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Tax Exempt Bond Fund of America, et al. – ‘485BPOS’ on 10/29/01

On:  Monday, 10/29/01   ·   Effective:  11/1/01   ·   Accession #:  794389-1-500005   ·   File #s:  2-49291, 811-02421

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  As Of                Filer                Filing    For·On·As Docs:Size              Issuer               Agent

10/29/01  Tax Exempt Bond Fund of America   485BPOS    11/01/01    3:402K                                   American Fds Tax … II/CA
          Tax Exempt Bond Fund of America Inc

Post-Effective Amendment
Filing Table of Contents

Document/Exhibit                   Description                      Pages   Size 

 1: 485BPOS     Post-Effective Amendment                             146±   607K 
 2: EX-1        Ex-99.G Cust Agreemt                                  20±    87K 
 3: EX-2        Ex-99.J Other Opinin                                   1      5K 


485BPOS   —   Post-Effective Amendment
Document Table of Contents

Page (sequential) | (alphabetic) Top
 
11st Page   -   Filing Submission
2Table of Contents
5The Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America
6American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund
7Limited Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America
8Fees and Expenses of the Funds
16American Funds Service Company Service Areas
20Sales Charges
"Class A
22Sales Charge Reductions and Waivers
23Contingent Deferred Sales Charge Waivers for Class B and C Shares
"Plans of Distribution
26Financial Highlights
35Certain Investment Limitations and Guidelines
36Description of Certain Securities and Investment Techniques
41Fundamental Policies and Investment Restrictions
46Fund Organization and Voting Rights
48Directors/Trustees and Director/Trustee Compensation
"Ltex
53Management
59Taxes and Distributions
62Purchase of Shares
70Individual Retirement Account (IRA) Rollovers
71Price of Shares
72Selling Shares
74Shareholder Account Services and Privileges
76Execution of Portfolio Transactions
77General Information
79Class A Share Investment Results and Related Statistics
82Appendix
85Class B
"Item 23. Exhibits
"Item 24. Persons Controlled by or Under Common Control With Registrant
"Item 25. Indemnification
"Item 25. Indemnification (Continued)
"Item 26. Business and Other Connections of Investment Adviser
"Item 28. Location of Accounts and Records
"Item 29. Management Services
"Item 30. Undertakings
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SEC. FILE NOS. 2-49291 811-2421 SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM N-1A Registration Statement Under the Securities Act of 1933 Post-Effective Amendment No. 30 and Registration Statement Under The Investment Company Act of 1940 Amendment No. 30 THE TAX-EXEMPT BOND FUND OF AMERICA, INC. (Exact Name of Registrant as specified in charter) 333 South Hope Street Los Angeles, California 90071 (Address of principal executive offices) Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (213) 486-9200 JULIE F. WILLIAMS, Secretary The Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America, Inc. 333 South Hope Street Los Angeles, California 90071 (name and address of agent for service) Copies to: Robert E. Carlson, Esq. PAUL, HASTINGS, JANOFSKY & WALKER LLP 555 S. Flower Street, 23rd Floor Los Angeles, CA 90071-2371 (Counsel for the Registrant) Approximate date of proposed public offering: It is proposed that this filing become effective on November 1, 2001, pursuant to paragraph (b) of rule 485.
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The Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America/(R)/ American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund/SM/ Limited Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America/SM/ Prospectus [Download Table] TABLE OF CONTENTS ------------------------------------------------------ 1 Risk/Return Summary ------------------------------------------------------ 6 Fees and Expenses of the Funds ------------------------------------------------------ 8 Investment Objectives, Strategies and Risks ------------------------------------------------------ 12 Management and Organization ------------------------------------------------------ 14 Shareholder Information ------------------------------------------------------ 15 Choosing a Share Class ------------------------------------------------------ 17 Purchase and Exchange of Shares ------------------------------------------------------ 18 Sales Charges ------------------------------------------------------ 20 Sales Charge Reductions and Waivers ------------------------------------------------------ 21 Plans of Distribution ------------------------------------------------------ 22 How to Sell Shares ------------------------------------------------------ 23 Distributions and Taxes ------------------------------------------------------ 24 Financial Highlights ------------------------------------------------------ NOVEMBER 1, 2001 THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION HAS NOT APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED OF THESE SECURITIES. FURTHER, IT HAS NOT DETERMINED THAT THIS PROSPECTUS IS ACCURATE OR COMPLETE. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
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RISK/RETURN SUMMARY The funds seek to provide you with high current income that is exempt from regular federal income tax by investing primarily in municipal bonds. The Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America invests primarily in municipal bonds rated A or better, but may invest in lower quality municipal bonds. American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund invests a substantial portion of its portfolio in lower quality municipal bonds. Limited Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund invests primarily in municipal bonds with average effective maturities between 3 and 10 years and with quality ratings of A or better, but may also invest significantly in bonds rated Baa or BBB. The funds emphasize undervalued but fundamentally sound investments in municipal obligations, including those issued to finance roads, schools, hospitals, airports and other public needs. Municipalities include counties, cities, towns, and various regional or special districts. The funds are designed for investors seeking a high level of current income exempt from federal income tax and, in the case of American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund, investors who are able to tolerate greater credit risk and price fluctuations than funds investing in higher quality bonds. An investment in the funds is subject to risks, including the possibility that a fund's income and the value of its investments may fluctuate in response to economic, political or social events in the U.S. or abroad. The values of debt securities may be affected by changing interest rates and credit risk assessments. Lower quality or longer maturity bonds may be subject to greater price fluctuations than higher quality or shorter maturity bonds. Your investment in the funds is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency, entity or person. YOU MAY LOSE MONEY BY INVESTING IN THE FUNDS. THE LIKELIHOOD OF LOSS IS GREATER IF YOU INVEST FOR A SHORTER PERIOD OF TIME. 1 NATIONAL TAX-EXEMPT INCOME FUNDS / PROSPECTUS
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HISTORICAL INVESTMENT RESULTS The following information provides some indication of the risks of investing in the funds by showing changes in the funds' investment results from year to year and by showing how the funds' average annual total returns for various periods compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. Past results are not an indication of future results. Unlike the bar charts, the investment results tables reflect each fund's investment results with the maximum initial or deferred sales charge deducted, as required by Securities and Exchange Commission rules. Class A share results are shown with the maximum initial sales charge of 3.75% deducted. Sales charges are reduced for purchases of $100,000 or more. Results would be higher if they were calculated at net asset value. All fund results reflect the reinvestment of dividend and capital gain distributions. Since the funds' Class B shares began investment operations on March 15, 2000 and Class C and F shares began investment operations on March 15, 2001, comparable results are not available for the 2000 calendar year. 2 NATIONAL TAX-EXEMPT INCOME FUNDS / PROSPECTUS
