485BPOS 2012-09-30 0000812303 2012-12-01 CAPITAL WORLD BOND FUND false 2012-11-29 2012-12-01 As a nondiversified fund, the fund has the ability to invest a larger percentage of its assets in the securities of a smaller number of issuers than a diversified fund. Although the fund does not intend to limit its investments to the securities of a small number of issuers, if it were to do so, poor performance by a single large holding would adversely impact the fund's investment results more than if the fund were invested in a larger number of issuers. <tt>The fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells <br />securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate <br />may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when <br />fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not <br />reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the <br />fund's investment results. During the most recent fiscal year, the fund's <br />portfolio turnover rate was 142% of the average value of its portfolio.</tt> <div style="display:none">~ http://www.americanfunds.com/role/ExpenseExample_S000009240Member column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact * column rr_ProspectusShareClassAxis compact * row primary compact * ~</div> <div style="display:none">~ http://www.americanfunds.com/role/BarChartData_S000009240Member column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact * column rr_ProspectusShareClassAxis compact * row primary compact * ~</div> <tt>The fund's investment objective is to provide you, over the long term, with a<br />high level of total return consistent with prudent investment management. Total<br />return comprises the income generated by the fund and the changes in the market<br />value of the fund's investments.</tt> <tt>This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in<br />the fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.<br /> <br />The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the fund for the time periods<br />indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The<br />example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the<br />fund's operating expenses remain the same.</tt> <tt>Under normal market circumstances, the fund will invest at least 80% of its<br />assets in bonds. The fund invests primarily in debt securities of governmental,<br />supranational and corporate issuers denominated in various currencies, including<br />U.S. dollars. The fund may invest substantially in securities of issuers<br />domiciled outside the United States, including issuers domiciled in developing<br />countries. Normally the fund's debt obligations will consist substantially of<br />investment-grade bonds (rated Baa3 or better or BBB- or better by Nationally<br />Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations designated by the fund's investment<br />adviser or unrated but determined to be of equivalent quality by the fund's<br />investment adviser). The fund may also invest up to 25% of its assets in lower<br />quality, higher yielding debt securities (rated Ba1 or below and BB+ or below by<br />Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations designated by the fund's<br />investment adviser or unrated but determined to be of equivalent quality by the<br />fund's investment adviser). Such securities are sometimes referred to as "junk<br />bonds." The total return of the fund will be the result of interest income,<br />changes in the market value of the fund's investments and changes in the values<br />of other currencies relative to the U.S. dollar.<br /> <br />The fund is nondiversified, which allows it to invest a greater percentage of<br />its assets in any one issuer than would otherwise be the case. However, the fund<br />intends to limit its investments in the securities of any single issuer.<br /> <br />The investment adviser uses a system of multiple portfolio counselors in<br />managing the fund's assets. Under this approach, the portfolio of the fund is<br />divided into segments managed by individual counselors who decide how their<br />respective segments will be invested.<br /> <br />The fund relies on the professional judgment of its investment adviser to make<br />decisions about the fund's portfolio investments. The basic investment philosophy <br />of the investment adviser is to seek to invest in attractively priced securities <br />that, in its opinion, represent good, long-term investment opportunities. The <br />investment adviser believes that an important way to accomplish this is through <br />fundamental analysis, which may include meeting with government officials, <br />central banks and company executives. Securities may be sold when the investment <br />adviser believes that they no longer represent relatively attractive investment <br />opportunities.