of Directors. In
addition, members of the Proxy Committee receive an annual fee determined at
the end of the year by the Board of Directors. For the fiscal year ended
December 31, 1996, each member of the Proxy Committee received a fee of $6,400.
No pension or retirement benefits are accrued as part of fund expenses. The
Directors and Advisory Board members may elect, on a voluntary basis, to defer
all or a portion of their fees through a deferred compensation plan in effect
for the fund. As of January 31, 1997 the officers and Directors and their
families as a group, owned beneficially or of record less than 1% of the
outstanding shares of the fund.
ADVISORY BOARD
The Board of Directors has established an Advisory Board whose members are, in
the judgment of the Directors, highly knowledgeable about political and
economic matters. In addition to holding meetings with the Board of Directors,
members of the Advisory Board, while not participating in specific investment
decisions, consult from time to time with the Investment Adviser, primarily
with respect to trade and business conditions. Members of the Advisory Board,
however, possess no authority or responsibility with respect to the fund's
investments or management. The members of the Advisory Board and their current
or former principal occupations are as follows:
ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS
Advisory Board Member Compensation
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME, ADDRESS POSITION PRINCIPAL AGGREGATE TOTAL TOTAL
AND AGE WITH OCCUPATION(S) COMPENSATION COMPENSATION NUMBER
REGISTRANT DURING PAST 5 (INCLUDING (INCLUDING OF FUND
YEARS (POSITIONS VOLUNTARILY VOLUNTARILY BOARDS ON
WITHIN THE DEFERRED DEFERRED WHICH
ORGANIZATIONS COMPENSATION/1/) COMPENSATION/1/) ADVISORY
LISTED MAY FROM THE FUND FROM ALL FUNDS BOARD
HAVE CHANGED DURING FISCAL MANAGED MEMBER
DURING THIS YEAR ENDED BY CAPITAL SERVES/3/
PERIOD) 12/31/96 RESEARCH AND
MANAGEMENT
COMPANY/2/
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
John F. Advisory Supervisory $22,450 $22,450 1
Bookout Board Director, Royal
601 Jefferson Member and Dutch Petroleum
Street former Company; former
Houston, TX Director President and
77002 Chief Executive
Age: 74 Officer, Shell Oil
Company
Thomas M. Advisory Partner, Faegre & $7,500 $7,500 1
Crosby, Jr. Board Benson (law firm)
2200 Norwest Member
Center
90 South
Seventh Street
Minneapolis,
MN 55402
Age: 58
Malcolm Fraser Advisory Former Prime $6,500 $6,500 1
ANZ Tower Board Minister of
55 Collins Member Australia
Street
Melbourne,
Victoria 3000
Australia
Age: 66
Allan E. Advisory Former Canadian $7,500 $7,500 1
Gotlieb Board Ambassador to the
P.O. Box 85 Member United States
Toronto,
Ontario M5L
1B9
Canada
Age: 69
William H. Advisory President, $6,500/3/ $72,350 5
Kling Board Minnesota Public
45 East Member Radio; President,
Seventh Street Greenspring Co.;
St. Paul, MN former President,
55101 American Public
Age: 54 Radio (now Public
Radio
International)
Robert J. Advisory Chichele Professor $7,500 $35,200 3
O'Neill Board of the History of
St. Mary's Member War and Fellow of
Close All Souls College
27 Church
Green
Witney, OXON
OX8 6AZ
United Kingdom
Age: 60
Norman R. Advisory Managing Director, $7,500 $36,150 3
Weldon Board Partisan
15600 N.W. Member Management Group;
67th Avenue Chairman of the
Miami Lakes, Board, Novoste
FL 33014 Corporation
Age: 62
</TABLE>
/1/ Amounts may be deferred by eligible advisory board members under a
non-qualified deferred compensation plan adopted by the fund in 1993. Deferred
amounts accumulate at an earnings rate determined by the total return of one or
more funds in The American Funds Group as designated by the Advisory Board
member.
/2/ Capital Research and Management Company manages The American Funds Group
consisting of 28 funds: AMCAP Fund, American Balanced Fund, Inc., American
High-Income Municipal Bond Fund, Inc., American High-Income Trust, American
Mutual Fund, Inc., The Bond Fund of America, Inc., The Cash Management Trust of
America, Capital Income Builder, Inc., Capital World Growth and Income Fund,
Inc., Capital World Bond Fund, Inc., EuroPacific Growth Fund, Fundamental
Investors, Inc., The Growth Fund of America, Inc., The Income Fund of America,
Inc., Intermediate Bond Fund of America, The Investment Company of America,
Limited Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America, The New Economy Fund, New
Perspective Fund, Inc., SMALLCAP World Fund, Inc., The Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of
America, Inc., The Tax-Exempt Fund of California, The Tax-Exempt Fund of
Maryland, The Tax-Exempt Fund of Virginia, The Tax-Exempt Money Fund of
America, The U.S. Treasury Money Fund of America, U.S. Government Securities
Fund and Washington Mutual Investors Fund Inc. American Variable Insurance
Series and the Anchor Pathway Fund are two other funds managed by Capital
Research and Management Company that serve as underlying investment vehicles
for certain variable insurance contracts.
/3/ Since the plan's adoption, the total amount of deferred compensation
accrued by the fund (plus earnings thereon) for participating Advisory Board
members is as follows: William H. Kling ($28,195). Amounts deferred and
accumulated earnings thereon are not funded and are general unsecured
liabilities of the fund until paid to the Advisory Board member.
MANAGEMENT
INVESTMENT ADVISER - The Investment Adviser, founded in 1931, maintains
research facilities in the U.S. and abroad (Los Angeles, San Francisco, New
York, Washington, D.C., London, Geneva, Singapore, Hong Kong and Tokyo), with a
staff of professionals, many of whom have a number of years of investment
experience. The Investment Adviser is located at 333 South Hope Street, Los
Angeles, CA 90071, and at 135 South State College Boulevard, Brea, CA 92821.
The Investment Adviser's professionals travel several million miles a year,
making more than 5,000 research visits in more than 50 countries around the
world. The Investment Adviser believes that it is able to attract and retain
quality personnel. The Investment Adviser is a wholly owned subsidiary of The
Capital Group Companies, Inc.
An affiliate of the Investment Adviser compiles indices for major stock markets
around the world and compiles and edits the Morgan Stanley Capital
International Perspective, providing financial and market information about
more than 2,400 companies around the world.
The Investment Adviser is responsible for more than $100 billion of stocks,
bonds and money market instruments and serves over five million investors of
all types. These investors include privately owned business and large
corporations as well as schools, colleges, foundations and other non-profit and
tax-exempt organizations.
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND SERVICE AGREEMENT - The Investment Advisory and Service
Agreement (the Agreement) between the fund and the Investment Adviser will
continue until April 30, 1998, unless sooner terminated, and may be renewed
from year to year thereafter, provided that any such renewal has been
specifically approved at least annually by (i) the Board of Directors, or by
the vote of a majority (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the outstanding voting
securities, and (ii) the vote of a majority of directors who are not parties to
the Agreement or interested persons (as defined in the Act) of any such party,
cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.
The Agreement provides that the Investment Adviser has no liability to the fund
for its acts or omissions in performance of its obligations to the fund not
involving willful misconduct, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard
of its obligations under the Agreement. The Agreement also provides that
either party has the right to terminate it, without penalty, upon 60 days'
written notice to the other party and that the Agreement automatically
terminates in the event of its assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act).
The Investment Adviser, in addition to providing investment advisory services,
furnishes the services and pays the compensation and travel expenses of persons
to perform executive, administrative, clerical and bookkeeping functions of the
company; provides suitable office space and utilities; necessary small office
equipment and general purpose accounting forms, supplies, and postage used at
the offices of the fund. The fund will pay all expenses not expressly assumed
by the Investment Adviser, including, but not limited to, custodian, transfer
and dividend disbursing agency fees and expenses; costs of the designing,
printing and mailing of reports, proxy statements, and notices to its
shareholders; taxes; expenses of the issuance and redemption of shares
(including registration and qualification expenses); expenses pursuant to the
fund's Plan of Distribution (described below); legal and auditing expenses;
compensation, fees and expenses paid to Directors and members of the Advisory
Board who are not affiliated with the Investment Adviser; association dues; and
costs of stationery and forms prepared exclusively for the fund.
As compensation for its services, the Investment Adviser receives a monthly fee
which is accrued daily, calculated at the annual rate of 0.39% on the first
$1.0 billion of net assets, plus 0.336% on net assets over $1.0 billion to $2.0
billion, plus 0.30% on net assets over $2.0 billion to $3.0 billion, plus
0.276% on net assets over $3.0 billion to $5.0 billion, plus 0.258% on net
assets over $5.0 billion to $8.0 billion, plus 0.246% on net assets over $8.0
billion to $13.0 billion, plus 0.24% on net assets over $13.0 billion to $21.0
billion, plus 0.235% on net assets over $21.0 billion to $34.0 billion, plus
0.231% on net assets in excess of $34.0 billion. The Agreement provides that
the Investment Adviser shall pay the fund an amount by which normal operating
expenses, with the exception of interest, taxes, brokerage costs, distribution
expenses pursuant to the Plan of Distribution, and extraordinary expenses, if
any, as may be incurred in connection with any merger, reorganization, or
recapitalization, exceed the lesser of (i) 1-1/2% of the average value of the
fund's net assets for the fiscal year up to $30 million, plus 1% of the average
value of the fund's net assets for the fiscal year in excess of $30 million, or
(ii) 25% of the gross investment income of the fund. Only one state
(California) continues to impose expense limitations on funds registered for
sale therein. The California provision currently limits annual expenses to the
sum of 2-1/2% of the first $30 million of average net assets, 2% of the next
$70 million and 1-1/2% of the remaining average net assets. Rule 12b-1
distribution plan expenses would be excluded from this limit. Other expenses
which are not subject to this limitation are interest, taxes, and extraordinary
items such as litigation. Expenditures, including costs incurred in connection
with the purchase or sale of portfolio securities, which are capitalized in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles applicable to
investment companies, are accounted for as capital items and not as expenses.
During the years ended December 31, 1996, 1995, and 1994, Investment Adviser's
total fees amounted to $72,350,000, $58,981,000 and $50,698,000, respectively.
PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER - American Funds Distributors, Inc. (the Principal
Underwriter) is the principal underwriter of the fund's shares. The Principal
Underwriter is located at 333 South Hope Street, Los Angeles, CA 90071, 135
South State College Boulevard, Brea, CA 92821, 8000 IH-10 West, San Antonio, TX
78230, 8332 Woodfield Crossing Boulevard, Indianapolis, IN 46240, and 5300
Robin Hood Road, Norfolk, VA 23513. The fund has adopted a Plan of
Distribution (the Plan), pursuant to rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. The
Principal Underwriter receives amounts payable pursuant to the Plan (see below)
and commissions consisting of that portion of the sales charge remaining after
the discounts which it allows to investment dealers. Commissions retained by
the Principal Underwriter on sales of fund shares during the year ended
December 31, 1996 amounted to $16,461,000 after allowance of $88,318,000 to
dealers. During the years ended December 31, 1995 and 1994 the Principal
Underwriter retained $14,773,000 and $13,495,000, respectively.
As required by rule 12b-1, the Plan (together with the Principal Underwriting
Agreement) has been approved by the full Board of Directors, and separately by
a majority of the Directors who are not interested persons of the fund and who
have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Plan or
the Principal Underwriting Agreement, and the Plan has been approved by the
vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the fund. The
officers and directors who are interested persons of the fund may be considered
to have a direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Plan
due to present or past affiliations with the investment adviser and related
companies. Potential benefits of the Plan to the fund are improved shareholder
services, savings to the fund in transfer agency costs, savings to the fund in
advisory fees and other expenses, benefits to the investment process from
growth or stability of assets and maintenance of a financially healthy
management organization. The selection and nomination of Directors who are not
interested persons of the fund is committed to the discretion of the Directors
who are not interested persons during the existence of the Plan. The Plan is
reviewed quarterly and must be approved annually by the Board of Directors.
Under the Plan the fund may expend up to 0.25% of its average net assets
annually to finance any activity which is primarily intended to result in the
sale of fund shares, provided the fund's Board of Directors has approved the
category of expenses for which payment is being made. These include service
fees for qualified dealers and dealer commissions and wholesaler compensation
on sales of shares exceeding $1 million (including purchases by any
employer-sponsored 403(b) plan or purchases by any defined contribution plan
qualified under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code including a
"401(k)" plan with 200 or more eligible employees). Only expenses incurred
during the preceding 12 months and accrued while the Plan is in effect may be
paid by the fund. During the year ended December 31, 1996, the fund paid or
accrued $59,604,000 under the Plan as compensation to dealers.