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THE TAX-EXEMPT BOND FUND OF AMERICA CALENDAR YEAR TOTAL RETURNS FOR CLASS A SHARES (Results do not include a sales charge; if one were included, results would be lower.) [bar chart] 1991 11.17% 1992 9.03 1993 11.72 1994 -4.82 1995 17.28 1996 4.57 1997 8.98 1998 6.04 1999 -2.32 2000 9.69 [end bar chart] Highest/lowest quarterly results during this time period were: [Download Table] HIGHEST 6.87% (quarter ended March 31, 1995) LOWEST -4.93% (quarter ended March 31, 1994) The year-to-date result was 6.58% for the nine months ended September 30, 2001. [Download Table] AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS FOR PERIODS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2000: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ONE YEAR FIVE YEARS TEN YEARS LIFETIME Class A - began 10/3/79 (with the maximum sales 5.56% 4.50% 6.54% 7.87% charge imposed) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Lehman Municipal Bond 11.68% 5.84% 7.32% N/A Index/1/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Lipper General 10.83% 4.66% 6.68% 8.05% Municipal Debt Average/2/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Class A 30-day yield: 4.66% (For current yield information, please call American FundsLine at 1-800-325-3590.) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1 The Lehman Brothers Municipal Bond Index represents the national investment grade municipal bond market. This index is unmanaged and does not reflect sales charges, commissions or expenses. This index was not in existence as of the date the fund's Class A shares began investment operations, therefore, lifetime results are not available. 2 The Lipper General Municipal Debt Funds Average represent funds that invest at least 65% of assets in municipal debt issues in the top four rating categories. The results of the underlying funds in the average include the reinvestment of dividend and capital gain distributions and brokerage commissions paid by the funds for portfolio transactions, but do not reflect sales charges. 3 NATIONAL TAX-EXEMPT INCOME FUNDS / PROSPECTUS
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AMERICAN HIGH-INCOME MUNICIPAL BOND FUND CALENDAR YEAR TOTAL RETURNS FOR CLASS A SHARES (Results do not include a sales charge; if one were included, results would be lower.) [bar chart] 1995 19.05% 1996 6.45 1997 10.37 1998 4.89 1999 -2.31 2000 7.31 [end bar chart] Highest/lowest quarterly results during this time period were: [Download Table] HIGHEST 7.46% (quarter ended March 31, 1995) LOWEST -1.40% (quarter ended December 31, 1999) The year-to-date result was 6.72% for the nine months ended September 30, 2001. [Download Table] AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS FOR PERIODS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2000: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ONE YEAR FIVE YEARS LIFETIME Class A - began 9/26/94 (with the maximum sales charge 3.25% 4.46% 6.44% imposed) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Lehman Municipal Bond Index/1/ 11.68% 5.84% 7.11% ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Lipper High Yield Municipal Debt 3.08% 3.83% 5.25% Average/2/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Class A 30-day yield: 5.27% (For current yield information, please call American FundsLine at 1-800-325-3590.) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1 The Lehman Brothers Municipal Bond Index represents the national investment grade municipal bond market. This index is unmanaged and does not reflect sales charges, commissions or expenses. 2 The Lipper High Yield Municipal Debt Funds Average represents an average of funds in the objective that invest at least 50% of their assets in lower rated municipal debt issues. The results of the underlying funds in the average include the reinvestment of dividend and capital gain distributions and brokerage commissions paid by the funds for portfolio transactions, but do not reflect sales charges. 4 NATIONAL TAX-EXEMPT INCOME FUNDS / PROSPECTUS
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LIMITED TERM TAX-EXEMPT BOND FUND OF AMERICA CALENDAR YEAR TOTAL RETURNS FOR CLASS A SHARES (Results do not include a sales charge; if one were included, results would be lower.) [bar chart] 1994 -2.90% 1995 12.35 1996 4.46 1997 7.30 1998 5.50 1999 -0.60 2000 7.45 [end bar chart] Highest/lowest quarterly results during this time period were: [Download Table] HIGHEST 4.38% (quarter ended March 31, 1995) LOWEST -3.44% (quarter ended March 31, 1994) The year-to-date result was 6.34% for the nine months ended September 30, 2001. [Download Table] AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS FOR PERIODS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2000: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ONE YEAR FIVE YEARS LIFETIME Class A - began 10/6/93 (with the maximum sales charge 3.40% 3.98% 4.47% imposed) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Lehman 7-Year Municipal Bond Index/1/ 9.07% 5.39% 5.37% ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Lipper Intermediate Municipal Debt 8.55% 4.67% 4.78% Average/2/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Class A 30-day yield: 4.13% (For current yield information, please call American FundsLine at 1-800-325-3590.) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1 The Lehman Brothers 7-Year Municipal Bond Index represents the national investment grade municipal bond market. This index is unmanaged and does not reflect sales charges, commissions or expenses. 2 The Lipper Intermediate Municipal Debt Funds Average is comprised of funds that invest in municipal debt issues with dollar-weighted average maturities of five to ten years. The results of the underlying funds in the average include the reinvestment of dividend and capital gain distributions and brokerage commissions paid by the funds for portfolio transactions, but do not reflect sales charges. 5 NATIONAL TAX-EXEMPT INCOME FUNDS / PROSPECTUS
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FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE FUNDS SHAREHOLDER FEES (PAID DIRECTLY FROM YOUR INVESTMENT) [Enlarge/Download Table] CLASS A CLASS B CLASS C CLASS F ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Maximum sales charge imposed on purchases (as a 3.75 %/1/ none none none percentage of offering price) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Maximum sales charge imposed on reinvested none none none none dividends ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Maximum deferred sales charge none/2/ 5.00%/3/ 1.00%/4/ none ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Redemption or exchange fees none none none none ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 Sales charges are reduced or eliminated for purchases of $100,000 or more. 2 A contingent deferred sales charge of 1% applies on certain redemptions made within 12 months following purchases of $1 million or more made without a sales charge. 3 Deferred sales charges are reduced after 12 months and eliminated after six years. 4 Deferred sales charge is eliminated after 12 months. [Download Table] ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES (DEDUCTED FROM FUND ASSETS) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ CLASS A CLASS B CLASS C/1/ CLASS F/1/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ THE TAX-EXEMPT BOND FUND OF AMERICA ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Management Fees 0.35% 0.35% 0.35% 0.35% Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees/2/ 0.25% 1.00% 1.00% 0.25% Other Expenses 0.06% 0.05% 0.20% 0.19% Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses 0.66% 1.40% 1.55% 0.79% AMERICAN HIGH-INCOME MUNICIPAL BOND FUND ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Management Fees 0.41% 0.41% 0.41% 0.41% Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees/3/ 0.30% 1.00% 1.00% 0.25% Other Expenses 0.09% 0.07% 0.21% 0.21% Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses 0.80% 1.48% 1.62% 0.87% LIMITED TERM TAX-EXEMPT BOND FUND OF AMERICA ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Management Fees 0.38% 0.38% 0.38% 0.38% Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees/3/ 0.30% 1.00% 1.00% 0.25% Other Expenses 0.12% 0.21% 0.24% 0.24% Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses 0.80% 1.59% 1.62% 0.87% Expense Reimbursement/4/ 0.05% N/A N/A N/A Net Expenses 0.75% 1.59% 1.62% 0.87% ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1 Based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year. 2 Class A and F 12b-1 fees may not exceed 0.25% and 0.50%, respectively, of the class' average net assets annually. 3 Class A and F 12b-1 fees may not exceed 0.30% and 0.50%, respectively, of the class' average net assets annually. 4 During the year, Capital Research and Management Company paid certain expenses of the fund to ensure the expense ratio of the Class A shares did not exceed 0.75% of average net assets annually. Under certain circumstances, as described in the statement of additional information, the fund may be required to repay amounts waived. 6 NATIONAL TAX-EXEMPT INCOME FUNDS / PROSPECTUS