</tt> Capital World Bond Fund® You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $100,000 in American Funds. Example After-tax returns are calculated using the highest individual federal income tax rates in effect during each year of the periods shown and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Investment objective Past investment results (before and after taxes) are not predictive of future investment results. You may lose money by investing in the fund. Principal risks Shareholder fees (fees paid directly from your investment) Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: 1.42 Your actual after-tax returns depend on your individual tax situation and likely will differ from the results shown above. In addition, after-tax returns are not relevant if you hold your fund shares through a tax-favored arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan, individual retirement account (IRA) or 529 college savings plan. Calendar year total returns for Class A shares (Results do not include a sales charge; if a sales charge were included, results would be lower.) (Results do not include a sales charge; if a sales charge were included, results would be lower) Investment results 100000 The following bar chart shows how the fund's investment results have varied from year to year, and the following table shows how the fund's average annual total returns for various periods compare with different broad measures of market results. <tt>Highest/Lowest quarterly results during this period were:<br /><br />Highest 8.45%(quarter ended December 31, 2004)<br /><br />Lowest -5.51% (quarter ended September 30, 2008)<br /><br />The fund's total return for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, was 6.99%</tt> Annual fund operating expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) Average annual total returns For the periods ended December 31, 2011 (with maximum sales charge): <tt>The following bar chart shows how the fund's investment results have varied from<br />year to year, and the following table shows how the fund's average annual total<br />returns for various periods compare with different broad measures of market<br />results.</tt> Portfolio turnover <tt>This section describes the principal risks associated with the fund's principal<br />investment strategies. You may lose money by investing in the fund. The<br />likelihood of loss may be greater if you invest for a shorter period of time.<br /> <br />Market conditions -- The prices of, and the income generated by, the securities<br />held by the fund may decline due to market conditions and other factors,<br />including those directly involving the issuers of securities held by the fund.<br /> <br />Investing in bonds -- Rising interest rates will generally cause the prices of<br />bonds and other debt securities to fall. Longer maturity debt securities may be<br />subject to greater price fluctuations than shorter maturity debt securities. In<br />addition, falling interest rates may cause an issuer to redeem, call or refinance <br />a security before its stated maturity, which may result in the fund having to <br />reinvest the proceeds in lower yielding securities.<br /> <br />Bonds and other debt securities are subject to credit risk, which is the<br />possibility that the credit strength of an issuer will weaken and/or an issuer<br />of a debt security will fail to make timely payments of principal or interest<br />and the security will go into default.<br /><br />Thinly traded securities -- There may be little trading in the secondary market<br />for particular bonds or other debt securities, which may make them more<br />difficult to value, acquire or sell.<br /> <br />Investing in lower rated bonds -- Lower rated bonds and other lower rated debt<br />securities generally have higher rates of interest and involve greater risk of<br />default or price declines due to changes in the issuer's creditworthiness than<br />those of higher quality debt securities. The market prices of these securities<br />may fluctuate more than the prices of higher quality debt securities and may<br />decline significantly in periods of general economic difficulty. These risks <br />may be increased with respect to investments in junk bonds.