The Glass-Steagall Act and other applicable laws, among other things, generally
prohibit commercial banks from engaging in the business of underwriting,
selling or distributing securities, but permit banks to make shares of mutual
funds available to their customers and to perform administrative and
shareholder servicing functions. However, judicial or administrative decisions
or interpretations of such laws, as well as changes in either federal or state
statutes or regulations relating to the permissible activities of banks or
their subsidiaries or affiliates, could prevent a bank from continuing to
perform all or a part of its servicing activities. If a bank were prohibited
from so acting, shareholder clients of such bank would be permitted to remain
shareholders of the fund and alternate means for continuing the servicing of
such shareholders would be sought. In such event, changes in the operation of
the fund might occur and shareholders serviced by such bank might no longer be
able to avail themselves of any automatic investment or other services then
being provided by such bank. It is not expected that shareholders would suffer
adverse financial consequences as a result of any of these occurrences.
In addition, state securities laws on this issue may differ from the
interpretations of federal law expressed herein and certain banks and financial
institutions may be required to be registered as dealers pursuant to state law.
DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND FEDERAL TAXES
The fund intends to meet all the requirements and has elected the tax status of
a "regulated investment company" under the provisions of Subchapter M of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the Code). Under Subchapter M, if the fund
distributes within specified times at least 90% of the sum of its investment
company taxable income it will be taxed only on that portion, if any, of the
investment company taxable income which it retains.
To qualify, the fund must (a) derive at least 90% of its gross income from
dividends, interest, certain payments with respect to securities loans and
gains from the sale or other disposition of stock, securities, currencies or
other income derived with respect to its business of investing in such stock,
securities or currencies; (b) derive less than 30% of its gross income from the
sale or other disposition of stock or securities held for less than three
months; and (c) diversify its holdings so that at the end of each fiscal
quarter, (i) at least 50% of the market value of the fund's assets is
represented by cash, U.S. Government securities and other securities which,
must be limited, in respect of any one issuer to an amount not greater than 5%
of the fund's assets and 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such
issuer, and (ii) not more than 25% of the value of its assets is invested in
the securities of any one issuer (other than U.S. Government securities or the
securities of other regulated investment companies), or in two or more issuers
which the fund controls and which are engaged in the same or similar trades or
businesses or related trades or businesses.
Under the Code, a nondeductible excise tax of 4% is imposed on the excess of a
regulated investment company's "required distribution" for the calendar year
ending within the regulated investment company's taxable year over the
"distributed amount" for such calendar year. The term "required distribution"
means the sum of (i) 98% of ordinary income (generally net investment income)
for the calendar year, (ii) 98% of capital gains (both long-term and
short-term) for the one-year period ending on October 31 (as though the
one-year period ending on October 31 were the regulated investment company's
taxable year), and (iii) the sum of any untaxed, undistributed net investment
income and net capital gains of the regulated investment company for prior
periods. The term "distributed amount" generally means the sum of (i) amounts
actually distributed by the fund from its current year's ordinary income and
net capital gain income and (ii) any amount on which the fund pays income tax
during the periods described above. The fund intends, to the extent
practicable, to meet these distribution requirements to minimize or avoid the
excise tax liability.
Distributions of investment company taxable income, including short-term
capital gains, generally are taxable to the shareholders as ordinary income,
regardless of whether such distributions are paid in cash or invested in
additional shares of the fund. The fund also intends to continue distributing
to shareholders all of the excess of net long-term capital gain over net
short-term capital loss on sales of securities. A capital gain distribution,
whether paid in cash or re-invested in shares, is taxable to shareholders as
long-term capital gains, regardless of the length of time a shareholder has
held the shares or whether such gain was realized by the fund before the
shareholder acquired such shares and was reflected in the price paid for the
shares. If the net asset value of shares of the fund should, by reason of a
distribution of realized capital gains, be reduced below a shareholder's cost,
such distribution would be a taxable dividend to the shareholder, even though
the distribution is economically a return of capital.
Dividends generally are taxable to shareholders at the time they are paid.
However, dividends declared in October, November and December and made payable
to shareholders of record in such a month are treated as paid and are therefore
taxable as of December 31, provided that the fund pays the dividend after
December 31 but during January of the following year.
If a shareholder exchanges or otherwise disposes of shares of the fund within
90 days of having acquired such shares, and if, as a result of having acquired
those shares, the shareholder subsequently pays a reduced sales charge for
shares of the fund, or of a different fund, the sales charge previously
incurred in acquiring the fund's shares shall not be taken into account (to the
extent such previous sales charges do not exceed the reduction in sales
charges) for the purpose of determining the amount of gain or loss on the
exchange, but will be treated as having been incurred in the acquisition of
such other shares. Also, any loss realized on a redemption or exchange of
shares of a fund will be disallowed to the extent substantially identical
shares are reacquired within the 61-day period beginning 30 days before and
ending 30 days after the shares are disposed of.
Under the Code, distributions of net investment income by the fund to a
shareholder who, as to the U.S., is a nonresident alien individual, nonresident
alien fiduciary of a trust or estate, foreign corporation or foreign
partnership (a foreign shareholder) will be subject to U.S. withholding tax (at
a rate of 30% or lower treaty rate). Withholding will not apply if a dividend
paid by the fund to a foreign shareholder is "effectively connected" with a
U.S. trade or business, in which case the reporting and withholding
requirements applicable to U.S. citizens, U.S. residents or domestic
corporations will apply. Distributions of net long-term capital gains not
effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business are not subject to tax
withholding, but in the case of a foreign shareholder who is a nonresident
alien individual, such distributions ordinarily will be subject to U.S. income
tax at a rate of 30% if the individual is physically present in the U.S. for
more than 182 days during the taxable year.
As of the date of this statement of additional information, the maximum federal
individual stated tax rate applicable to ordinary income is 39.6% (effective
tax rates may be higher for some individuals due to phase out of exemptions and
elimination of deductions); the maximum individual tax rate applicable to net
capital gain is 28%; and the maximum corporate tax applicable to ordinary
income and net capital gain is 35%. However, to eliminate the benefit of lower
marginal corporate income tax rates, corporations which have taxable income in
excess of $100,000 for a taxable year will be required to pay an additional
amount of tax of up to $11,750 and corporations which have taxable income in
excess of $15,000,000 for a taxable year will be required to pay an additional
amount of tax of up to $100,000. Naturally, the amount of tax payable by a
shareholder with respect to either distributions from the company or
disposition of company shares will be affected by a combination of tax law
rules covering, E.G., deductions, credits, deferrals, exemptions, sources of
income and other matters. Under the Code, an individual is entitled to
establish and contribute to an IRA each year (prior to the tax return filing
deadline for that year) whereby earnings on investments are tax-deferred. In
addition, in some cases, the IRA contribution itself may be deductible.
The foregoing is limited to a summary of federal taxation and should not be
viewed as a comprehensive discussion of all provisions of the Code relevant to
investors. Dividends and distributions may also be subject to state or local
taxes. Shareholders should consult their own tax advisers for additional
details as to their particular tax status.
PURCHASE OF SHARES
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
METHOD INITIAL INVESTMENT ADDITIONAL INVESTMENTS
<S> <C> <C>
See "Investment $50 minimum (except where a lower
Minimums and Fund minimum is noted under "Investment
Numbers" for initial Minimums and Fund Numbers").
investment minimums.
By contacting Visit any investment Mail directly to your investment dealer's
your investment dealer who is address printed on your account statement.
dealer registered in the state
where the purchase is
made and who has a
sales agreement with
American Funds
Distributors.
By mail Make your check payable Fill out the account additions form at the
to the fund and mail to bottom of a recent account statement, make your
the address indicated check payable to the fund, write your account
on the account number on your check, and mail the check and
application. Please form in the envelope provided with your account
indicate an investment statement.
dealer on the account
application.
By telephone Please contact your Complete the "Investments by Phone"
investment dealer to section on the account application or
open account, then American FundsLink Authorization Form.
follow the procedures Once you establish the privilege, you, your
for additional financial advisor or any person with your
investments. account information can call American
FundsLine(r) and make investments by telephone
(subject to conditions noted in "Shareholder
Account Services and Privileges - Telephone
Redemptions and Exchanges" below).
By wire Call 800/421-0180 to Your bank should wire your additional
obtain your account investments in the same manner as
number(s), if described under "Initial Investment."
necessary. Please
indicate an investment
dealer on the account.
Instruct your bank to
wire funds to:
Wells Fargo Bank
155 Fifth Street
Sixth Floor
San Francisco, CA 94106
(ABA #121000248)
For credit to the
account of:
American Funds Service
Company
a/c #4600-076178
(fund name)
(your fund acct. no.)
THE FUNDS AND AMERICAN FUNDS DISTRIBUTORS RESERVE THE RIGHT TO REJECT ANY PURCHASE ORDER.
</TABLE>
INVESTMENT MINIMUMS AND FUND NUMBERS - Here are the minimum initial investments
required by the funds in The American Funds Group along with fund numbers for
use with our automated phone line, American FundsLine(r) (see description
below):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C>
FUND MINIMUM FUND
INITIAL NUMBER
INVESTMENT
STOCK AND STOCK/BOND FUNDS
AMCAP Fund(r) $1,000 02
American Balanced Fund(r) 500 11
American Mutual Fund(r) 250 03
Capital Income Builder(r) 1,000 12
Capital World Growth and Income Fund(sm) 1,000 33
EuroPacific Growth Fund(r) 250 16
Fundamental Investors(sm) 250 10
The Growth Fund of America(r) 1,000 05
The Income Fund of America(r) 1,000 06
The Investment Company of America(r) 250 04
The New Economy Fund(r) 1,000 14
New Perspective Fund(r) 250 07
SMALLCAP World Fund(r) 1,000 35
Washington Mutual Investors Fund(sm) 250 01
BOND FUNDS
American High-Income Municipal Bond 1,000 40
Fund(r)
American High-Income Trust(sm) 1,000 21
The Bond Fund of America(sm) 1,000 08
Capital World Bond Fund(r) 1,000 31
Intermediate Bond Fund of America(sm) 1,000 23
Limited Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of 1,000 43
America(sm)
The Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America(r) 1,000 19
The Tax-Exempt Fund of California(r)* 1,000 20
The Tax-Exempt Fund of Maryland(r)* 1,000 24
The Tax-Exempt Fund of Virginia(r)* 1,000 25
U.S. Government Securities Fund(sm) 1,000 22
MONEY MARKET FUNDS
The Cash Management Trust of America(r) 2,500 09
The Tax-Exempt Money Fund of America(sm) 2,500 39
The U.S. Treasury Money Fund of 2,500 49
America(sm)
___________
*Available only in certain states.
</TABLE>
For retirement plan investments, the minimum is $250, except that the money
market funds have a minimum of $1,000 for individual retirement accounts
(IRAs). Minimums are reduced to $50 for purchases through "Automatic
Investment Plans" (except for the money market funds) or to $25 for purchases
by retirement plans through payroll deductions and may be reduced or waived for
shareholders of other funds in The American Funds Group. TAX-EXEMPT FUNDS
SHOULD NOT SERVE AS RETIREMENT PLAN INVESTMENTS. The minimum is $50 for
additional investments (except as noted above).
DEALER COMMISSIONS - The sales charges you pay when purchasing the stock,
stock/bond, and bond funds of The American Funds Group are set forth below.
The money market funds of The American Funds Group are offered at net asset
value. (See "Investment Minimums and Fund Numbers" for a listing of the
funds.)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
AMOUNT OF PURCHASE SALES CHARGE AS DEALER
AT THE OFFERING PRICE PERCENTAGE OF THE: CONCESSION
AS PERCENTAGE
OF THE
OFFERING
PRICE
<S> <C> <C> <C>
NET AMOUNT OFFERING
INVESTED PRICE
STOCK AND STOCK/BOND FUNDS
Less than $50,000 6.10% 5.75%
5.00%
$50,000 but less than $100,000 4.71 4.50
3.75
BOND FUNDS
Less than $25,000 4.99 4.75
4.00
$25,000 but less than $50,000 4.71 4.50
3.75
$50,000 but less than $100,000 4.17 4.00
3.25
STOCK, STOCK/BOND, AND BOND FUNDS
$100,000 but less than $250,000 3.63 3.50
2.75
$250,000 but less than $500,000 2.56 2.50
2.00
$500,000 but less than $1,000,000 2.04 2.00
1.60
$1,000,000 or more none none (see below)
</TABLE>
Commissions of up to 1% will be paid to dealers who initiate and are
responsible for purchases of $1 million or more, for purchases by any
employer-sponsored 403(b) plan or purchases by any defined contribution plan
qualified under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code including a
"401(k)" plan with 200 or more eligible employees, and for purchases made at
net asset value by certain retirement plans of organizations with collective
retirement plan assets of $100 million or more: 1.00% on amounts of $1 million
to $2 million, 0.80% on amounts over $2 million to $3 million, 0.50% on amounts
over $3 million to $50 million, 0.25% on amounts over $50 million to $100
million, and 0.15% on amounts over $100 million. The level of dealer
commissions will be determined based on sales made over a 12-month period
commencing from the date of the first sale at net asset value.