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EXAMPLE The examples below are intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the funds with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The examples assume that you invest $10,000 in each fund for the time periods indicated, that your investment has a 5% return each year and that each fund's operating expenses remain the same as shown above. The "Class A" example reflects the maximum initial sales charge in the first year. The "Class B- and Class C-assuming redemption" examples reflect applicable contingent deferred sales charges through six years and one year, respectively (after which times they are eliminated). The examples do not include fees charged by financial intermediaries, typically applicable mainly to Class F shares. Both Class B examples reflect Class A expenses for years 9 and 10 since Class B shares automatically convert to Class A after eight years. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your cumulative expenses would be: [Download Table] ONE YEAR THREE YEARS FIVE YEARS TEN YEARS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ THE TAX-EXEMPT BOND FUND OF AMERICA ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Class A $440 $578 $ 729 $1,167 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Class B - assuming redemption $643 $843 $ 966 $1,477 Class B - assuming no $143 $443 $ 766 $1,477 redemption ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Class C - assuming redemption $258 $490 $ 845 $1,845 Class C - assuming no $158 $490 $ 845 $1,845 redemption ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Class F - excludes $ 81 $252 $ 439 $ 978 intermediary fees/*/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ AMERICAN HIGH-INCOME MUNICIPAL BOND FUND ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Class A $454 $621 $ 803 $1,328 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Class B - assuming redemption $651 $868 $1,008 $1,584 Class B - assuming no $151 $468 $ 808 $1,584 redemption ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Class C - assuming redemption $265 $511 $ 881 $1,922 Class C - assuming no $165 $511 $ 881 $1,922 redemption ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Class F - excludes $ 89 $278 $ 482 $1,073 intermediary fees/*/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ LIMITED TERM TAX-EXEMPT BOND FUND OF AMERICA ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Class A/**/ $454 $621 $ 803 $1,328 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Class B - assuming redemption $662 $902 $1,066 $1,677 Class B - assuming no $162 $502 $ 866 $1,677 redemption ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Class C - assuming redemption $265 $511 $ 881 $1,922 Class C - assuming no $165 $511 $ 881 $1,922 redemption ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Class F - excludes $ 89 $278 $ 482 $1,073 intermediary fees/*/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ * Fees charged by financial intermediaries are independent of fund expenses and will increase the overall cost of your investment. Intermediary fees typically range from 0.50% to 3.00% of assets annually depending on services offered. /**/ Does not reflect expense reimbursement. 7 NATIONAL TAX-EXEMPT INCOME FUNDS / PROSPECTUS
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INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES, STRATEGIES AND RISKS THE TAX-EXEMPT BOND FUND OF AMERICA The fund's investment objective is to provide you with a high level of current income exempt from federal income tax, consistent with the preservation of capital. It seeks to achieve this objective by investing primarily in municipal bonds, including lower quality bonds. Normally, the fund will invest at least 80% of its assets in securities exempt from regular federal income tax. The fund will not invest in securities subject to alternative minimum tax. The fund will invest at least 65% of its assets in debt securities rated A or better. The fund may also invest up to 35% of its assets in debt securities rated Baa or BBB or below by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. or Standard & Poor's Corporation or unrated but determined to be of equivalent quality (however, no more than 20% of its assets may be invested in debt securities rated Ba and BB or below). AMERICAN HIGH-INCOME MUNICIPAL BOND FUND The fund's investment objective is to provide you with a high level of current income exempt from regular federal income tax. In seeking to achieve its objective, the fund may forego opportunities that would result in capital gains and may accept prudent risks to capital value, in each case to take advantage of opportunities for higher current income. Normally, the fund will invest at least 80% of its assets in securities exempt from regular federal income tax. The fund may invest, without limit, in securities that may subject you to federal alternative minimum taxes; therefore, while the fund's distributions from tax-exempt securities are not subject to regular federal income tax, a portion or all may be included in determining a shareholder's federal alternative minimum tax. The fund invests primarily in municipal bonds and will invest at least 50% of its assets in lower quality debt securities (rated Baa or BBB or below or unrated but determined to be of equivalent quality). In addition, the fund may invest significantly in municipal obligations of issuers in the same state or of similar project type. This may make the fund more susceptible to certain economic, political or regulatory occurrences. As a result, the potential for fluctuations in the fund's share price may increase. LIMITED TERM TAX-EXEMPT BOND FUND OF AMERICA The fund's investment objective is to provide you with current income that is exempt from regular federal income tax, consistent with its stated maturity and quality standards and preservation of capital. The fund invests primarily in municipal bonds with average effective maturities between 3 and 10 years and with quality ratings of A or better. 8 NATIONAL TAX-EXEMPT INCOME FUNDS / PROSPECTUS
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Normally, the fund will invest at least 80% of its assets in securities exempt from regular federal income tax. The fund may invest up to 20% of its assets in securities that may subject you to federal alternative minimum taxes; therefore, while the fund's distributions from tax-exempt securities are not subject to regular federal income tax, a portion or all may be included in determining a shareholder's federal alternative minimum tax. The fund may also invest significantly in municipal bonds rated Baa or BBB or unrated but determined to be of equivalent quality. * * * Municipal bonds are debt obligations generally issued to obtain funds for various public purposes, including the construction of public facilities. The values of and the income generated by most debt securities held by the funds may be affected by changing interest rates and individual securities by changes in their effective maturities and credit ratings. For example, as with other debt securities, the values of bonds in each fund's portfolio generally will decline when interest rates rise and vice versa. In addition, falling interest rates may cause an issuer to redeem or "call" a security before its stated maturity, which may result in the fund having to reinvest the proceeds in lower yielding securities. Debt securities are also subject to credit risk, which is the possibility that the credit strength of an issuer will weaken and/or an issuer of a debt security will fail to make timely payments of principal or interest and the security will go into default. Lower quality or longer maturity securities generally have higher rates of interest but may be subject to greater price fluctuations than higher quality or shorter maturity securities. See the Appendix in the statement of additional information for credit rating descriptions. A bond's effective maturity is the market's trading assessment of its maturity and represents an estimate of the most likely time period an investor in that bond will receive payment of principal. For example, as market interest rates decline, issuers may exercise call provisions which acts to shorten the bond's effective maturity. Conversely, if interest rates rise, effective maturities tend to lengthen. The average effective maturity is the market-weighted average (i.e., more weight is given to larger holdings) of all effective maturities in the portfolio. The funds' investment adviser attempts to reduce these risks through diversification of the portfolio and with ongoing credit analysis of each issuer, as well as by monitoring economic and legislative developments. The funds may also hold cash, money market instruments or taxable debt securities. The size of each fund's cash position will vary and will depend on various factors, including market conditions and purchases and redemptions of fund shares. A larger cash position could detract from the achievement of each fund's objective in a period of rising market prices, but it also could reduce the fund's exposure in the event of a market downturn and provide liquidity to make additional investments or to meet redemptions. 9 NATIONAL TAX-EXEMPT INCOME FUNDS / PROSPECTUS