<br /> <br />Currency -- The prices of, and the income generated by, many debt securities held<br />by the fund may also be affected by changes in relative currency values.<br /> <br />Investing outside the United States -- Securities of issuers domiciled outside<br />the United States, or with significant operations outside the United States, may<br />lose value because of adverse political, social, economic or market developments<br />in the countries or regions in which the issuer operates. These securities may<br />also lose value due to changes in foreign currency exchange rates against the<br />U.S. dollar and/or currencies of other countries. Securities markets in certain<br />countries may be more volatile and/or less liquid than those in the United<br />States. Investments outside the United States may also be subject to different<br />settlement and accounting practices and different regulatory, legal and<br />reporting standards, and may be more difficult to value, than those in the<br />United States. The risks of investing outside the United States may be<br />heightened in connection with investments in emerging markets.<br /> <br />Investing in emerging markets -- Investing in emerging markets may involve risks<br />in addition to and greater than those generally associated with investing in<br />developed countries. For instance, developing countries may have less developed<br />legal and accounting systems than those in developed countries. The governments<br />of these countries may be less stable and more likely to impose capital<br />controls, nationalize a company or industry, place restrictions on foreign<br />ownership and on withdrawing sale proceeds of securities from the country,<br />and/or impose punitive taxes that could adversely affect the prices of<br />securities. In addition, the economies of these countries may be dependent on<br />relatively few industries that are more susceptible to local and global changes.<br />Securities markets in these countries can also be relatively small and have<br />substantially lower trading volumes. As a result, securities issued in these<br />countries may be more volatile and less liquid, and may be more difficult to<br />value, than securities issued in countries with more developed economies and/or<br />markets. Additionally, there may be increased settlement risks for transactions<br />in local securities.<br /> <br />Nondiversification risks -- As a nondiversified fund, the fund has the ability to<br />invest a larger percentage of its assets in the securities of a smaller number<br />of issuers than a diversified fund. Although the fund does not intend to limit<br />its investments to the securities of a small number of issuers, if it were to do<br />so, poor performance by a single large holding would adversely impact the fund's<br />investment results more than if the fund were invested in a larger number of<br />issuers.<br /><br />Management -- The investment adviser to the fund actively manages the fund's<br />investments. Consequently, the fund is subject to the risk that the methods <br />and analyses employed by the investment adviser in this process may not produce <br />the desired results. This could cause the fund to lose value or its investment<br />results to lag relevant benchmarks or other funds with similar objectives.<br /> <br />Your investment in the fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or<br />guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other<br />governmental agency, entity or person. You should consider how this fund <br />fits into your overall investment program.</tt> Fees and expenses of the fund After-tax returns are shown only for Class A shares; after-tax returns for other share classes will vary. Principal investment strategies americanfunds.com <tt>The following bar chart shows how the fund's investment results have varied from<br />year to year, and the following table shows how the fund's average annual total<br />returns for various periods compare with different broad measures of market<br />results. This information provides some indication of the risks of investing <br />in the fund. The Citigroup World Government Bond Index also reflects certain<br />countries in which the fund may invest. The Lipper Global Income Funds Index<br />includes the fund and other funds that disclose investment objectives and/or<br />strategies reasonably comparable to the fund's objective and/or strategies. The<br />Consumer Price Index provides a comparison of the fund's results to inflation.