American Funds Distributors, at its expense (from a designated percentage of
its income), will, during calendar year 1997, provide additional compensation
to dealers. Currently these payments are limited to the top one hundred dealers
who have sold shares of the fund or other funds in The American Funds Group.
These payments will be based on a pro rata share of a qualifying dealer's
sales. American Funds Distributors will, on an annual basis, determine the
advisability of continuing these payments.
Any employer-sponsored 403(b) plan or defined contribution plan qualified under
Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code including a "401(k)" plan with 200
or more eligible employees or any other purchaser investing at least $1 million
in shares of the fund (or in combination with shares of other funds in The
American Funds Group other than the money market funds) may purchase shares at
net asset value; however, a contingent deferred sales charge of 1% is imposed
on certain redemptions made within twelve months of the purchase. Investments
by retirement plans, foundations or endowments with $50 million or more in
assets may be made with no sales charge and are not subject to a contingent
deferred sales charge. (See "Redeeming Shares--Contingent Deferred Sales
Charge.")
Qualified dealers currently are paid a continuing service fee not to exceed
0.25% of average net assets (0.15% in the case of the money market funds)
annually in order to promote selling efforts and to compensate them for
providing certain services. These services include processing purchase and
redemption transactions, establishing shareholder accounts and providing
certain information and assistance with respect to the fund.
NET ASSET VALUE PURCHASES - The stock, stock/bond and bond funds may sell
shares at net asset value to: (1) current or retired directors, trustees,
officers and advisory board members of the funds managed by Capital Research
and Management Company, employees of Washington Management Corporation,
employees and partners of The Capital Group Companies, Inc. and its affiliated
companies, certain family members of the above persons, and trusts or plans
primarily for such persons; (2) current registered representatives, retired
registered representatives with respect to accounts established while active,
or full-time employees (and their spouses, parents, and children) of dealers
who have sales agreements with American Funds Distributors (or who clear
transactions through such dealers) and plans for such persons or the dealers;
(3) companies exchanging securities with the fund through a merger, acquisition
or exchange offer; (4) trustees or other fiduciaries purchasing shares for
certain retirement plans of organizations with retirement plan assets of $100
million or more; (5) insurance company separate accounts; (6) accounts managed
by subsidiaries of The Capital Group Companies, Inc.; and (7) The Capital Group
Companies, Inc., its affiliated companies and Washington Management
Corporation. Shares are offered at net asset value to these persons and
organizations due to anticipated economies in sales effort and expense.
STATEMENT OF INTENTION - The reduced sales charges and offering prices set
forth in the prospectus apply to purchases of $50,000 or more made within a
13-month period subject to a statement of intention (the "Statement"). The
Statement is not a binding obligation to purchase the indicated amount. When a
shareholder elects to utilize a Statement in order to qualify for a reduced
sales charge, shares equal to 5% of the dollar amount specified in the
Statement will be held in escrow in the shareholder's account out of the
initial purchase (or subsequent purchases, if necessary) by the Transfer Agent.
All dividends and any capital gain distributions on shares held in escrow will
be credited to the shareholder's account in shares (or paid in cash, if
requested). If the intended investment is not completed within the specified
13-month period, the purchaser will remit to the Principal Underwriter the
difference between the sales charge actually paid and the sales charge which
would have been paid if the total of such purchases had been made at a single
time. If the difference is not paid within 45 days after written request by
the Principal Underwriter or the securities dealer, the appropriate number of
shares held in escrow will be redeemed to pay such difference. If the proceeds
from this redemption are inadequate, the purchaser will be liable to the
Principal Underwriter for the balance still outstanding. The Statement may be
revised upward at any time during the 13-month period, and such a revision will
be treated as a new Statement, except that the 13-month period during which the
purchase must be made will remain unchanged and there will be no retroactive
reduction of the sales charges paid on prior purchases. Existing holdings
eligible for rights of accumulation (see the prospectus and account
application) may be credited toward satisfying the Statement. During the
Statement period reinvested dividends and capital gain distributions,
investments in money market funds, and investments made under a right of
reinstatement will not be credited toward satisfying the Statement.
In the case of purchase orders by the trustees of certain retirement plans by
payroll deduction, the sales charge for the investments made during the
13-month period will be handled as follows: The regular monthly payroll
deduction investment will be multiplied by 13 and then multiplied by 1.5. The
current value of existing American Funds investments (other than money market
fund investments) and any rollovers or transfers reasonably anticipated to be
invested in non-money market American Funds during the 13-month period are
added to the figure determined above. The sum is the Statement amount and
applicable breakpoint level. On the first investment and all other investments
made pursuant to the Statement, a sales charge will be assessed according to
the sales charge breakpoint thus determined. There will be no retroactive
adjustments in sales charges on investments previously made during the 13-month
period.
Shareholders purchasing shares at a reduced sales charge under a Statement
indicate their acceptance of these terms with their first purchase.
AGGREGATION - Sales charge discounts are available for certain aggregated
investments. Qualifying investments include those by you, your spouse and your
children under the age of 21, if all parties are purchasing shares for their
own account(s), which may include purchases through employee benefit plan(s)
such as an IRA, individual-type 403(b) plan or single-participant Keogh-type
plan or by a business solely controlled by these individuals (for example, the
individuals own the entire business) or by a trust (or other fiduciary
arrangement) solely for the benefit of these individuals. Individual purchases
by a trustee(s) or other fiduciary(ies) may also be aggregated if the
investments are (1) for a single trust estate or fiduciary account, including
an employee benefit plan other than those described above, or (2) made for two
or more employee benefit plans of a single employer or of affiliated employers
as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, again excluding employee
benefit plans described above, or (3) for a diversified common trust fund or
other diversified pooled account not specifically formed for the purpose of
accumulating fund shares. Purchases made for nominee or street name accounts
(securities held in the name of an investment dealer or another nominee such as
a bank trust department instead of the customer) may not be aggregated with
those made for other accounts and may not be aggregated with other nominee or
street name accounts unless otherwise qualified as described above.
PRICE OF SHARES - Purchases of shares are made at the offering price next
determined after the purchase order is received by the fund or American Funds
Service Company; this offering price is effective for orders received prior to
the time of determination of the net asset value and, in the case of orders
placed with dealers, accepted by the Principal Underwriter prior to its close
of business. In the case of orders sent directly to the fund or American Funds
Service Company, an investment dealer MUST be indicated. The dealer is
responsible for promptly transmitting purchase orders to the Principal
Underwriter. Orders received by the investment dealer, the Transfer Agent, or
the fund after the time of the determination of the net asset value will be
entered at the next calculated offering price. Prices which appear in the
newspaper are not always indicative of prices at which you will be purchasing
and redeeming shares of the fund since such prices generally reflect the
previous day's closing price whereas purchases and redemptions are made at the
next calculated price.
The price you pay for shares, the offering price, is based on the net asset
value per share which is calculated once daily at the close of trading
(currently 4:00 p.m., New York Time) each day the New York Stock Exchange is
open. The New York Stock Exchange is currently closed on weekends and on the
following holidays: New Year's Day, Presidents' Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day,
Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. The net asset
value per share is determined as follows:
1. Stocks, and convertible bonds and debentures, traded on a national
securities exchange (or reported on the NASDAQ national market) and securities
traded in the over-the- counter market are stated at the last reported sales
price on the day of valuation; other securities and securities for which no
sale was reported on that date, are stated at the last quoted bid price.
Non-convertible bonds and debentures, and other long-term debt securities
normally are valued at prices obtained from a bond pricing service provided by
a major dealer in bonds when such prices are available; however, in
circumstances where the Investment Adviser deems it appropriate to do so, such
securities will be valued at the mean of their representative quoted bid and
asked prices or, if such prices are not available, at the mean of such prices
for securities of comparable maturity, quality and type.
U.S. Treasury bills, and other short-term obligations issued or guaranteed
by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities, certificates of
deposit issued by banks, corporate short-term notes and other short-term
investments with original or remaining maturities in excess of 60 days are
valued at the mean of representative quoted bid and asked prices for such
securities or, if such prices are not available, for securities of comparable
maturity, quality and type. Short-term securities with 60 days or less to
maturity are amortized to maturity based on their cost to the fund if acquired
within 60 days of maturity or, if already held by the fund on the 60th day,
based on the value determined on the 61st day. Other securities are valued on
the basis of last sale or bid prices in what is, in the opinion of the
Investment Advisor, the broadest and most representative market, which may be
either a securities exchange or the over-the-counter market. Where quotations
are not readily available, securities are valued at fair value as determined in
good faith by the Valuation Committee of the Board of Directors. The fair
value of all other assets is added to the value of securities to arrive at the
total assets;
2. There are deducted from the total assets, thus determined, the liabilities,
including accruals of taxes and other expense items; and
3. The net assets so obtained are then divided by the total number of shares
outstanding (excluding treasury shares), and the result, rounded to the nearer
cent, is the net asset value per share.
Any purchase order may be rejected by the Principal Underwriter or by the
fund. The Principal Underwriter will not knowingly sell shares directly or
indirectly, or through a unit investment trust to any other investment company,
person or entity, where, after the sale, such investment company, person, or
entity would own beneficially directly, indirectly, or through an investment
trust more than 3% of the outstanding shares of the fund without the consent of
a majority of the fund's Directors.
REDEEMING SHARES
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C>
By writing to American Funds Send a letter of instruction specifying the name of
Service Company (at the the fund, the number of shares or dollar amount to be
appropriate address indicated sold, your name and account number. You should also
under "Fund Organization and enclose any share certificates you wish to redeem.
Management - Principal For redemptions over $50,000 and for certain
Underwriter and Transfer Agent" redemptions of $50,000 or less (see below), your
in the prospectus) signature must be guaranteed by a bank, savings
association, credit union, or member firm of a
domestic stock exchange or the National Association
of Securities Dealers, Inc. that is an eligible
guarantor institution. You should verify with the
institution that it is an eligible guarantor prior to
signing. Additional documentation may be required
for redemption of shares held in corporate,
partnership or fiduciary accounts. Notarization by a
Notary Public is not an acceptable signature
guarantee.
By contacting your investment If you redeem shares through your investment dealer,
dealer you may be charged for this service. SHARES HELD FOR
YOU IN YOUR INVESTMENT DEALER'S STREET NAME MUST BE
REDEEMED THROUGH THE DEALER.
You may have a redemption You may use this option, provided the account is
check sent to you by using registered in the name of an individual(s), a
American FundsLine(r) or by UGMA/UTMA custodian, or a non-retirement plan trust.
telephoning, faxing, or These redemptions may not exceed $10,000 per day, per
telegraphing American Funds fund account and the check must be made payable to
Service Company (subject to the the shareholder(s) of record and be sent to the
conditions noted in this section address of record provided the address has been used
and in "Telephone Purchases, with the account for at least 10 days. See "Fund
Sales and Exchanges" in the Organization and Management - Principal Underwriter
prospectus) and Transfer Agent" in the prospectus and "Exchange
Privilege" below for the appropriate telephone or fax
number.
In the case of the money Upon request (use the account application for the
market funds, you may have money market funds) you may establish telephone
redemptions wired to your redemption privileges (which will enable you to have
bank by telephoning American a redemption sent to your bank account) and/or check
Funds Service Company ($1,000 or writing privileges. If you request check writing
more) or by writing a check privileges, you will be provided with checks that you
($250 or more) may use to draw against your account. These checks
may be made payable to anyone you designate and must
be signed by the authorized number of registered
shareholders exactly as indicated on your checking
account signature card.
</TABLE>
A SIGNATURE GUARANTEE IS NOT CURRENTLY REQUIRED FOR ANY REDEMPTION OF $50,000
OR LESS PROVIDED THE REDEMPTION CHECK IS MADE PAYABLE TO THE REGISTERED
SHAREHOLDER(S) AND IS MAILED TO THE ADDRESS OF RECORD, PROVIDED THE ADDRESS HAS
BEEN USED WITH THE ACCOUNT FOR AT LEAST 10 DAYS.