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Each fund relies on the professional judgment of its investment adviser, Capital Research and Management Company, to make decisions about each fund's portfolio investments. The basic investment philosophy of the investment adviser is to seek undervalued securities that represent above average long-term opportunities. Securities may be sold when the investment adviser believes they no longer represent good long-term value. ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT RESULTS Unlike the investment results tables shown on an earlier page, the tables below reflect each fund's results calculated without a sales charge. [Download Table] AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS FOR PERIODS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2000: ONE YEAR FIVE YEARS TEN YEARS LIFETIME Class A - began 10/3/79 (with no sales charge 9.69% 5.30% 6.95% 8.06% imposed) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lehman Municipal Bond 11.68% 5.84% 7.32% N/A Index/1/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lipper General Municipal Debt 10.83% 4.66% 6.68% 8.05% Average/2/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Class A distribution rate/3/: 5.20% (For current distribution rate information, please call American FundsLine at 1-800-325-3590.) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE TAX-EXEMPT BOND FUND OF AMERICA 1 The Lehman Brothers Municipal Bond Index represents the national investment grade municipal bond market. This index is unmanaged and does not reflect sales charges, commissions or expenses. This index was not in existence as of the date the fund's Class A shares began investment operations, therefore, lifetime results are not available. 2 The Lipper General Municipal Debt Funds Average represent funds that invest at least 65% of assets in municipal debt issues in the top four rating categories. The results of the underlying funds in the average include the reinvestment of dividend and capital gain distributions and brokerage commissions paid by the funds for portfolio transactions, but do not reflect sales charges. 3 The distribution rate represents actual distributions paid by the fund. It was calculated at net asset value by annualizing dividends paid by the fund over one month and dividing that number by the fund's average net asset value for the month. AMERICAN HIGH-INCOME MUNICIPAL BOND FUND [Download Table] AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS FOR PERIODS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2000: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ONE YEAR FIVE YEARS LIFETIME Class A - began 9/26/94 (with no sales charge 7.31% 5.25% 7.10% imposed) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Lehman Municipal Bond 11.68% 5.84% 7.11% Index/1/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Lipper High Yield Municipal 3.08% 3.83% 5.25% Debt Average/2/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Class A distribution rate/3/: 5.50% (For current distribution rate information, please call American FundsLine at 1-800-325-3590.) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1 The Lehman Brothers Municipal Bond Index represents the national investment grade municipal bond market. This index is unmanaged and does not reflect sales charges, commissions or expenses. 2 The Lipper High Yield Municipal Debt Funds Average represents an average of funds in the objective that invest at least 50% of their assets in lower rated municipal debt issues. The results of the underlying funds in the average include the reinvestment of dividend and capital gain distributions and brokerage commissions paid by the funds for portfolio transactions, but do not reflect sales charges. 3 The distribution rate represents actual distributions paid by the fund. It was calculated at net asset value by annualizing dividends paid by the fund over one month and dividing that number by the fund's average net asset value for the month. 10 NATIONAL TAX-EXEMPT INCOME FUNDS / PROSPECTUS
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LIMITED TERM TAX-EXEMPT BOND FUND [Download Table] AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS FOR PERIODS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2000: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ONE YEAR FIVE YEARS LIFETIME Class A - began 10/6/93 (with no sales charge 7.45% 4.78% 5.02% imposed) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Lehman 7-Year Municipal Bond 9.07% 5.39% 5.37% Index/1/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Lipper Intermediate Municipal 8.55% 4.67% 4.78% Debt Average/2/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Class A distribution rate/3/: 4.21% (For current distribution rate information, please call American FundsLine at 1-800-325-3590.) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ OF AMERICA 1 The Lehman Brothers 7-Year Municipal Bond Index represents the national investment grade municipal bond market. This index is unmanaged and does not reflect sales charges, commissions or expenses. 2 The Lipper Intermediate Municipal Debt Funds Average is comprised of funds that invest in municipal debt issues with dollar-weighted average maturities of five to ten years. The results of the underlying funds in the average include the reinvestment of dividend and capital gain distributions and brokerage commissions paid by the funds for portfolio transactions, but do not reflect sales charges. 3 The distribution rate represents actual distributions paid by the fund. It was calculated at net asset value by annualizing dividends paid by the fund over one month and dividing that number by the fund's average net asset value for the month. 11 NATIONAL TAX-EXEMPT INCOME FUNDS / PROSPECTUS
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MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION INVESTMENT ADVISER Capital Research and Management Company, an experienced investment management organization founded in 1931, serves as investment adviser to the funds 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 funds. The total management fees paid by the funds, as a percentage of average net assets, for the previous fiscal year appears earlier under "Fees and Expenses of the Funds." MULTIPLE PORTFOLIO COUNSELOR SYSTEM Capital Research and Management Company uses a system of multiple portfolio counselors in managing mutual fund assets. Under this approach the portfolio of a fund is divided into segments managed by individual counselors. Counselors decide how their respective segments will be invested, within the limits provided by a fund's objective(s) and policies and by Capital Research and Management Company's investment committee. In addition, Capital Research and Management Company's research professionals may make investment decisions with respect to a portion of a fund's portfolio. The primary individual portfolio counselors for The Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America, American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund, and Limited Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America are: 12 NATIONAL TAX-EXEMPT INCOME FUNDS / PROSPECTUS
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[Enlarge/Download Table] PORTFOLIO COUNSELOR/ FUND PORTFOLIO COUNSELOR PRIMARY TITLE WITH INVESTMENT ADVISER TITLE (IF APPLICABLE) EXPERIENCE (OR AFFILIATE) AND INVESTMENT EXPERIENCE ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BRENDA S. ELLERIN 3 years Senior Vice President and Director, Capital (plus 6 years prior experience Research Company Senior Vice President, as a research professional) for Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America Investment professional for 12 years in total;10 America and Limited Term years with Capital Research and Management Tax-Exempt Bond Fund; 3 years Company or affiliate Vice President, American (plus 4 years prior experience High-Income Municipal Bond as a research professional) for Fund American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund 5 years for Limited Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DAVID A. HOAG 3 years Senior Vice President, Capital Research Company (plus 6 years prior experience Senior Vice President, as a research professional) for Investment professional for 13 years in total;10 Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America years with Capital Research and Management America and American Company or affiliate High-Income Municipal Bond 5 years Fund (plus 2 years prior experience as a research professional) for American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NEIL L. LANGBERG 22 years for Tax-Exempt Bond Vice President, Investment Management Group, Fund of America Capital Research and Management Company President, Principal Executive Officer and 7 years for American High-Income Investment professional for 23 years, all with Director, Tax-Exempt Bond Municipal Bond Fund Capital Research and Management Company or Fund of America; Senior affiliate Vice President, American 8 years for Limited Term High-Income Municipal Bond Tax-Exempt Bond Fund Fund and Limited Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- EDWARD B. NAHMIAS 1 year for Tax-Exempt Bond Fund Vice President and Director, Capital Research of America Company Vice President, American High-Income Municipal Bond Investment professional for 12 years in total;5 Fund years with Capital Research and Management Company or affiliate ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13 NATIONAL TAX-EXEMPT INCOME FUNDS / PROSPECTUS
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SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION SHAREHOLDER SERVICES American Funds Service Company, the funds' transfer agent, offers you a wide range of services you can use to alter your investment program should your needs and circumstances change. These services may be terminated or modified at any time upon 60 days written notice. For your convenience, American Funds Service Company has four service centers across the country. AMERICAN FUNDS SERVICE COMPANY SERVICE AREAS Call toll-Free from anywhere in the U.S. (8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET): 800/421-0180 Access the American Funds Website www.americanfunds.com [map of the United States] [Download Table] Western Western Central Eastern Central Eastern Service Center Service Center Service Center Service Center American Funds American Funds American Funds American Funds Service Company Service Company Service Company Service Company P.O. Box 25065 P.O. Box 659522 P.O. Box 6007 P.O. Box 2280 Santa Ana, San Antonio, Texas Indianapolis, Indiana Norfolk, Virginia California 78265-9522 46206-6007 23501-2280 92799-9508 Fax: 210/474-4050 Fax: 317/735-6620 Fax: 757/670-4773 Fax: 714/671-7080 A MORE DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF POLICIES AND SERVICES IS INCLUDED IN THE FUNDS' STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND THE OWNER'S GUIDE SENT TO NEW AMERICAN FUNDS SHAREHOLDERS TITLED "WELCOME TO THE FAMILY." Both are available by writing or calling American Funds Service Company. 14 NATIONAL TAX-EXEMPT INCOME FUNDS / PROSPECTUS