<br />Past investment results (before and after taxes) are not predictive of future<br />investment results. Updated information on the fund's investment results can be<br />obtained by visiting americanfunds.com.</tt> <tt>This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold<br />shares of the fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your<br />family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $100,000 in American<br />Funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your<br />financial professional and in the "Sales charge reductions and waivers" section<br />on page 27 of the prospectus and on page 64 of the fund's statement of<br />additional information.</tt> <div style="display:none">~ http://www.americanfunds.com/role/OperatingExpensesData_S000009240Member column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact * column rr_ProspectusShareClassAxis compact * row primary compact * ~</div> For the share classes listed below, you would pay the following if you did not redeem your shares: <div style="display:none">~ http://www.americanfunds.com/role/PerformanceTableData_S000009240Member column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact * column rr_ProspectusShareClassAxis compact * column rr_PerformanceMeasureAxis compact * row primary compact * ~</div> <tt>After-tax returns are shown only for Class A shares; after-tax returns for other<br />share classes will vary. After-tax returns are calculated using the highest<br />individual federal income tax rates in effect during each year of the periods<br />shown and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual<br />after-tax returns depend on your individual tax situation and likely will differ<br />from the results shown above. In addition, after-tax returns are not relevant if<br />you hold your fund shares through a tax-favored arrangement, such as a 401(k)<br />plan, individual retirement account (IRA) or 529 college savings plan.</tt> Your investment in the fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency, entity or person. <div style="display:none">~ http://www.americanfunds.com/role/ExpenseExampleNoRedemption_S000009240Member column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact * column rr_ProspectusShareClassAxis compact * row primary compact * ~</div> <tt>Class A annualized 30-day yield at September 30, 2012: 1.33%&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;<br />(For current yield information, please call American FundsLine&#xAE; <br />at 800/325-3590.)</tt> <div style="display:none">~ http://www.americanfunds.com/role/ShareholderFeesData_S000009240Member column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact * column rr_ProspectusShareClassAxis compact * row primary compact * ~</div> Consumer Price Index 0.0296 0.0226 0.0248 0.0284 1987-08-04 Lipper Global Income Funds Index (reflects no deductions for sales charges, account fees or taxes) 0.0380 0.0556 0.0658 1987-08-04 Citigroup World Government Bond Index (reflects no deductions for sales charges, account fees, expenses or taxes) 0.0635 0.0713 0.0777 0.0739 1987-08-04 Barclays Global Aggregate Index (reflects no deductions for sales charges, account fees, expenses or taxes) 0.0564 0.0646 0.0716 1987-08-04 Share class A - After taxes on distributions and sale of fund shares -0.0006 0.0323 0.0555 1987-08-04 Share class A - After taxes on distributions -0.0131 0.0331 0.0590 1987-08-04 RCWGX 0.0000 Share class R-6 (before taxes) 53 167 653 0.00 291 0.0411 0.0008 0.0044 0.00 0.0000 0.0052 0.0885 2009-05-01 0.0000 BFWFX 0.0000 Share class F-2 (before taxes) 63 199 774 0.00 346 0.0401 0.0018 0.0044 0.00 0.0000 0.0062 0.0499 2008-08-01 0.0000 CCWFX 0.0000 Share class 529-F-1 (before taxes) 96 279 1035 0.00 476 0.0391 0.0031 0.0044 0.0575 0.00 0.0000 0.0075 10 0.0761 2002-09-17 0.0000 CCWEX 0.0000 Share class 529-E (before taxes) 143 423 1568 0.00 723 0.0342 0.0027 0.0044 0.0523 0.00 0.0050 0.0121 10 0.0743 2002-05-16 0.0000 CCWCX 0.0000 Share class 529-C (before taxes) 299 199 593 2171 0.00 1011 0.0189 0.0032 0.0044 2171 0.0470 593 1011 0.00 0.0100 0.0176 10 0.0705 2002-02-28 0.0100 CCWBX 0.0000 Share class 529-B (before taxes) 700 200 996 1973 0.00 1216 -0.0213 0.0033 0.0044 1973 0.0435 596 1016 0.00 0.0100 0.0177 10 0.0721 2002-02-25 0.0500 CCWAX 0.0375 Share class 529-A (before taxes) 490 712 1623 0.00 949 -0.0017 0.0032 0.0044 0.0474 0.00 0.0021 0.0097 10 0.0749 2002-02-15 0.0100 WBFFX 0.0000 Share class F-1 (before taxes) 90 281 1084 0.00 488 0.0376 0.0019 0.0044 0.0560 0.00 0.0025 0.0778 0.0088 0.0737 2001-03-16 0.0000 CWBCX 0.0000 Share class