CONTINGENT DEFERRED SALES CHARGE - A contingent deferred sales charge of 1%
applies to certain redemptions made within twelve months of purchase on
investments of $1 million or more and on any investment made with no initial
sales charge by any employer-sponsored 403(b) plan or defined contribution plan
qualified under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code including a
"401(k)" plan with 200 or more eligible employees. The charge is 1% of the
lesser of the value of the shares redeemed (exclusive of reinvested dividends
and capital gain distributions) or the total cost of such shares. Shares held
for the longest period are assumed to be redeemed first for purposes of
calculating this charge. The charge is waived for exchanges (except if shares
acquired by exchange were then redeemed within 12 months of the initial
purchase); for distributions from qualified retirement plans and other employee
benefit plans; for redemptions resulting from participant-directed switches
among investment options within a participant-directed employer-sponsored
retirement plan; for distributions from 403(b) plans or IRAs due to death,
disability or attainment of age 591/2; for tax-free returns of excess
contributions to IRAs; for redemptions through certain automatic withdrawals
not exceeding 10% of the amount that would otherwise be subject to the charge;
and for redemptions in connection with loans made by qualified retirement
plans.
REDEMPTIONS - The fund's Certificate of Incorporation permits the fund to
direct the Transfer Agent to redeem the Common shares owned by any holder of
capital stock of the fund if the value of such shares in the account of such
holder is less than the required minimum initial investment amount applicable
to that account as set forth in the fund's current registration statement under
the 1940 Act, and subject to such further terms and conditions as the Board of
Directors of the fund may from time to time adopt. Prior notice of at least 60
days will be given to a shareholder before the involuntary redemption provision
is made effective with respect to the shareholder's account. The shareholder
will have not less than 30 days from the date of such notice within which to
bring the account up to the minimum determined as set forth above.
SHAREHOLDER ACCOUNT SERVICES AND PRIVILEGES
AUTOMATIC INVESTMENT PLAN - The automatic investment plan enables shareholders
to make regular monthly or quarterly investments in shares through automatic
charges to their bank accounts. With shareholder authorization and bank
approval, the Transfer Agent will automatically charge the bank account for the
amount specified ($50 minimum), which will be automatically invested in shares
at the offering price on or about the dates you select. Bank accounts will be
charged on the day or a few days before investments are credited, depending on
the bank's capabilities, and shareholders will receive a confirmation statement
at least quarterly. Participation in the plan will begin within 30 days after
receipt of the account application. If the shareholder's bank account cannot
be charged due to insufficient funds, a stop-payment order or closing of the
account, the plan may be terminated and the related investment reversed. The
shareholder may change the amount of the investment or discontinue the plan at
any time by writing to the Transfer Agent.
AUTOMATIC REINVESTMENT - Dividends and capital gain distributions are
reinvested in additional shares at no sales charge unless you indicate
otherwise on the account application. You also may elect to have dividends
and/or capital gain distributions paid in cash by informing the fund, American
Funds Service Company or your investment dealer.
CROSS-REINVESTMENT OF DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS - A shareholder in one fund
may elect to cross-reinvest dividends or dividends and capital gain
distributions paid by that fund (the paying fund) into any other fund in The
American Funds Group (the "receiving fund") subject to the following
conditions: (i) the aggregate value of the shareholder's account(s) in the
paying fund(s) must equal or exceed $5,000 (this condition is waived if the
value of the account in the receiving fund equals or exceeds that fund's
minimum initial investment requirement), (ii) as long as the value of the
account in the receiving fund is below that fund's minimum initial investment
requirement, dividends and capital gain distributions paid by the receiving
fund must be automatically reinvested in the receiving fund, and (iii) if this
privilege is discontinued with respect to a particular receiving fund, the
value of the account in that fund must equal or exceed the fund's minimum
initial investment requirement or the fund shall have the right, if the
shareholder fails to increase the value of the account to such minimum within
90 days after being notified of the deficiency, automatically to redeem the
account and send the proceeds to the shareholder. These cross-reinvestment of
dividends and capital gain distributions will be at net asset value (without
sales charge).
EXCHANGE PRIVILEGE - You may exchange shares into other funds in The American
Funds Group. Exchange purchases are subject to the minimum investment
requirements of the fund purchased and no sales charge generally applies.
However, exchanges of shares from the money market funds are subject to
applicable sales charges on the fund being purchased, unless the money market
fund shares were acquired by an exchange from a fund having a sales charge, or
by reinvestment or cross-reinvestment of dividends or capital gain
distributions.
You may exchange shares by writing to American Funds Service Company (see
"Redeeming Shares"), by contacting your investment dealer, by using American
FundsLine(r) (see "American FundsLine(r)" below), or by telephoning
800/421-0180 toll-free, faxing (see "Principal Underwriter and Transfer Agent"
in the prospectus for the appropriate fax numbers) or telegraphing American
Funds Service Company. (See "Telephone Redemptions and Exchanges" below.)
Shares held in corporate-type retirement plans for which Capital Guardian Trust
Company serves as trustee may not be exchanged by telephone, fax or telegraph.
Exchange redemptions and purchases are processed simultaneously at the share
prices next determined after the exchange order is received. (See "Purchase of
Shares--Price of Shares.") THESE TRANSACTIONS HAVE THE SAME TAX CONSEQUENCES AS
ORDINARY SALES AND PURCHASES.
AUTOMATIC EXCHANGES - You may automatically exchange shares (in amounts of $50
or more) among any of the funds in The American Funds Group on any day (or
preceding business day if the day falls on a non-business day) of each month
you designate. You must either meet the minimum initial investment requirement
for the receiving fund OR the originating fund's balance must be at least
$5,000 and the receiving fund's minimum must be met within one year.
AUTOMATIC WITHDRAWALS - Withdrawal payments are not to be considered as
dividends, yield or income. Automatic investments may not be made into a
shareholder account from which there are automatic withdrawals. Withdrawals of
amounts exceeding reinvested dividends and distributions and increases in share
value would reduce the aggregate value of the shareholder's account. The
Transfer Agent arranges for the redemption by the company of sufficient shares,
deposited by the shareholder with the Transfer Agent, to provide the withdrawal
payment specified.
ACCOUNT STATEMENTS - Your account is opened in accordance with your
registration instructions. Transactions in the account, such as additional
investments and dividend reinvestments, will be reflected on regular
confirmation statements from American Funds Service Company. Purchases through
automatic investment plans and certain retirement plans will be confirmed at
least quarterly.
AMERICAN FUNDSLINE(R) - You may check your share balance, the price of your
shares, or your most recent account transaction, redeem shares (up to $10,000
per fund, per account each day), or exchange shares around the clock with
American FundsLine(r). To use this service, call 800/325-3590 from a TouchTonet
telephone. Redemptions and exchanges through American FundsLine(r) are subject
to the conditions noted above and in "Telephone Redemptions and Exchanges"
below. You will need your fund number (see the list of funds in The American
Funds Group under "Purchase of Shares--Investment Minimums and Fund Numbers"),
personal identification number (the last four digits of your Social Security
number or other tax identification number associated with your account) and
account number.
TELEPHONE REDEMPTIONS AND EXCHANGES - By using the telephone (including
American FundsLine(r)), fax or telegraph redemption and/or exchange options,
you agree to hold the fund, American Funds Service Company, any of its
affiliates or mutual funds managed by such affiliates, and each of their
respective directors, trustees, officers, employees and agents harmless from
any losses, expenses, costs or liability (including attorney fees) which may be
incurred in connection with the exercise of these privileges. Generally, all
shareholders are automatically eligible to use these options. However, you may
elect to opt out of these options by writing American Funds Service Company
(you may also reinstate them at any time by writing American Funds Service
Company). If American Funds Service Company does not employ reasonable
procedures to confirm that the instructions received from any person with
appropriate account information are genuine, the fund may be liable for losses
due to unauthorized or fraudulent instructions. In the event that shareholders
are unable to reach the fund by telephone because of technical difficulties,
market conditions, or a natural disaster, redemption and exchange requests may
be made in writing only.
EXECUTION OF PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS
Orders for the fund's portfolio securities transactions are placed by the
Investment Adviser. The Investment Adviser strives to obtain the best
available prices in its portfolio transactions taking into account the costs
and promptness of executions. When circumstances relating to a proposed
transaction indicate that a particular broker (either directly or through its
correspondent clearing agent) is in a position to obtain the best price and
execution, the order is placed with that broker. This may or may not be a
broker who has provided investment research, statistical, or other related
services to the Investment Adviser or has sold shares of the fund or other
funds served by the Investment Adviser. The fund does not consider that it has
an obligation to obtain the lowest available commission rate to the exclusion
of price, service and qualitative considerations. Subject to the above policy,
when two or more borkers are in a position to offer comparable prices and
executions, preference may be given to brokers who have sold shares of the fund
or have provided investment research, statistical, and other related services
for the benefit of the fund and/or other funds served by the Investment
Adviser.
There are occasions on which portfolio transactions for the fund may be
executed as part of concurrent authorizations to purchase or sell the same
security for other funds served by the Investment Adviser, or for trusts or
other accounts served by affiliated companies of the Investment Adviser.
Although such concurrent authorizations potentially could be either
advantageous or disadvantageous to the fund, they are effected only when the
Investment Adviser believes that to do so is in the interest of the fund. When
such concurrent authorizations occur, the objective is to allocate the
executions in an equitable manner. The fund will not pay a mark-up for
research in principal transactions.
As of the end of the fund's most recent fiscal year, amounts held in certain
equity securities of J.P. Morgan Company, Inc. in the amount of $234,300,000.
Brokerage commissions paid on portfolio transactions, excluding dealer
concessions on underwritings, for the years ended December 31, 1996, 1995, and
1994 amounted to $11,978,000, $11,505,000 and $8,244,000, respectively.
GENERAL INFORMATION
CUSTODIAN OF ASSETS - Securities and cash owned by the fund, including proceeds
from the sale of shares of the fund and of securities in the fund's portfolio,
are held by The Chase Manhattan Bank, One Chase Manhattan Plaza, New York, NY
10081, as Custodian. Non-U.S. securities may be held by the Custodian,
pursuant to sub-custodial arrangements, in non-U.S. banks or non-U.S. branches
of U.S. banks.
TRANSFER AGENT - American Funds Service Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of
the Investment Adviser, maintains the records of each shareholder's account,
processes purchases and redemptions of the fund's shares, acts as dividend and
capital gain distribution disbursing agent, and performs other related
shareholder service functions. American Funds Service Company was paid a fee
of $21,426,000 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996.
INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS - Price Waterhouse LLP, 400 South Hope Street, Los
Angeles, CA 90071, has served as the fund's independent accountant since its
inception, providing audit services, preparation of tax returns and review of
certain documents to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The
financial statements included in this Statement of Additional Information have
been so included in reliance on the report of the independent accountants given
on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting. The
selection of the fund's independent accountant is reviewed and determined
annually by the Board of Directors.
REPORTS TO SHAREHOLDERS - The fund's fiscal year ends on December 31.
Shareholders are provided at least semi-annually with reports showing the
investment portfolio and financial statements audited annually by the fund's
independent accountants, Price Waterhouse LLP.
PERSONAL INVESTING POLICY - Capital Research and Management Company and its
affiliated companies have adopted a personal investing policy consistent with
Investment Company Institute guidelines. This policy includes: a ban on
acquisitions of securities pursuant to an initial public offering; restrictions
on acquisitions of private placement securities; pre-clearance and reporting
requirements; review of duplicate confirmation statements; annual
recertification of compliance with codes of ethics; disclosure of personal
holdings by certain investment personnel prior to recommendation for purchase
for the fund; blackout periods on personal investing for certain investment
personnel; ban on short-term trading profits for investment personnel;
limitations on service as a director of publicly traded companies; and
disclosure of personal securities transactions. You may obtain a summary of
the personal investing policy by contacting the Secretary of the fund.
REMOVAL OF DIRECTORS BY SHAREHOLDERS - At any meeting of shareholders, duly
called and at which a quorum is present, the shareholders may, by the
affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the votes entitled to be cast
thereon, remove any director or directors from office and may elect a successor
or successors to fill any resulting vacancies for the unexpired terms of
removed directors. The fund has made an undertaking, at the request of the
staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, to apply the provisions of
section 16(c) of the 1940 Act with respect to the removal of directors as
though the fund were a common-law trust. Accordingly, the Directors of the
fund shall promptly call a meeting of shareholders for the purpose of voting
upon the question of removal of any director when requested in writing to do so
by the record holders of not less than 10% of the outstanding shares.