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CHOOSING A SHARE CLASS Each fund offers four different classes of shares. Each share class represents investments in the same portfolio of securities, but each class has its own sales charge and expense structure, allowing you to choose the class that best meets your situation. WHEN YOU PURCHASE SHARES OF EACH FUND, YOU MUST CHOOSE A SHARE CLASS. IF NONE IS CHOSEN, YOUR INVESTMENT WILL BE MADE IN CLASS A SHARES. Shares of each fund may be purchased through various investment programs or accounts, including many types of retirement plans. HOWEVER, TAX-EXEMPT FUNDS SHOULD NOT SERVE AS RETIREMENT PLAN INVESTMENTS. The services or share classes available to you may vary depending upon how you wish to purchase shares of each fund. Factors you should consider in choosing a class of shares include: . how long you expect to own the shares; . how much you intend to invest; . total expenses associated with owning shares of each class; . whether you qualify for any reduction or waiver of sales charges (for example, Class A shares may be a less expensive option over time if you qualify for a sales charge reduction or waiver); . Class B and C shares generally are not available to certain retirement plans, including employer-sponsored retirement plans such as 401(k) plans, employer-sponsored 403(b) plans, and money purchase pension and profit sharing plans; . Class F shares are generally only available to fee-based programs of investment firms that have special agreements with each fund's distributor and certain registered investment advisers. EACH INVESTOR'S FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS ARE DIFFERENT. YOU SHOULD SPEAK WITH YOUR FINANCIAL ADVISER TO HELP YOU DECIDE WHICH SHARE CLASS IS BEST FOR YOU. 15 NATIONAL TAX-EXEMPT INCOME FUNDS / PROSPECTUS
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SUMMARY OF THE PRIMARY DIFFERENCES AMONG SHARE CLASSES [Download Table] CLASS A SHARES ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Initial sales charge up to 3.75% (reduced or eliminated for purchases of $100,000 or more) Contingent deferred none (except on certain redemptions on purchases sales charge of $1 million or more bought without an initial sales charge) 12b-1 fees up to 0.25% or 0.30% annually Dividends higher than other classes due to lower annual expenses Purchase maximum none Conversion none CLASS B SHARES ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Initial sales charge none Contingent deferred starts at 5.00% and declines until it reaches 0% sales charge after six years 12b-1 fees 1.00% annually Dividends lower than Class A and F shares due to higher distribution fees and other expenses, but higher than Class C shares due to lower other expenses Purchase maximum $100,000 Conversion automatic conversion to Class A shares after eight years, reducing future annual expenses CLASS C SHARES ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Initial sales charge none Contingent deferred 1.00% if shares are sold within one year after sales charge being purchased 12b-1 fees 1.00% annually Dividends lower than other classes due to higher distribution fees and other expenses Purchase maximum $500,000 Conversion automatic conversion to Class F shares after ten years, reducing future annual expenses CLASS F SHARES ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Initial sales charge none Contingent deferred none sales charge 12b-1 fees currently 0.25% annually (may not exceed 0.50% annually) Dividends higher than Class B and C shares due to lower distribution fees, but typically lower than Class A shares due to higher other expenses Purchase maximum none Conversion none ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 16 NATIONAL TAX-EXEMPT INCOME FUNDS / PROSPECTUS
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PURCHASE AND EXCHANGE OF SHARES PURCHASE OF CLASS A, B AND C SHARES Generally, you may open an account and purchase Class A, B and C shares by contacting any investment dealer (who may impose transaction charges in addition to those described in this prospectus) authorized to sell each fund's shares. You may purchase additional shares in various ways, including through your investment dealer and by mail, telephone, the Internet and bank wire. PURCHASE OF CLASS F SHARES Generally, you may only open an account and purchase Class F shares through fee-based programs of investment firms that have special agreements with the fund's distributor and certain registered investment advisers. These firms and advisers typically charge ongoing fees for services they provide. EXCHANGE Generally, you may exchange your shares into shares of the same class of other funds in The American Funds Group without a sales charge. For purposes of computing the contingent deferred sales charge on Class B and C shares, the length of time you have owned your shares will be measured from the date of original purchase and will not be affected by any exchange. Exchanges of shares from the money market funds initially purchased without a sales charge generally will be subject to the appropriate sales charge. Exchanges have the same tax consequences as ordinary sales and purchases. See "Transactions by Telephone..." for information regarding electronic exchanges. THE FUNDS AND AMERICAN FUNDS DISTRIBUTORS, EACH FUND'S DISTRIBUTOR, RESERVE THE RIGHT TO REJECT ANY PURCHASE ORDER FOR ANY REASON, INCLUDING PURCHASES WHICH ARE PART OF EXCHANGE ACTIVITY THAT COULD INVOLVE ACTUAL OR POTENTIAL HARM TO THE FUNDS. [Download Table] PURCHASE MINIMUMS FOR ALL CLASSES OF SHARES To establish an account $ 250 To add to an account $ 50 ----------------------------------------------------------- PURCHASE MAXIMUM FOR CLASS B SHARES $100,000 ----------------------------------------------------------- PURCHASE MAXIMUM FOR CLASS C SHARES $500,000 ----------------------------------------------------------- 17 NATIONAL TAX-EXEMPT INCOME FUNDS / PROSPECTUS
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VALUING SHARES Each fund's net asset value is the value of a single share. Each fund calculates its net asset value, each day the New York Stock Exchange is open, as of 4:00 p.m. New York time, the close of regular trading. Assets are valued primarily on the basis of market quotations. However, the funds' board has adopted procedures to make "fair value" determinations in certain circumstances, for example, if market quotations are not readily available or do not accurately reflect fair value. Your shares will be purchased at the net asset value (plus any applicable sales charge in the case of Class A shares), or sold at the net asset value next determined after American Funds Service Company receives and accepts your request. A contingent deferred sales charge may apply at the time you sell certain Class A, B and C shares. SALES CHARGES CLASS A The initial sales charge you pay when you buy Class A shares differs depending upon the amount you invest and may be reduced or eliminated for larger purchases as indicated below. [Download Table] SALES CHARGE AS A PERCENTAGE OF ---------------------------------- DEALER NET COMMISSION OFFERING AMOUNT AS % OF INVESTMENT PRICE INVESTED OFFERING PRICE ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Less than $100,000 3.75% 3.90% 3.00% ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ $100,000 but less than 3.50% 3.63% 2.75% $250,000 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ $250,000 but less than 2.50% 2.56% 2.00% $500,000 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ $500,000 but less than 2.00% 2.04% 1.60% $750,000 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ $750,000 but less than $1 1.50% 1.52% 1.20% million ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ $1 million or more and certain other investments none none none described below ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ CLASS A PURCHASES NOT SUBJECT TO SALES CHARGE INVESTMENTS OF $1 MILLION OR MORE MAY BE SUBJECT TO A 1% CONTINGENT DEFERRED SALES CHARGE IF SHARES ARE SOLD WITHIN ONE YEAR OF PURCHASE. Employer-sponsored defined contribution-type plans investing $1 million or more, or with 100 or more eligible employees, and Individual Retirement Account rollovers involving retirement plan assets invested in the American Funds, may invest with no sales charge and are not subject to a contingent deferred sales charge. Also exempt are investments made through retirement plans, endowments or foundations with $50 million or more in assets, and investments made through accounts that purchased fund shares before March 15, 2001 and are part of certain qualified fee-based programs. The distributor may pay dealers up to 1% 18 NATIONAL TAX-EXEMPT INCOME FUNDS / PROSPECTUS