C (before taxes) 271 171 530 1987 0.00 913 0.0198 0.0024 0.0044 1987 0.0476 530 913 0.00 0.0100 0.0693 0.0168 0.0654 2001-03-15 0.0100 WBFBX 0.0000 Share class B (before taxes) 668 168 920 1752 0.00 1097 -0.0201 0.0021 0.0044 1752 0.0447 520 897 0.00 0.0100 0.0713 0.0165 0.0641 2000-03-15 0.0500 RCWFX 0.0000 Share class R-5 (before taxes) 58 183 714 0.00 318 0.0411 0.0013 0.0044 0.0590 0.00 0.0000 0.0057 0.0814 2002-05-15 0.0000 RCWEX 0.0000 Share class R-4 (before taxes) 89 278 1073 0.00 482 0.0375 0.0018 0.0044 0.0559 0.00 0.0025 0.0087 0.0762 2002-08-15 0.0000 RCWCX 0.0000 Share class R-3 (before taxes) 123 384 1466 0.00 665 0.0346 0.0027 0.0044 0.0523 0.00 0.0050 0.0121 0.0700 2002-07-16 0.0000 RCWBX 0.0000 Share class R-2 (before taxes) 173 536 2009 0.00 923 0.0299 0.0052 0.0044 0.0478 0.00 0.0074 0.0170 0.0666 2002-07-09 0.0000 RCWAX 0.0000 Share class R-1 (before taxes) 166 514 1933 0.00 887 0.0296 0.0020 0.0044 0.0476 0.00 0.0099 0.0163 0.0662 2002-06-28 0.0000 CWBFX 0.1645 Lowest Highest 0.0375 2012-09-30 Share class A - Before taxes 462 2004-12-31 0.0133 648 -0.0551 0.1138 0.0597 1430 0.00 850 0.0856 0.0845 -0.0012 0.0021 -0.0058 0.0044 2008-09-30 0.1064 0.0480 -0.0286 The fund's total return for the nine months ended 0.0380 0.00 0.1886 Class A annualized 30-day yield at September 30, 2012: 0.0024 0.0737 0.0089 0.0760 0.0704 1987-08-04 0.0699 0.0100 0000812303 ck0000812303:SummaryS000009240Memberck0000812303:S000009240Memberck0000812303:C000025175Member 2012-12-01 2012-12-01 0000812303 ck0000812303:SummaryS000009240Memberck0000812303:S000009240Memberck0000812303:C000025176Member 2012-12-01 2012-12-01 0000812303 ck0000812303:SummaryS000009240Memberck0000812303:S000009240Memberck0000812303:C000025177Member 2012-12-01 2012-12-01 0000812303 ck0000812303:SummaryS000009240Memberck0000812303:S000009240Memberck0000812303:C000025178Member 2012-12-01 2012-12-01 0000812303 ck0000812303:SummaryS000009240Memberck0000812303:S000009240Memberck0000812303:C000025179Member 2012-12-01 2012-12-01 0000812303 ck0000812303:SummaryS000009240Memberck0000812303:S000009240Memberck0000812303:C000025180Member 2012-12-01 2012-12-01 0000812303 ck0000812303:SummaryS000009240Memberck0000812303:S000009240Memberck0000812303:C000025181Member 2012-12-01 2012-12-01 0000812303 ck0000812303:SummaryS000009240Memberck0000812303:S000009240Memberck0000812303:C000025182Member 2012-12-01 2012-12-01 0000812303 ck0000812303:SummaryS000009240Memberck0000812303:S000009240Memberck0000812303:C000025183Member 2012-12-01 2012-12-01 0000812303 ck0000812303:SummaryS000009240Memberck0000812303:S000009240Memberck0000812303:C000025184Member 2012-12-01 2012-12-01 0000812303 ck0000812303:SummaryS000009240Memberck0000812303:S000009240Memberck0000812303:C000025185Member 2012-12-01 2012-12-01 0000812303 ck0000812303:SummaryS000009240Memberck0000812303:S000009240Memberck0000812303:C000025186Member 2012-12-01 2012-12-01 0000812303 ck0000812303:SummaryS000009240Memberck0000812303:S000009240Memberck0000812303:C000025187Member 2012-12-01 2012-12-01 0000812303 ck0000812303:SummaryS000009240Memberck0000812303:S000009240Memberck0000812303:C000025188Member 2012-12-01 2012-12-01 0000812303 ck0000812303:SummaryS000009240Memberck0000812303:S000009240Memberck0000812303:C000068532Member 2012-12-01 2012-12-01 0000812303 ck0000812303:SummaryS000009240Memberck0000812303:S000009240Memberck0000812303:C000077921Member 2012-12-01 2012-12-01 0000812303 ck0000812303:SummaryS000009240Memberck0000812303:S000009240Memberrr:AfterTaxesOnDistributionsMemberck0000812303:C000025175Member 2012-12-01 2012-12-01 0000812303 ck0000812303:SummaryS000009240Memberck0000812303:S000009240Memberrr:AfterTaxesOnDistributionsAndSalesMemberck0000812303:C000025175Member 2012-12-01 2012-12-01 0000812303 ck0000812303:SummaryS000009240Memberck0000812303:S000009240Memberck0000812303:RRINDEX00001Member 2012-12-01 2012-12-01 0000812303 ck0000812303:SummaryS000009240Memberck0000812303:S000009240Memberck0000812303:RRINDEX00002Member 2012-12-01 2012-12-01 0000812303 ck0000812303:SummaryS000009240Memberck0000812303:S000009240Memberck0000812303:RRINDEX00003Member 2012-12-01 2012-12-01 0000812303 ck0000812303:SummaryS000009240Memberck0000812303:S000009240Memberck0000812303:RRINDEX00004Member 2012-12-01 2012-12-01 0000812303 ck0000812303:SummaryS000009240Memberck0000812303:S000009240Member 2012-12-01 2012-12-01 0000812303 2012-12-01 2012-12-01 pure iso4217:USD A contingent deferred sales charge of 1.00% applies on certain redemptions within one year following purchases of $1 million or more made without an initial sales charge.