THE WARRANTS OF THE FUND - On December 31, 1996, there were outstanding 38,208
option warrants, unlimited in time, to purchase shares of the fund. As
originally issued in 1933 in exchange for shares of a predecessor trust, each
warrant permitted the purchase of one share of the fund at $115 per share. By
reason of adjustments for stock dividends and stock splits, each outstanding
warrant now represents an option to purchase approximately 21.940 shares at
approximately $5.242 per share, and, if all warrants were exercised,
approximately 838,283 shares would be issued. Whenever the offering price of
the fund's shares exceeds the price at which shares may be purchased by the
exercise of warrants, the holders of such warrants may, by exercising their
options, purchase shares at a price lower than the offering price of shares.
No warrants are currently owned by officers or directors of the fund.
The financial statements, including the investment portfolio and the report of
Independent Auditors, contained in the Annual Report are included in this
Statement of Additional Information. The following information is not included
in the Annual Report:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE, REDEMPTION PRICE AND
MAXIMUM OFFERING PRICE PER SHARE -- DECEMBER 31, 1996
<S> <C>
Net asset value and redemption price per share . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $24.23
(Net assets divided by shares outstanding)
Maximum offering price per share . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $25.71
(100/94.25 of net asset value per share, which
takes into account the fund's current maximum
sales charge)
</TABLE>
INVESTMENT RESULTS
The fund's yield is 1.90% based on a 30-day (or one month) period ended
December 31, 1996, computed by dividing the net investment income per share
earned during the period by the maximum offering price per share on the last
day of the period, according to the following formula:
YIELD = 2[( a-b/cd + 1)/6/ -1]
Where: a = dividends and interest earned during the period.
b = expenses accrued for the period (net of reimbursements).
c = the average daily number of shares outstanding during the period that
were entitled to receive dividends.
d = the maximum offering price per share on the last day of the period.
The fund's total return over the past year and average annual total returns for
the five- and ten-year periods ending on December 31, 1996 were 12.48%, 11.93%
and 13.23%, respectively. The average annual total return (T) is computed by
equating the value at the end of the period (ERV) with a hypothetical initial
investment of $1,000 (P) over a period of years (n) according to the following
formula as required by the Securities and Exchange Commission: P(1+T)/n/ =
ERV.
To calculate total return, an initial investment is divided by the offering
price (which includes the sales charge) as of the first day of the period in
order to determine the initial number of shares purchased. Subsequent
dividends and capital gain distributions are then reinvested at net asset value
on the reinvestment date determined by the Board of Directors. The sum of the
initial shares purchased and shares acquired through reinvestment is multiplied
by the net asset value per share as of the end of the period in order to
determine ending value. The difference between the ending value and the
initial investment divided by the initial investment converted to a percentage
equals total return. The resulting percentage indicates the positive or
negative investment results that an investor would have experienced from
reinvested dividends and capital gain distributions and changes in share price
during the periods. Total return may be calculated for the one-, five-,
ten-year and for other periods. The average annual total return over periods
greater than one year may also be computed by utilizing ending values as
determined above.
The fund may also, at times, calculate total return based on net asset value
per share (rather than the offering price), in which case the figure would not
reflect the effect of any sales charges which would have been paid if shares
were purchased during the period reflected in the computation. Consequently,
total return calculated in this manner will be higher. Total return for the
unmanaged indices will be calculated assuming reinvestment of dividends and
interest, but will not reflect any deductions for advisory fees, brokerage
costs or administrative expenses.
The following assumptions will be reflected in computations made in accordance
with the formula stated above: (1) deduction of the maximum sales load of
5.75% from the $1,000 initial investment; (2) reinvestment of dividends and
distributions at net asset value on the reinvestment date determined by the
Board; and (3) a complete redemption at the end of any period illustrated. In
addition, the company will provide lifetime average total return figures.
The fund may also calculate a distribution rate on a taxable and tax equivalent
basis. The distribution rate is computed by dividing the dividends paid by the
fund over the last 12 months by the sum of the month-end net asset value or
maximum offering price and the capital gains paid over the last 12 months. The
distribution rate may differ from the yield.
The fund may include information on its investment results and/or comparisons
of its investment results to various unmanaged indices (such as The Dow Jones
Average of 30 Industrial Stocks and The Standard & Poor's 500 Stock Composite
Index) or results of other mutual funds or investment or savings vehicles in
advertisements or in reports furnished to present or prospective shareholders.
The fund may also refer to results compiled by organizations such as CDA
Investment Technologies, Ibbotson Associates, Lipper Analytical Services,
Morningstar, Inc., Wiesenberger Investment Companies Services and the U.S.
Department of Commerce. Additionally, the company may, from time to time,
refer to results published in various newspapers or periodicals, including
BARRON'S, FORBES, FORTUNE, INSTITUTIONAL INVESTOR, KIPLINGER'S PERSONAL FINANCE
MAGAZINE, MONEY, U.S. NEWS AND WORLD REPORT and THE WALL STREET JOURNAL.
The fund may from time to time compare its investment results with the
following:
(1) Average of Savings Institution deposits, which is a measure of all kinds
of savings deposits, including longer-term certificates (based on figures
supplied by the U.S. League of Savings Institutions). Savings deposits offer a
guaranteed rate of return on principal, but no opportunity for capital growth.
The period shown may include periods during which the maximum rates paid on
some savings deposits were fixed by law.
(2) The Consumer Price Index, which is a measure of the average change in
prices over time in a fixed market basket of goods and services (E.G. food,
clothing, shelter, and fuels, transportation fares, charges for doctors' and
dentists' services, prescription medicines, and other goods and services that
people buy for day-to-day living).
The fund may also from time to time illustrate the benefits of tax-deferral by
comparing taxable investments to investments made through tax-deferred
retirement plans.
EXPERIENCE OF THE INVESTMENT ADVISER - Capital Research and Management Company
manages nine common stock funds that are at least 10 years old. In the
rolling 10-year periods since January 1, 1967 (127 in all), those funds have
had better total returns than the Standard & Poor's 500 Composite Stock Index
in 91 of the 127 periods.
Note that past results are not an indication of future investment results.
Also, the company has different investment policies than some of the funds
mentioned above. These results are included solely for the purpose of
informing investors about the experience and history of Capital Research and
Management Company.
The investment results set forth below were calculated as described in the
fund's prospectus. The fund's results will vary from time to time depending
upon market conditions, the composition of the fund's portfolio and operating
expenses of the fund, so that any investment results reported by the fund
should not be considered representative of what an investment in the fund may
earn in any future period. These factors and possible differences in
calculation methods should be considered when comparing the fund's investment
results with those published for other mutual funds, other investment vehicles
and unmanaged indices. The fund's results also should be considered relative
to the risks associated with the fund's investment objectives and policies.
The investment results set forth below were calculated as described in the
fund's prospectus.
ICA VS. VARIOUS UNMANAGED INDICES
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
10-Year ICA DJIA/1/ S&P 500/2/ Average
Periods Savings
1/1 -12/31 Account/3/
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
1987 - 1996 +246% +366% +314% + 67%
1986 - 1995 +253 +360 +299 + 71
1985 - 1994 + 261 + 349 + 282 + 77
1984 - 1993 + 284 + 333 + 301 + 88
1983 - 1992 + 314 + 367 + 346 + 99
1982 - 1991 + 417 + 452 + 404 + 112
1981 - 1990 + 312 + 328 + 267 + 122
1980 - 1989 + 396 + 426 + 402 + 126
1979 - 1988 + 357 + 340 + 352 + 125
1978 - 1987 + 362 + 289 + 313 + 125
1977 - 1986 + 327 + 221 + 264 + 125
1976 - 1985 + 355 + 211 + 281 + 123
1975 - 1984 + 362 + 237 + 297 + 119
1974 - 1983 + 255 + 154 + 175 + 113
1973 - 1982 + 146 + 75 + 91 + 106
1972 - 1981 + 113 + 63 + 87 + 95
1971 - 1980 + 147 + 86 + 125 + 85
1970 - 1979 + 109 + 66 + 77 + 79
1969 - 1978 + 57 + 32 + 36 + 75
1968 - 1977 + 60 + 39 + 42 + 72
1967 - 1976 + 111 + 90 + 90 + 69
1966 - 1975 + 65 + 30 + 38 + 67
1965 - 1974 + 55 + 3 + 13 + 63
1964 - 1973 + 119 + 60 + 79 + 60
1963 - 1972 + 223 + 123 + 158 + 57
1962 - 1971 + 142 + 74 + 98 + 55
1961 - 1970 + 155 + 94 + 119 + 52
1960 - 1969 + 160 + 67 + 112 + 50
</TABLE>
/1/ The Dow Jones Average of 30 Industrial Stocks is comprised of 30 industrial
companies such as General Motors and General Electric.
/2/ The Standard & Poor's 500 Stock Composite Index is comprised of industrial,
transportation, public utilities and financial stocks and represents a large
portion of the value of issues traded on the New York Stock Exchange. Selected
issues traded on the American Stock Exchange are also included.
/3/ Based on figures supplied by the U.S. League of Savings Institutions and
the Federal Reserve Board which reflect all kinds of savings deposits,
including longer-term certificates. Savings accounts offer a guaranteed return
of principal, but no opportunity for capital growth. During a portion of the
period, the maximum rates paid on some savings deposits were fixed by law.
THE BENEFITS OF SYSTEMATIC INVESTING IN ICA..........
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
An initial investment of $1,000 in ICA on January 1 would have grown to these amounts
over the past 10, 20, 30, and 40 years:
<S> <C> <C> <C>
10 years 20 years 30 years 40 years
(1/1/87 - 12/31/96) (1/1/77 - 12/31/96) (1/1/67 - 12/31/96) (1/1/57 -12/31/96)
$ 3,464 $ 15,696 $ 35,224 $ 104,862
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
$1,000 invested in ICA followed by annual $500 investments (all investments made on
January 1) would have grown to these amounts over the past 10, 20, 30, 40 years:
<S> <C> <C> <C>
10 years 20 years 30 years 40 years
(1/1/87 - 12/31/96) (1/1/77 - 12/31/96) (1/1/67 - 12/31/96) (1/1/57 - 12/31/96)
$ 12,518 $ 68,669 $ 202,951 $588,610
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
$2,000 invested in ICA on January 1 of each year would have grown to these amounts
over the past 5, 10, 20 and 30 years:
<S> <C> <C> <C>
5 years 10 years 20 years 30 years
(1/1/92 - 12/31/96) (1/1/87 - 12/31/96) (1/1/77 - 12/31/96) (1/1/67 - 12/31/96)
$ 14,931 $ 43,145 $ 243,989 $ 743,385
</TABLE>
SEE THE DIFFERENCE TIME CAN MAKE IN AN INVESTMENT PROGRAM...