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on investments made in Class A shares with no initial sales charge. Each fund may reimburse the distributor for these payments through its Plan of Distribution (see below). CLASS B AND C Class B and C shares are sold without any initial sales charge. American Funds Distributors pays 4% of the amount invested to dealers who sell Class B shares and 1% to dealers who sell Class C shares. For Class C shares, a contingent deferred sales charge of 1% applies if shares are sold within one year of purchase. For Class B shares, a contingent deferred sales charge may be applied to shares you sell within six years of purchase, as shown in the table below. [Download Table] CLASS B SHARES SOLD WITHIN YEAR 1 2 3 4 5 6 -------------------------------------------------------------------- CONTINGENT DEFERRED SALES CHARGE 5% 4% 4% 3% 2% 1% Shares acquired through reinvestment of dividends or capital gain distributions are not subject to a contingent deferred sales charge. In addition, the contingent deferred sales charge may be waived in certain circumstances. See "Contingent Deferred Sales Charge Waivers for Class B and C Shares" below. The contingent deferred sales charge is based on the original purchase cost or the current market value of the shares being sold, whichever is less. For purposes of determining the contingent deferred sales charge, if you sell only some of your shares, shares that are not subject to any contingent deferred sales charge will be sold first and then shares that you have owned the longest. See "Plans of Distribution" below for ongoing compensation paid to your dealer or financial adviser for all share classes. CONVERSION OF CLASS B AND C SHARES Class B shares automatically convert to Class A shares in the month of the eight-year anniversary of the purchase date. Class C shares automatically convert to Class F shares in the month of the ten-year anniversary of the purchase date. The Internal Revenue Service currently takes the position that these automatic conversions are not taxable. Should its position change, shareholders would still have the option of converting but may face certain tax consequences. 19 NATIONAL TAX-EXEMPT INCOME FUNDS / PROSPECTUS
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SALES CHARGE REDUCTIONS AND WAIVERS You must let your investment dealer or American Funds Service Company know if you qualify for a reduction in your Class A sales charge or waiver of your Class B or C contingent deferred sales charge. REDUCING YOUR CLASS A SALES CHARGE You and your "immediate family" (your spouse and your children under the age of 21) may combine investments to reduce your Class A sales charge. AGGREGATING ACCOUNTS To receive a reduced Class A sales charge, investments made by you and your immediate family (see above) may be aggregated if made for your own account(s) and/or, for instance: . trust accounts established by the above individuals. However, if the person(s) who established the trust is deceased, the trust account may be aggregated with accounts of the person who is the primary beneficiary of the trust; . solely controlled business accounts; . single-participant retirement plans. CONCURRENT PURCHASES You may combine simultaneous purchases of any class of shares of two or more American Funds, as well as individual holdings in various American Legacy variable annuities or variable life insurance policies, to qualify for a reduced Class A sales charge. Direct purchases of money market funds are excluded. RIGHTS OF ACCUMULATION You may take into account the current value (or if greater, the amount you invested less any withdrawals) of your existing holdings in any class of shares of the American Funds, as well as individual holdings in various American Legacy variable annuities or variable life insurance policies, to determine your Class A sales charge. Direct purchases of money market funds are excluded. STATEMENT OF INTENTION You can reduce the sales charge you pay on your Class A share purchases by establishing a Statement of Intention. A Statement of Intention allows you to combine all non-money market fund purchases of all share classes, as well as individual American Legacy variable annuity and life insurance policies you intend to make over a 13-month period, to determine the applicable sales charge. At your request, purchases made during the previous 90 days may be included; however, capital appreciation and reinvested dividends and capital gains do not apply toward these combined purchases. A portion of your account may be held in escrow to cover additional Class A sales charges which may be due if your total investments over the 13-month period do not qualify for the applicable sales charge reduction. 20 NATIONAL TAX-EXEMPT INCOME FUNDS / PROSPECTUS
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CONTINGENT DEFERRED SALES CHARGE WAIVERS FOR CLASS B AND C SHARES The contingent deferred sales charge on Class B and C shares may be waived in the following cases: . when receiving payments through systematic withdrawal plans (up to 12% of the value of each fund account); . when receiving required minimum distributions from retirement accounts upon reaching age 70 1/2; or . for redemptions due to death or post-purchase disability of the shareholder (this generally excludes trusts). PLANS OF DISTRIBUTION Each fund has Plans of Distribution or "12b-1 Plans" under which it may finance activities primarily intended to sell shares, provided the categories of expenses are approved in advance by each fund's board of directors/trustees. The plans provide for annual expenses of up to 0.25% or 0.30% for Class A shares, 1.00% for Class B and C shares, and up to 0.50% for Class F shares. For all share classes, up to 0.25% of these expenses may be used to pay service fees to qualified dealers for providing certain shareholder services. The remaining expense for each share class may be used for distribution expenses. The 12b-1 fees paid by each fund, as a percentage of average net assets, for the previous fiscal year are indicated earlier under "Fees and Expenses of the Funds." Since these fees are paid out of each fund's assets or income on an ongoing basis, over time they will increase the cost and reduce the return of an investment. The higher fees for Class B and C shares may cost you more over time than paying the initial sales charge for Class A shares. OTHER COMPENSATION TO DEALERS American Funds Distributors may pay, or sponsor informational meetings for, dealers as described in the statement of additional information. 21 NATIONAL TAX-EXEMPT INCOME FUNDS / PROSPECTUS
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HOW TO SELL SHARES Once a sufficient period of time has passed to reasonably assure that checks or drafts (including certified or cashiers' checks) for shares purchased have cleared (normally 15 calendar days), you may sell (redeem) those shares in any of the following ways: THROUGH YOUR DEALER OR FINANCIAL ADVISER (CERTAIN CHARGES MAY APPLY) . Shares held for you in your dealer's name must be sold through the dealer. . Class F shares must be sold through your dealer or financial adviser. WRITING TO AMERICAN FUNDS SERVICE COMPANY . Requests must be signed by the registered shareholder(s). . A signature guarantee is required if the redemption is: -- over $50,000; -- made payable to someone other than the registered shareholder(s); or -- sent to an address other than the address of record, or an address of record which has been changed within the last 10 days. . American Funds Service Company reserves the right to require signature guarantee(s) on any redemptions. . Additional documentation may be required for sales of shares held in corporate, partnership or fiduciary accounts. TELEPHONING OR FAXING AMERICAN FUNDS SERVICE COMPANY, OR USING AMERICAN FUNDSLINE/(R)/ OR AMERICAN FUNDSLINE ONLINE/(R)/: . Redemptions by telephone, fax, or computer (including American FundsLine and American FundsLine OnLine) are limited to $50,000 per shareholder each day. . Checks must be made payable to the registered shareholder. . Checks must be mailed to an address of record that has been used with the account for at least 10 days. TRANSACTIONS BY TELEPHONE, FAX, AMERICAN FUNDSLINE OR FUNDSLINE ONLINE Generally, you are automatically eligible to use these services for redemptions and exchanges unless you notify us in writing that you do not want any or all of these services. You may reinstate these services at any time. Unless you decide not to have telephone, fax, or computer services on your account(s), you agree to hold each 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 liabilities (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, it and/or each fund may be liable for losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent instructions. 22 NATIONAL TAX-EXEMPT INCOME FUNDS / PROSPECTUS