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
If you had invested Periods ... and taken all
$10,000 in ICA 1/1-12/31 distributions in shares,
this many years ago... your investment would
Number have been worth this
of Years much at December 31, 1996
Value
<S> <C> <C>
1 1996 $ 11,248
2 1995 - 1996 14,692
3 1994 - 1996 14,718
4 1993 - 1996 16,428
5 1992 - 1996 17,571
6 1991 - 1996 22,233
7 1990 - 1996 22,390
8 1989 - 1996 28,973
9 1988 - 1996 32,837
10 1987 - 1996 34,635
11 1986 - 1996 42,162
12 1985 - 1996 56,229
13 1984 - 1996 59,959
14 1983 - 1996 72,079
15 1982 - 1996 96,377
16 1981 - 1996 97,242
17 1980 - 1996 117,886
18 1979 - 1996 140,542
19 1978 - 1996 161,104
20 1977 - 1996 156,967
21 1976 - 1996 203,418
22 1975 - 1996 275,611
23 1974 - 1996 226,070
24 1973 - 1996 188,079
25 1972 - 1996 217,887
26 1971 - 1996 255,017
27 1970 - 1996 261,539
28 1969 - 1996 233,672
29 1968 - 1996 273,301
30 1967 - 1996 352,256
</TABLE>
Results of a $10,000 investment in ICA/a/
with capital gain distributions taken in shares
(For the lifetime of the company January 1, 1934 through December 31, 1996)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
TOTAL VALUE ASSUMING CAPITAL VALUE ASSUMING
DIVIDENDS REINVESTED DIVIDENDS IN CASH
Year Dividends Value of Dividends Value of
Ended Reinvested Investment Taken in Investment
12/31 During Year at Year-End Cash at Year-End
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
1934 --- $11,822 --- $11,822
1935 --- 21,643 --- 21,643
1936 $398 31,560 $398 31,042
1937 1,006 19,424 976 18,339
1938 181 24,776 170 23,174
1939 536 24,986 498 22,860
1940 891 24,384 806 21,460
1941 1,262 22,590 1,089 18,816
1942 1,186 26,376 969 20,893
1943 1,101 35,019 861 26,861
1944 1,242 43,193 942 32,130
1945 1,191 59,091 878 42,948
1946 1,775 57,692 1,277 40,686
1947 2,409 58,217 1,672 39,332
1948 2,685 58,430 1,785 37,714
1949 2,661 63,941 1,689 39,436
1950 3,152 76,618 1,911 45,185
1951 3,391 90,274 1,970 51,159
1952 3,535 101,293 1,974 55,305
1953 3,927 101,747 2,113 53,362
1954 4,104 158,859 2,127 80,780
1955 5,124 199,215 2,579 98,530
1956 5,608 220,648 2,748 106,303
1957 6,228 194,432 2,969 90,911
1958 6,546 281,479 3,028 128,040
1959 7,013 321,419 3,161 142,882
1960 8,139 335,998 3,582 145,597
1961 8,383 413,552 3,603 175,370
1962 9,122 358,800 3,831 148,178
1963 9,620 440,900 3,936 177,833
1964 10,708 512,591 4,285 202,346
1965 12,112 650,689 4,742 251,553
1966 15,516 657,093 5,946 248,034
1967 18,359 846,941 6,869 312,473
1968 22,628 990,640 8,270 356,572
1969 25,318 884,824 9,024 309,611
1970 27,305 908,018 9,438 307,421
1971 28,565 1,062,651 9,569 349,727
1972 29,917 1,231,087 9,750 394,701
1973 33,353 1,024,067 10,569 317,911
</TABLE>
Results of a $10,000 investment in ICA (cont.)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
TOTAL VALUE ASSUMING CAPITAL VALUE ASSUMING
DIVIDENDS REINVESTED DIVIDENDS IN CASH
Year Dividends Value of Dividends Value of
Ended Reinvested Investment Taken in Investment
12/31 During Year at Year-End Cash at Year-End
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
1974 52,187 840,310 15,908 245,526
1975 49,800 1,137,660 14,318 317,655
1976 46,441 1,474,369 12,804 398,099
1977 49,838 1,436,402 13,279 374,307
1978 55,969 1,647,483 14,386 414,421
1979 69,960 1,963,310 17,347 475,669
1980 91,302 2,380,187 21,746 552,242
1981 115,901 2,401,091 26,420 530,864
1982 146,105 3,211,997 31,589 670,590
1983 147,156 3,859,712 30,264 774,518
1984 160,449 4,117,187 31,680 791,971
1985 174,890 5,491,890 33,152 1,017,904
1986 203,830 6,685,657 37,328 1,200,518
1987 267,489 7,049,178 47,452 1,220,928
1988 318,747 7,989,285 54,382 1,327,375
1989 370,835 10,338,589 60,741 1,652,751
1990 406,318 10,409,027 64,056 1,598,821
1991 320,422 13,171,892 48,721 1,969,876
1992 357,779 14,092,236 52,965 2,052,162
1993 374,395 15,729,365 54,005 2,234,153
1994 407,211 15,753,834 57,286 2,180,610
1995 450,124 20,578,696 61,704 2,779,658
1996 480,065 24,560,540/b/ 64,313 3,247,852/c/
</TABLE>
/a/ Results reflect payment of a sales charge of 5.75% on the $10,000
investment. Thus, the net amount invested was $9,425. There is no sales
charge on dividends reinvested or capital gain distributions taken in shares.
Results do not take into account income and capital gain taxes.
/b/ The total "cost" of this investment ($10,000 plus $5,443,410 in reinvested
dividends) was $5,453,410. Total value includes reinvested dividends and
capital gain distributions totaling $7,538,420 taken in shares in the years
1936-1996.
/c/ Capital Value includes capital gain distributions taken in shares (total
$1,362,646) but does not include the amount of dividends received in cash
($997,850).
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO - December 31, 1996
- ------------------------------------------ ----------
Percent of
Largest Investment Categories Net Assets
- ------------------------------------------ ----------
Services 18.01%
Finance 17.77
Consumer Goods 17.27
- ------------------------------------------ ----------
Percent of
Largest Individual Holdings Net Assets
- ------------------------------------------ ----------
Philip Morris 3.79%
Federal National Mortgage Assn. 2.88
Royal Dutch Petroleum 2.08
DuPont 1.68
Caterpillar 1.57
AT&T 1.42
Wal-Mart Stores 1.36
Intel 1.31
Pfizer 1.29
BankAmerica 1.24
- ------------------------------------------ ----------
Percent of
Largest Industry Holdings Net Assets
- ------------------------------------------ ----------
Banking 10.04%
Energy Sources 7.72
Health & Personal Care 6.66
Beverages & Tobacco 6.06
Telecommunications 5.53
- ------------------------------------------ ----------
- ------------------------------------------
Companies Whose Equity-Type Securities Were
Added to or Eliminated from the Portfolio
- ------------------------------------------
Companies appearing in the portfolio
since June 30, 1996
- ------------------------------------------
Air Products and Chemicals
Bank of New York
Broken Hill Proprietary
Digital Equipment
Exxon
First Data
Halliburton
McDonnell Douglas
Microsoft
Norwest
Toronto-Dominion Bank
Union Electric
Companies eliminated from the portfolio
since June 30, 1996
- ------------------------------------------
Amgen
Bethlehem Steel
Dow Jones
Deutsche Bank
Great Lakes Chemical
Hanson
Hilton Hotels
Motorola
Pacific Gas and Electric
Tandy
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C> <C>
THE INVESTMENT COMPANY OF AMERICA
INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO, December 31, 1996
- ------------------------------------------
Equity-Type Securities Market Percent
- ------------------------------------------ Number of Value of Net
Energy Shares (millions) Assets
- ------------------------------------------ --------- --------- ------
Energy Sources-7.72%
Amoco Corp. 3,050,000 $ 245.525 .79
Atlantic Richfield Co. 925,000 122.563 .40
British Petroleum Co. PLC (American Depositary
Receipts) 508,871 71.942 .23
Broken Hill Proprietary Co. Ltd. 1,568,107 22.320 .07
Chevron Corp. 1,950,000 126.750 .41
Exxon Corp. 500,000 49.000 .16
Murphy Oil Corp. 2,075,000 101.156 .33
Phillips Petroleum Co. 3,350,000 148.238 .48
Royal Dutch Petroleum Co.
(New York Registered Shares) 3,755,000 641.166 2.08
Societe Nationale Elf Aquitaine (American
Depositary Receipts) 3,000,000 135.750 .44
Texaco Inc. 1,200,000 117.750 .38
TOTAL, Class B 1,359,340 110.656 .00
TOTAL, Class B (American Depositary Receipts) 1,851,501 74.523 .60
Union Pacific Resources Group, Inc. 1,973,988 57.739 .19
Unocal Corp. 4,800,000 195.000 .62
USX-Marathon Group 7,000,000 167.125 .54
Utilities: Electric & Gas-0.81%
American Electric Power Co., Inc. 1,000,000 41.125 .13
El Paso Natural Gas Co. 346,425 17.494 .06
Entergy Corp. 500,000 13.875 .04
GPU, Inc. (formerly General Public Utilities Corp.) 1,475,000 49.597 .16
Houston Industries Inc. 1,500,000 33.938 .11
Long Island Lighting Co. 3,275,000 72.459 .23
Union Electric Co. 550,000 21.175 .08
--------- ---------
2,636.866 8.53
--------- ---------
- ------------------------------------------
Materials .00
- ------------------------------------------
Chemicals-2.58% .00
Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. 1,935,000 133.757 .43
E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Co. 5,500,000 519.063 1.68
Eastman Chemical Co. 550,000 30.388 .10
Hoechst AG 700,000 33.088 .11
Imperial Chemical Industries PLC
(American Depositary Receipts) 100,000 5.200 .02
Monsanto Co. 1,950,000 75.806 .24
Forest Products & Paper-2.24%
Georgia-Pacific Corp. 4,018,900 289.361 .94
International Paper Co. 1,500,000 60.563 .20
Louisiana-Pacific Corp. 2,650,000 55.981 .18
Union Camp Corp. 705,000 33.664 .11
Weyerhaeuser Co. 5300000 251.087 .81
Metals: Nonferrous-1.61%
Alcan Aluminium Ltd. 1,000,000 33.625 .11
Aluminum Co. of America 4,100,000 261.375 .85
Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc., Class B 1,200,000 35.850 .12
Inco Ltd. 1,700,000 54.188 .18
Phelps Dodge Corp. 900,000 60.750 .19
WMC Ltd. 8,427,228 53.081 .16
Metals: Steel-0.29%
USX-U.S. Steel Group 2,900,000 90.987 .29
--------- ------
2,077.814 6.72
--------- ------
- ------------------------------------------
Capital Equipment
- ------------------------------------------
Aerospace & Military Technology-1.90%
Boeing Co. 660,000 70.208 .23
General Motors Corp., Class H 3,682,800 207.157 .67
Litton Industries, Inc./1/ 650,000 30.956 .10
McDonnell Douglas Corp. 700,000 44.800 .15
Northrop Grumman Corp. 470,000 38.893 .13
Raytheon Co. 1,700,000 81.812 .26
Sundstrand Corp. 1,250,000 53.125 .17
United Technologies Corp. 920,000 60.720 .19
Data Processing & Reproduction-2.92%
Cisco Systems, Inc./1/ 1,200,000 76.350 .25
Digital Equipment Corp./1/ 2,050,000 74.569 .24
Hewlett-Packard Co. 3,000,000 150.750 .49
International Business Machines Corp. 1,135,000 171.385 .56
Microsoft Corp./1/ 400,000 33.050 .11
Oracle Corp./1/ 5,000,000 208.750 .68
Tandem Computers Inc./1/ 1,225,000 16.844 .05
Xerox Corp. 3,210,000 168.926 .54
Electrical & Electronic-1.03%
Alcatel Alsthom 508,173 40.858 .13
General Electric Co. 800,000 79.100 .26
Lucent Technologies Inc. 3,450,000 159.562 .52
Northern Telecom Ltd. 600,000 37.125 .12
Electronic Components-2.07%
Intel Corp. 3,100,000 405.906 1.31