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DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS Each fund declares dividends from net investment income daily and distributes the accrued dividends, which may fluctuate, to shareholders each month. Dividends begin accruing one day after payment for shares is received by the fund or American Funds Service Company. Capital gains, if any, are usually distributed in November or December. When a capital gain is distributed, the net asset value per share is reduced by the amount of the payment. You may elect to reinvest dividends and/or capital gain distributions to purchase additional shares of these funds or any other American Fund, or you may elect to receive them in cash. Most shareholders do not elect to take capital gain distributions in cash because these distributions reduce principal value. TAX CONSEQUENCES Interest on municipal bonds is generally not included in gross income for federal income tax purposes. Each fund is permitted to pass through to its shareholders federally tax-exempt income subject to certain requirements. However, each fund may invest in obligations which pay interest that is subject to state and local taxes when distributed by each fund. TAXES ON DISTRIBUTIONS Distributions you receive from the funds may be subject to income tax and may also be subject to state or local taxes - unless you are exempt from taxation. For federal tax purposes, any taxable dividends and distributions of short-term capital gains are treated as ordinary income. The funds' distributions of net long-term capital gains are taxable to you as long-term capital gains. Any taxable distributions you receive from the funds will normally be taxable to you when made, regardless of whether you reinvest distributions or receive them in cash. TAXES ON TRANSACTIONS Your redemptions, including exchanges, may result in a capital gain or loss for federal tax purposes. A capital gain or loss on your investment is the difference between the cost of your shares, including any sales charges, and the price you receive when you sell them. Please see your tax adviser for further information. 23 NATIONAL TAX-EXEMPT INCOME FUNDS / PROSPECTUS
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FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS The financial highlights table is intended to help you understand each fund's results for the past five years. Certain information reflects financial results for a single fund share. The total returns in the table represent the rate that an investor would have earned or lost on an investment in the funds (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions). This information has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, whose report, along with each fund's financial statements, is included in the statement of additional information, which is available upon request. THE TAX-EXEMPT BOND FUND OF AMERICA [Download Table] CLASS A ------------------------------------------------ YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 ------------------------------------------------ NET ASSET VALUE, $11.81 $11.86 $12.60 $12.27 $11.86 BEGINNING OF YEAR ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ INCOME FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS: Net investment income .60/1/ .60/1/ .59 .62 .64 Net gains (losses) on securities (both .57 /1/ (.01 )/1/ (.55) .37 .45 realized and unrealized) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Total from investment 1.17 .59 .04 .99 1.09 operations ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ LESS DISTRIBUTIONS: Dividends (from net investment income) (.60 ) (.60 ) (.59) (.62) (.64) Distributions (from capital (.04 ) (.19) (.04) (.04) gains) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Total distributions (.60 ) (.64 ) (.78) (.66) (.68) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ NET ASSET VALUE, $12.38 $11.81 $11.86 $12.60 $12.27 END OF YEAR ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ TOTAL RETURN/2/ 10.22 % 5.27 % .22% 8.26% 9.39% ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA: Net assets, end of year (in $2,202 $1,831 $1,917 $1,795 $1,593 millions) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ratio of expenses to .66 % .67 % .65% .66% .68% average net assets ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ratio of net income to average net assets 5.00 % 5.22 % 4.78% 4.98% 5.27% 1 Based on average shares outstanding. 2 Total returns exclude all sales charges, including contingent deferred sales charges. 3 24 NATIONAL TAX-EXEMPT INCOME FUNDS / PROSPECTUS
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[Enlarge/Download Table] CLASS B CLASS C CLASS F --------------------------------------------------- Year ended March 15 to March 15 to March 15 to March 15 to August 31, August 31, August 31, August 31, July 31, 2001 2000/1/ 2001/1/ 2001/1/ 2001/3/ --------------------------------------------------- NET ASSET VALUE, $11.81 $11.50 $12.10 $12.10 BEGINNING OF PERIOD --------------------------------------------------------------------------- INCOME FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS: Net investment income/2/ .52 .21 .21 .24 Net gains on securities (both realized and .57 .34 .29 .29 unrealized)/2/ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total from investment 1.09 .55 .50 .53 operations --------------------------------------------------------------------------- LESS DISTRIBUTIONS: Dividends (from net investment income) (.52) (.24) (.22) (.25) Distributions (from capital gains) --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total distributions (.52) (.24) (.22) (.25) --------------------------------------------------------------------------- NET ASSET VALUE, $12.38 $11.81 $12.38 $12.38 END OF PERIOD --------------------------------------------------------------------------- TOTAL RETURN/3/ 9.45% 4.88% 4.20% 4.45% --------------------------------------------------------------------------- RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA: Net assets, end of $ 26 $ 3 $ 15 $ 7 period (in millions) --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ratio of expenses to 1.40% .64% .73% .40% average net assets --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ratio of net income to average net assets 4.06% 1.99% 1.77% 2.11% 1 Based on operations for the period shown and, accordingly, not representative of a full year. 2 Based on average shares outstanding. 3 Total returns exclude all sales charges, including contingent deferred sales charges. [Download Table] YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 ---------------------------------------- Portfolio turnover rate for all classes of shares 21.41% 28.64% 14.56% 23.19% 14.39% 25 NATIONAL TAX-EXEMPT INCOME FUNDS / PROSPECTUS
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AMERICAN HIGH-INCOME MUNICIPAL BOND FUND [Download Table] CLASS A ------------------------------------------------ YEAR ENDED JULY 31 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 ------------------------------------------------ NET ASSET VALUE, $14.87 $15.49 $16.12 $15.90 $15.23 BEGINNING OF YEAR ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ INCOME FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS: Net investment income .83/1/ .82/1/ .81 .84 .87 Net gains (losses) on securities (both .48/1/ (.58 )/1/ (.54) .26 .80 realized and unrealized) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Total from investment 1.31 .24 .27 1.10 1.67 operations ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ LESS DISTRIBUTIONS: Dividends (from net investment income) (.83 ) (.83 ) (.82) (.84) (.86) Distributions (from capital - (.03 ) (.08) (.04) (.14) gains) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Total distributions (.83 ) (.86 ) (.90) (.88) (1.00) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ NET ASSET VALUE, $15.35 $14.87 $15.49 $16.12 $15.90 END OF YEAR ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ TOTAL RETURN/2/ 9.14 % 1.61 % 1.63% 7.05% 11.36% ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA: Net assets, end of year (in $ 650 $ 550 $ 564 $ 464 $ 316 millions) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ratio of expenses to .80 % .80 % .78% .79% .87% average net assets ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ratio of net income to average net assets 5.50 % 5.53 % 5.09% 5.19% 5.51% 1 Based on average shares outstanding. 2 Total returns exclude all sales charges, including contingent deferred sales charges. 3 26 NATIONAL TAX-EXEMPT INCOME FUNDS / PROSPECTUS
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[Enlarge/Download Table] CLASS B CLASS C CLASS F ------------------------------------------------- Year ended March 15 to March 15 to March 15 to March 15 to July 31, July 31, July 31, July 31, July 31, 2001 2000/1/ 2001/1/ 2001/1/ 2001/3/ ------------------------------------------------- NET ASSET VALUE, $14.87 $14.79 $15.11 $15.11 BEGINNING OF PERIOD ------------------------------------------------------------------------- INCOME FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS: Net investment income/2/ .71 .23 .25 .27 Net gains on securities (both realized and .50 .14 .25 .25 unrealized)/2/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total from investment 1.21 .37 .50 .52 operations ------------------------------------------------------------------------- LESS DISTRIBUTIONS: Dividends (from net investment income) (.73) (.29) (.26) (.28) Distributions (from - - - - capital gains) ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total distributions (.73) (.29) (.26) (.28) ------------------------------------------------------------------------- NET ASSET VALUE, $15.35 $14.87 $15.35 $15.35 END OF PERIOD ------------------------------------------------------------------------- TOTAL RETURN/3/ 8.45% 3.16% 3.34% 3.50% ------------------------------------------------------------------------- RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA: Net assets, end of $ 11 $ 2 $ 4 $ 1 period (in millions) ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ratio of expenses to 1.48% .55% .59% .37% average net assets ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ratio of net income to average net assets 4.72% 1.77% 1.75% 1.98% 1 Based on operations for the period shown and, accordingly, not representative of a full year. 2 Based on average shares outstanding. 3 Total returns exclude all sales charges, including contingent deferred sales charges. [Download Table] YEAR ENDED JULY 31 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 ---------------------------------------- Portfolio turnover rate for all classes of shares 18.23% 33.20% 16.67% 16.38% 15.31% 27 NATIONAL TAX-EXEMPT INCOME FUNDS / PROSPECTUS