Texas Instruments Inc. 3,670,000 233.963 .76
Energy Equipment-2.07%
Baker Hughes Inc. 2,638,000 91.011 .29
Halliburton Co. 1,400,000 84.350 .27
Schlumberger Ltd. 3,450,000 344.569 1.12
Western Atlas Inc./1/ 1,700,000 120.487 .39
Industrial Components-0.69%
Dana Corp. 1,721,500 56.164 .18
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. 900,000 46.237 .15
Rockwell International Corp./1/ 1,815,000 110.488 .36
Machinery & Engineering-3.99%
Caterpillar Inc. 6,445,500 485.024 1.57
Cummins Engine Co., Inc./2/ 1,041,800 47.923
Cummins Engine Co., Inc./2/,/3/ 958,200 44.077 .30
Deere & Co. 8,000,000 325.000 1.05
Ingersoll-Rand Co. 1,600,000 71.200 .23
Mannesmann AG 420,000 182.146 .59
Newport News Shipbuilding Inc./1/ 745,000 11.175 .04
Parker Hannifin Corp. 1,640,000 63.550 .21
--------- ------
4,528.210 14.67
--------- ------
- ------------------------------------------
Consumer Goods
- ------------------------------------------
Appliances & Household Durables-0.18%
Philips Electronics NV 116,700 4.731
Philips Electronics NV (New York Registered Shares) 1,283,300 51.332 .18
Automobiles-1.65%
Chrysler Corp. 2,000,000 66.000 .21
Daimler-Benz AG /1/ 800,000 55.136 .18
Ford Motor Co., Class A 6,000,000 191.250 .62
General Motors Corp. 2,625,000 146.344 .47
Toyota Motor Corp. 1,760,000 50.590 .17
Beverages & Tobacco-6.06%
Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc. 2,063,000 82.520 .27
PepsiCo, Inc. 5,700,000 166.725 .54
Philip Morris Companies Inc. 10,400,000 1,171.300 3.79
RJR Nabisco Holdings Corp. 5,400,000 183.600 .59
Seagram Co. Ltd. 6,850,000 265.438 .87
Food & Household Products-2.39%
Archer Daniels Midland Co. 3,870,000 85.140 .28
ConAgra, Inc. 1,600,000 79.600 .26
CPC International Inc. 1,278,900 99.115 .32
General Mills, Inc. 1,967,800 124.709 .40
H.J. Heinz Co. 1,200,000 42.900 .14
Nestle SA 140,000 150.302 .49
Procter & Gamble Co. 550,000 59.125 .19
Unilever NV (New York Registered Shares) 555,000 97.264 .31
Health & Personal Care-6.66%
Abbott Laboratories 1,500,000 76.125 .25
American Home Products Corp. 2,500,000 146.563 .47
Avon Products, Inc. 600,000 34.275 .11
Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. 1,000,000 108.750 .35
Gillette Co. 500,000 38.875 .13
Johnson & Johnson 2,080,000 103.480 .34
Kimberly-Clark Corp. 1,250,000 119.062 .39
Eli Lilly and Co. 3,076,300 224.570 .73
Merck & Co., Inc. 4,235,000 335.624 1.09
Pharmacia & Upjohn, Inc. 2,247,500 89.057 .29
Pfizer Inc 4,800,000 397.800 1.29
Schering-Plough Corp. 1,846,000 119.529 .39
SmithKline Beecham PLC
(American Depositary Receipts) 500,000 34.000 .11
Warner-Lambert Co. 3,048,300 228.622 .72
Recreation & Other Consumer Products-0.27%
Duracell International Inc. 500,000 34.937 .11
Eastman Kodak Co. 600,000 48.150 .16
Textiles & Apparel-0.06%
VF Corp. 300,000 20.250 .06
--------- ------
5,332.790 17.27
--------- ------
- ------------------------------------------
Services
- ------------------------------------------
Broadcasting & Publishing-3.88%
Gannett Co., Inc. 480,200 35.955 .12
New York Times Co., Class A 3,100,000 117.800 .38
Tele-Communications, Inc., Series A,
Liberty Media Group/1/ 5,505,225 157.243 .51
Tele-Communications, Inc., Series A,
TCI Group1 11,392,200 148.811 .48
Time Warner Inc. 9,081,000 340.538 1.10
Tribune Co. 350,000 27.606 .09
U S WEST Media Group/1/ 5,185,000 95.922 .31
Viacom Inc., Class B/1/ 7,900,000 275.512 .89
Business & Public Services-3.41%
Browning-Ferris Industries, Inc. 2,275,000 59.719 .19
Cognizant Corp./1/ 900,000 29.700 .10
Columbia/HCA Healthcare Corp. 1,500,000 61.125 .20
Dun & Bradstreet Corp. 900,000 21.375 .07
Electronic Data Systems Holding Corp. 1,772,200 76.647 .25
Federal Express Corp./1/ 2,500,000 111.250 .36
First Data Corp. 2,800,000 102.200 .33
Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. 2,846,500 135.209 .44
Pitney Bowes Inc. 1,070,000 58.315 .19
United HealthCare Corp. 3,000,000 135.000 .44
WMX Technologies, Inc. 8,050,000 262.631 .84
Leisure & Tourism-1.50%
Walt Disney Co. 5,504,600 383.258 1.24
McDonald's Corp. 1,700,000 76.925 .26
Merchandising-2.28%
Limited Inc. 5,475,200 100.607 .32
May Department Stores Co. 1,100,000 51.425 .17
J.C. Penney Co., Inc. 1,000,000 48.750 .16
Sears, Roebuck and Co. 850,000 39.206 .13
Toys 'R' Us, Inc./1/ 1,432,600 42.978 .14
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. 18,302,100 418.661 1.36
Telecommunications-5.53%
AirTouch Communications/1/ 3,650,000 92.163 .30
Ameritech Corp. 3,780,400 229.187 .74
AT&T Corp. 10,535,000 439.836 1.42
GTE Corp. 150,000 6.825 .02
MCI Communications Corp. 9,925,000 324.423 1.05
Pacific Telesis Group 2,800,000 102.900 .33
SBC Communications Inc. 300,000 15.525 .05
Telefonos de Mexico, SA de CV, Class L
(American Depositary Receipts) 3,057,400 100.894 .33
U S WEST Communications Group 4,800,000 154.800 .50
Vodafone Group PLC (American Depositary Receipts) 5,848,000 241.961 .79
Transportation: Airlines-0.46%
AMR Corp./1/ 1,250,000 110.156 .36
Delta Air Lines, Inc. 471,050 33.386 .10
Transportation: Rail & Road-0.95%
Conrail, Inc. 727,208 72.448 .23
CSX Corp. 1,800,000 76.050 .25
Norfolk Southern Corp. 300,000 26.250 .09
Union Pacific Corp. 1,975,000 118.747 .38
--------- ------
5,559.919 18.01
--------- ------
- ------------------------------------------
Finance
- ------------------------------------------
Banking-10.04%
H.F. Ahmanson & Co. 2,500,000 81.250 .26
Banc One Corp. 5,000,000 215.000 .70
Bank of New York Co., Inc. 2,800,000 94.500 .31
BankAmerica Corp. 3,850,000 384.038 1.24
Bankers Trust New York Corp. 1,477,400 127.426 .41
Chase Manhattan Corp. 3,225,000 287.831 .93
Citicorp 1,400,000 144.200 .47
Comerica Inc. 1,800,000 94.275 .31
First Chicago NBD Corp. 3,626,500 194.924 .63
First Union Corp. 3,330,000 246.420 .80
Fleet Financial Group, Inc. 2,750,000 137.156 .44
Great Western Financial Corp. 2,500,000 72.500 .23
KeyCorp 1,825,000 92.163 .30
J.P. Morgan & Co. Inc. 2,400,000 234.300 .76
National City Corp. 1,500,000 67.312 .22
NationsBank Corp. 1,200,000 117.300 .38
Norwest Corp. 1,200,000 52.200 .17
PNC Bank Corp. 3,642,000 137.030 .44
SunTrust Banks, Inc. 900,000 44.325 .14
Toronto-Dominion Bank 1,400,000 35.966 .12
U.S. Bancorp 3,000,000 134.812 .44
Wachovia Corp. 900,000 50.850 .16
Wells Fargo & Co. 200,000 53.950 .18
Financial Services-4.67%
American Express Co. 380,000 21.470 .07
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. 3,155,400 347.488 1.13
Federal National Mortgage Assn. 23,900,000 890.275 2.88
Student Loan Marketing Assn. 1,950,000 181.594 .59
Insurance-3.06%
Aetna Inc. 700,000 56.000 .18
Allstate Corp. 2,313,000 133.865 .43
American General Corp. 910,000 37.196 .12
American International Group, Inc. 1,822,500 197.286 .64
CIGNA Corp. 200,000 27.325 .09
General Re Corp. 1,217,800 192.108 .62
Lincoln National Corp. 1,050,000 55.125 .18
SAFECO Corp. 2,850,000 112.397 .36
St. Paul Companies, Inc. 2,240,000 131.320 .44
--------- ------
5,483.177 17.77
--------- ------
- ------------------------------------------
Other
- ------------------------------------------
Multi-Industry-1.62%
AlliedSignal Inc. 1,600,000 107.200 .35
Canadian Pacific Ltd. 2,000,000 53.000 .17
Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co. 895,000 74.173 .24
Tenneco Inc. (new)/1/ 3,900,000 175.988 .57
Textron Inc. 948,700 89.415 .29
Gold Mines -0.82%
Barrick Gold Corp. 3,000,000 86.250 .28
Newmont Mining Corp. 2,500,000 111.875 .36
Placer Dome Inc. 2,500,000 54.375 .18
Miscellaneous-3.20%
Equity-type securities in initial period of
acquisition 988.418 3.20
--------- ------
1,740.694 5.64
--------- ------
Total Equity-Type Securities (cost: $16,687.974
million) 27,359.470 88.61
--------- ------
Principal
- ------------------------------------------ Amount
Bonds & Notes (millions)
- ------------------------------------------ ---------
U.S. Treasuries-2.86%
4.75% August 1998 $300.000 294.891 .96
5.125% November 1998 300.000 296.016 .96
8.875% November 1998 25.000 26.305 .09
5.75% December 1998 250.000 249.415 .81
11.625% November 2004 10.000 13.203 .04
--------- ------
Total Bonds & Notes (cost: $880.360 million) 879.830 2.86
--------- ------
Total Investment Securities (cost: $17,568.334
million) 28,239.300 91.47
--------- ------
- ------------------------------------------
Short-Term Securities
- ------------------------------------------
U.S. Treasuries and Other Federal Agencies-4.54%
Treasury Notes 5.75%-8.875% due 1/15-11/15/97 $900.000 903.268 2.92
Treasury Bills 5.06%-5.07% due 4/24-5/15/97 294.100 288.670 .94
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. 5.23%-5.40%
due 1/31-3/10/97 90.235 89.543 .29
Federal National Mortgage Assn. 5.20%-5.35%
due 2/18-3/31/97 120.900 119.563 .39
Corporate Short-Term Notes-3.66%
American Express Credit Corp. 5.30%-6.75%
due 1/2-3/11/97 61.350 61.128 .20
Ameritech Corp. 5.29%-5.33%
due 1/16-2/19/97 91.000 90.513 .30
BellSouth Corp. 5.28%-5.32%
due 1/21-3/11/97 82.800 82.234 .26
Walt Disney Co. 5.26%-5.28%
due 1/21-3/17/97 80.700 80.112 .25
E.I. du Pont De Nemours and Co. 5.26%-5.28%
due 1/7-2/13/97 81.700 81.463 .27
Ford Motor Credit Corp. 5.29%-5.46% due 1/6-2/11/97 117.900 117.525 .39
General Electric Capital Corp. 5.29%-6.50%
due 1/2-1/27/97 113.300 113.014 .36
IBM Credit Corp. 5.28%-5.31% due 1/17-1/31/97 132.600 132.093 .43
Lucent Technologies Inc. 5.28%-5.38%
due 1/7-3/10/97 91.200 90.661 .29
Procter & Gamble Co. 5.27%-5.28%
due 1/22-2/12/97 89.600 89.218 .29
Raytheon Co. 5.34%-5.39% due 1/13-1/17/97 93.500 93.300 .30
Warner-Lambert Co. 5.30% due 1/6/97 20.300 20.282 .07
Weyerhaeuser Co. 5.26%-5.30%
due 1/9-2/4/97 79.700 79.476 .25
Total Short-Term Securities
(cost: $2,557.961 million) 2,532.063 8.20
Excess of cash and receivables over payables 104.109 .33
--------- ------
Total Short-Term Securities, Cash and Receivables,
Net of Payables 2,636.172 8.53
----------- ---------
Net Assets $30,875.472 100.00%
============ =========
/1/ Non-income-producing securities.
/2/ The fund owns 5.06% of the outstanding
voting securities of Cummins Engine Co., which
represents investment in an affiliate as
defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940.
/3/ Purchased in a private placement transaction;
resale to the public may require registration or
sale only to qualified institutional buyers.
See Notes to Financial Statements
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
The Investment Company of America
- ----------------------------------------- ------------- -------------
Statement of Assets and Liabilities (dollars in
at December 31, 1996 millions)
- ---------------------------------------- ------------- -------------
Assets:
Investment securities at market
(cost: $17,568.334) $28,239.300
Short-term securities at market
(cost: $2,557.961) 2,532.063
Cash 7.457
Receivables for-
Sales of investments $63.070
Sales of fund's shares 34.571
Dividends and accrued interest 74.379 172.020
------------- -------------
30,950.840
Liabilities:
Payables for-
Purchases of investments 26.824
Repurchases of fund's shares 36.112
Management services 6.519
Accrued expenses 5.913 75.368
------------- -------------
Net Assets at December 31, 1996-
Equivalent to $24.23 per share on
1,274,429,294 shares of $1 par value
capital stock outstanding (authorized
capital stock--2,000,000,000 shares) $30,875.472
=============
Statement of Operations (dollars in
for the year ended December 31, 1996 millions)
- ----------------------------------------- ------------- -------------
Investment Income:
Income:
Dividends $574.293
Interest 201.545 $ 775.838
-------------
Expenses:
Management services fee 72.350
Distribution expenses 59.604
Transfer agent fee 21.426
Reports to shareholders 2.376
Registration statement and
prospectus 1.405
Postage, stationery and supplies 5.731
Directors' fees .428
Auditing and legal fees .130
Custodian fee .750
Taxes (other than federal income tax) .314
Other expenses .255 164.769
------------- -------------
Net investment income 611.069
-------------
Realized Gain and Unrealized
Appreciation on Investments:
Net realized gain 1,256.875
Net increase in unrealized
appreciation on investments 3,151.153
-------------
Net realized gain and increase in
unrealized appreciation on investments 4,408.028
-------------
Net Increase in Net Assets Resulting
from Operations $5,019.097
=============
- ---------------------------------------- ------------- -------------
Statement of Changes in Net Assets (dollars in
millions)
Year ended
December 31
1996 1995
- ----------------------------------------- ------------- -------------
Operations:
Net investment income $ 611.069 $ 606.095
Net realized gain on investments 1,256.875 1,026.204
Net increase in unrealized
appreciation on investments 3,151.153 4,320.176
------------- -------------
Net increase in net assets
resulting from operations 5,019.097 5,952.475
------------- -------------
Dividends and Distributions Paid
to Shareholders:
Dividends from net investment income (606.665) (556.505)
Distributions from net realized
gain on investments (1,256.817) (1,033.686)
------------- -------------
Total dividends and distributions (1,863.482) (1,590.191)
------------- -------------
Capital Share Transactions:
Proceeds from shares sold: 154,894,329
and 155,130,380 shares, respectively 3,568.101 3,118.719
Proceeds from shares issued in reinvestment
of net investment income dividends and
distributions of net realized gain on
investments: 70,957,086 and 69,096,019
shares, respectively 1,707.735 1,453.606
Cost of shares repurchased: 139,431,152
and 127,074,306 shares, respectively (3,234.297) (2,535.884)
------------- -------------
Net increase in net assets resulting from
capital share transactions 2,041.539 2,036.441
------------- -------------
Total Increase in Net Assets 5,197.154 6,398.725
Net Assets:
Beginning of year 25,678.318 19,279.593
------------- -------------
End of year (including undistributed
net investment income: $281.829
and $277.425, respectively) $30,875.472 $25,678.318
============= =============
See Notes to Financial Statements
</TABLE>
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. The Investment Company of America, Inc. (the "fund") is registered under the
Investment Company Act of 1940 as an open-end, diversified management
investment company. The fund seeks long-term growth of capital and income,
placing greater emphasis on future dividends than on current income. The
following paragraphs summarize the significant accounting policies consistently
followed by the fund in the preparation of its financial statements:
Equity-type securities traded on a national securities exchange (or reported
on the NASDAQ national market) and securities traded in the over-the-counter
market are stated at the last reported sales price on the day of valuation;
other securities, and securities for which no sale was reported on that date,
are stated at the last quoted bid price.
Nonconvertible bonds and other long-term debt securities are valued at prices
obtained from a bond-pricing service provided by a major dealer in bonds, when
such prices are available; however, in circumstances where the investment
adviser deems it appropriate to do so, such securities will be valued at the
mean of their representative quoted bid and asked prices or, if such prices are
not available, at prices for securities of comparable maturity, quality and
type.
Securities for which market quotations are not readily available are valued at
fair value by the Board of Directors or a committee thereof. Short-term
securities with original or remaining maturities in excess of 60 days are
valued at the mean of their quoted bid and asked prices. Short-term securities
with 60 days or less to maturity are valued at amortized cost, which
approximates market value.
As is customary in the mutual fund industry, securities transactions are
accounted for on the date the securities are purchased or sold. Realized gains
and losses from securities transactions are reported on an identified cost
basis. Dividend and interest income is reported on the accrual basis. Discounts
on securities purchased are amortized over the life of the respective
securities. The fund does not amortize premiums on securities purchased.
Dividends and distributions paid to shareholders are recorded on the
ex-dividend date.
Investment securities and other assets and liabilities denominated in non-U.S.
currencies are recorded in the financial statements after translation into U.S.
dollars utilizing rates of exchange on the last business day of the year.
Purchases and sales of investment securities, income and expenses are
calculated using the prevailing exchange rate as accrued. The effects of the
changes in foreign currency exchange rates on investment securities are
included with the net realized and unrealized gain or loss on investment
securities.
Pursuant to the custodian agreement, the fund receives credits against its
custodian fee for imputed interest on certain balances with the custodian bank.
The custodian fee of $750,000 includes $194,000 that was paid by these credits
rather than in cash.
2. It is the fund's policy to continue to comply with the requirements of the
Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies and to
distribute all of its net taxable income, including any net realized gain on
investments, to its shareholders. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is
required.
As of December 31, 1996, net unrealized appreciation on investments for
federal income tax purposes aggregated $10,654,486,000, of which
$10,918,654,000 related to appreciated securities and $264,168,000 related to
depreciated securities. During the year ended December 31, 1996, the fund
realized, on a tax basis, a net capital gain of $1,257,110,000 on securities
transactions. The cost of portfolio securities for federal income tax purposes
was $20,116,877,000 at December 31, 1996.
3. The fee of $72,350,000 for management services was paid pursuant to an
agreement with Capital Research and Management Company (CRMC), with which
certain officers and Directors of the fund are affiliated. The Investment
Advisory and Service Agreement provides for monthly fees, accrued daily, based
on an annual rate of 0.39% of the first $1 billion of average net assets;
0.336% of such assets in excess of $1 billion but not exceeding $2 billion;
0.30% of such assets in excess of $2 billion but not exceeding $3 billion;
0.276% of such assets in excess of $3 billion but not exceeding $5 billion;
0.258% of such assets in excess of $5 billion but not exceeding $8 billion;
0.246% of such assets in excess of $8 billion but not exceeding $13 billion;
0.24% of such assets in excess of $13 billion but not exceeding $21 billion;
0.235% of such assets in excess of $21 billion but not exceeding $34 billion;
and 0.231% of such assets in excess of $34 billion.
Pursuant to a Plan of Distribution, the fund may expend up to 0.25% of its
average net assets annually for any activities primarily intended to result in
sales of fund shares, provided the categories of expenses for which
reimbursement is made are approved by the fund's Board of Directors. Fund
expenses under the Plan include payments to dealers to compensate them for
their selling and servicing efforts. During the year ended December 31, 1996,
distribution expenses under the Plan were $59,604,000. As of December 31, 1996,
accrued and unpaid distribution expenses were $5,478,000.
American Funds Service Company (AFS), the transfer agent for the fund, was
paid a fee of $21,426,000. American Funds Distributors, Inc. (AFD), the
principal underwriter of the fund's shares, received $16,461,000 (after
allowances to dealers) as its portion of the sales charges paid by purchasers
of the fund's shares. Such sales charges are not an expense of the fund and,
hence, are not reflected in the accompanying statement of operations.
Directors and Advisory Board members who are unaffiliated with CRMC may elect
to defer part or all of the fees earned for services as members of the Board.
Amounts deferred are not funded and are general unsecured liabilities of the
fund. As of December 31, 1996, aggregate amounts deferred and earnings thereon
were $294,000.
CRMC is owned by The Capital Group Companies, Inc. AFS and AFD are both wholly
owned subsidiaries of CRMC. Certain Directors and officers of the fund are or
may be considered to be affiliated with CRMC, AFS and AFD. No such persons
received any remuneration directly from the fund.
4. Option warrants are outstanding, which may be exercised at any time for the
purchase of 838,283 shares of the fund at approximately $5.242 per share. If
all warrants had been exercised on December 31, 1996, the net assets of the
fund would have been $30,879,867,000; the shares outstanding would have been
1,275,268,000; and the net asset value would have been equivalent to $24.21 per
share. During the year ended December 31, 1996, 170 warrants were exercised for
the purchase of 3,730 shares.
5. As of December 31, 1996, accumulated excess distributions of net realized
gain on investments were $53,000 and additional paid-in capital was
$18,674,155,000.
The fund made purchases and sales of investment securities, excluding
short-term securities, of $6,382,434,000 and $5,238,909,000, respectively,
during the year ended December 31, 1996.
Dividend and interest income is recorded net of non-U.S. taxes paid. For the
year ended December 31, 1996, such non-U.S. taxes were $9,783,000. Net realized
currency losses on dividends, interest, withholding taxes reclaimable, and
sales of non-U.S. bonds and notes were $93,000 for the year ended December 31,
1996.
To conform to its tax reporting, the fund reclassified $16,000 from
undistributed net currency gains to undistributed net realized gains and
$158,000 to undistributed net realized gains from paid-in surplus for the year
ended December 31, 1996.
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Year
Per-Share Data and Ratios ended
December
31
1996 1995 1994 1993 1992
---------------------------- ------- ------- -------
Net Asset Value, Beginning of
Year $21.61 $17.67 $18.72 $17.89 $17.48
---------------------------- ------- ------- -------
Income from Investment
Operations:
Net investment income .49 .52 .51 .54 .49
Net realized and unrealized
gain (loss) on investments 3.66 4.83 (.48) 1.51 .71
---------------------------- ------- ------- -------
Total income from
investment operations 4.15 5.35 .03 2.05 1.20
---------------------------- ------- ------- -------
Less Distributions:
Dividends from net investment
income (.50) (.50) (.48) (.47) (.47)
Distributions from net
realized gains (1.03) (.91) (.60) (.75) (.32)
---------------------------- ------- ------- -------
Total distributions (1.53) (1.41) (1.08) (1.22) (.79)
---------------------------- ------- ------- -------
Net Asset Value, End of Year $24.23 $21.61 $17.67 $18.72 $17.89
============ ============ ======= ======= =======
Total Return/1/ 19.35% 30.63% .16% 11.62% 6.99%
Ratios/Supplemental Data:
Net assets, end of year (in
millions) $30,875 $25,678 $19,280 $19,005 $15,428
Ratio of expenses to average
net assets .59% .60% .60% .59% .58%
Ratio of net income to average
net assets 2.17% 2.70% 2.83% 3.03% 3.06%
Average commissions paid
per share/2/ 5.79 cents 6.16 cents 5.11 cent 6.20 cent 7.43cents
Portfolio turnover -
common stocks 17.46% 20.91% 17.94% 19.57% 7.23%
Portfolio turnover -
investment securities 19.56% 20.37% 31.08% 17.57% 9.73%
/1/Calculated without
deducting a sales charge.
The maximum sales charge is 5.75%
of the fund's offering price.
/2/Brokerage commissions paid on portfolio
transactions increase the cost of
securities purchased or reduce the
proceeds of securities sold, and are
not reflected in the fund's statement
of operations. Shares traded on a
principal basis (without commissions) are excluded.
Generally, non-U.S. commissions are lower than U.S.
commissions when expressed as cents per share but
higher when expressed as a percentage of
transactions because of the lower per-share prices
of many non-U.S. securities.
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of The Investment Company of
America, Inc.
In our opinion, the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including
the investment portfolio, and the related statements of operations and of
changes in net assets and the per-share data and ratios present fairly, in all
material respects, the financial position of The Investment Company of America,
Inc. (the "Fund") at December 31, 1996, the results of its operations, the
changes in its net assets and the per-share data and ratios for the periods
indicated, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. These
financial statements and per-share data and ratios (hereafter referred to as
"financial statements") are the responsibility of the Fund's management; our
responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on
our audits. We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance
with generally accepted auditing standards which require that we plan and
perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial
statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a
test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial
statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates
made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement
presentation. We believe that our audits, which included confirmation of
securities at December 31, 1996 by correspondence with the custodian and
brokers and the application of alternative auditing procedures where
confirmations from brokers were not received, provide a reasonable basis for
the opinion expressed above.
/s/PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP
Los Angeles, California
January 31, 1997
1996 Tax Information (Unaudited)
We are required to advise you within 60 days of the fund's fiscal year-end
regarding the federal tax status of distributions received by shareholders
during such fiscal year. The distributions made during the fiscal year by the
fund were earned from the following sources:
Dividends and Distributions per Share
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
To From Net From Net From Net
Shareholders Investment Realized Realized
of Record Payment Date Income Short- Long-
Term Term
Gains Gains
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
March 1, 1996 March 4, 1996 $0.12 - -
June 7, 1996 June 10, 1996 0.12 - -
September 6, September 9, 0.12 - -
1996 1996
December 24, December 26, 0.14 $0.02 $1.01
1996 1996
</TABLE>
Corporate shareholders may exclude up to 70% of qualifying dividends received
during the year. For purposes of computing this exclusion, 80% of the
dividends paid by the fund from net investment income represent qualifying
dividends.
Certain states may exempt from income taxation that portion of the dividends
paid from net investment income that was derived from direct U.S. Treasury
obligations. For purposes of computing this exclusion, 17% of the dividends
paid by the fund from net investment income were derived from interest on
direct U.S. Treasury obligations.
Dividends and distributions received by retirement plans such as IRAs,
Keogh-type plans, and 403(b) plans need not be reported as taxable income.
However, many plan retirement trusts may need this information for their annual
information reporting.
SHAREHOLDERS SHOULD CONSULT THEIR TAX ADVISERS.