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LIMITED TERM TAX-EXEMPT BOND FUND OF AMERICA [Download Table] CLASS A ------------------------------------------------ YEAR ENDED JULY 31 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 ------------------------------------------------ NET ASSET VALUE, $14.43 $14.62 $14.85 $14.79 $14.36 BEGINNING OF YEAR ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ INCOME FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS: Net investment income .62/1/ .73/1/ .61 .66 .68 Net gains (losses) on securities (both .65/1/ (.30 )/1/ (.23) .06 .43 realized and unrealized) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Total from investment 1.27 .43 .38 .72 1.11 operations ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ LESS DISTRIBUTIONS: Dividends (from net investment income) (.62 ) (.62 ) (.61) (.66) (.68) Total distributions (.62 ) (.62 ) (.61) (.66) (.68) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ NET ASSET VALUE, $15.08 $14.43 $14.62 $14.85 $14.79 END OF YEAR ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ TOTAL RETURN/2/ 8.99 % 3.09 % 2.59% 4.95% 7.96% ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA: Net assets, end of year (in $ 306 $ 258 $ 283 $ 227 $ 203 millions) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ratio of expenses to .75 % .75 % .75% .75% .75% average net assets/3/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ratio of net income to average net assets 4.18 % 5.08 % 4.12% 4.40% 4.70% 1 Based on average shares outstanding. 2 Total returns exclude all sales charges, including contingent deferred sales charges. 3 Had Capital Research and Management Company not waived management services fees, the fund's expense ratio would have been 0.80%, 0.81%, 0.77%, 0.83% and 0.83% for the fiscal years ended 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998 and 1997, respectively. 28 NATIONAL TAX-EXEMPT INCOME FUNDS / PROSPECTUS
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[Enlarge/Download Table] CLASS B CLASS C CLASS F ------------------------------------------------- Year ended March 15 to March 15 to March 15 to March 15 to July 31, July 31, July 31, July 31, July 31, 2001 2000/1/ 2001/1/ 2001/1/ 2001/3/ ------------------------------------------------- NET ASSET VALUE, $14.43 $14.27 $14.92 $14.92 BEGINNING OF PERIOD ------------------------------------------------------------------------- INCOME FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS: Net investment income/2/ .48 .24 .15 .16 Net gains on securities (both realized and .69 .13 .17 .19 unrealized)/2/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total from investment 1.17 .37 .32 .35 operations ------------------------------------------------------------------------- LESS DISTRIBUTIONS: Dividends (from net investment income) (.52) (.21) (.16) (.19) Total distributions (.52) (.21) (.16) (.19) ------------------------------------------------------------------------- NET ASSET VALUE, $15.08 $14.43 $15.08 $15.08 END OF PERIOD ------------------------------------------------------------------------- TOTAL RETURN/3/ 8.24% 2.59% 2.14% 2.34% ------------------------------------------------------------------------- RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA: Net assets, end of $ 2 $ 1 $ 4 $ 2 period (in millions) ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ratio of expenses to 1.59%/4/ .61%/4/ .75% .60% average net assets ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ratio of net income to average net assets 3.24% 1.84% 1.05% 1.18% 1 Based on operations for the period shown and, accordingly, not representative of a full year. 2 Based on average shares outstanding. 3 Total returns exclude all sales charges, including contingent deferred sales charges. 4 Had Capital Research and Management Company not waived management services fees, the fund's expense ratio would have been 1.60% and 0.71% for the fiscal year ended 2001 and 2000, respectively. [Download Table] YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 ---------------------------------------- Portfolio turnover rate for all classes of shares 21.42% 34.38% 17.00% 34.07% 31.89% 29 NATIONAL TAX-EXEMPT INCOME FUNDS / PROSPECTUS
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30 NATIONAL TAX-EXEMPT INCOME FUNDS / PROSPECTUS
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[Download Table] FOR SHAREHOLDER SERVICES American Funds Service Company 800/421-0180 FOR RETIREMENT PLAN SERVICES Call your employer or plan administrator FOR DEALER SERVICES American Funds Distributors 800/421-9900 Ext. 11 FOR 24-HOUR INFORMATION American FundsLine(R) 800/325-3590 American FundsLine OnLine(R) http://www.americanfunds.com Telephone conversations may be recorded or monitored for verification, recordkeeping and quality assurance purposes. * * * * * MULTIPLE TRANSLATIONS This prospectus may be translated into other languages. If there is any inconsistency or ambiguity as to the meaning of any word or phrase in a translation, the English text will prevail. ANNUAL/SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS Contains additional information about the funds including financial statements, investment results, portfolio holdings, a statement from portfolio management discussing market conditions and the funds' investment strategies, and the independent accountants' report (in the annual report). STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (SAI) AND CODES OF ETHICS The SAI contains more detailed information on all aspects of each fund, including each fund's financial statements, and is incorporated by reference into this prospectus. The Codes of Ethics describe the personal investing policies adopted by each fund and the funds' investment adviser and its affiliated companies. The Codes of Ethics and current SAI have been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). These and other related materials about the funds are available for review or to be copied at the SEC's Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. (202/942-8090) or on the EDGAR database on the SEC's Internet Web site at http://www.sec.gov, or, after payment of a duplicating fee, via e-mail request to publicinfo@sec.gov or by writing the SEC's Public Reference Section, Washington, D.C. 20549-0102. HOUSEHOLD MAILINGS Each year you are automatically sent an updated prospectus, annual and semi-annual report for the funds. You may also occasionally receive proxy statements for the funds. In order to reduce the volume of mail you receive, when possible, only one copy of these documents will be sent to shareholders that are part of the same family and share the same residential address. If you would like to receive individual copies of these documents, or a free copy of the SAI or Codes of Ethics, please call American Funds Service Company at 800/421-0180 or write to the Secretary of the funds at 333 South Hope Street, Los Angeles, California 90071. Investment Company File No. 811-2421 (The Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America) Investment Company File No. 811-8576 (American high-Income Municipal Bond Fund) Investment Company File No. 811-7888 (Limited Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America) Printed on Recycled Paper TEX-010-1101/B
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THE TAX-EXEMPT BOND FUND OF AMERICA, INC. AMERICAN HIGH-INCOME MUNICIPAL BOND FUND, INC. LIMITED TERM TAX-EXEMPT BOND FUND OF AMERICA Part B Statement of Additional Information November 1, 2001 This document is not a prospectus but should be read in conjunction with the current prospectus of The Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America, Inc. ("TEBF"), American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund, Inc. ("AHIM"), and Limited Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America ("LTEX") dated November 1, 2001. The prospectus may be obtained from your investment dealer or financial planner or by writing to the fund at the following address: The Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America, Inc. American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund, Inc. Limited Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America Attention: Secretary 333 South Hope Street Los Angeles, California 90071 (213) 486-9200 TABLE OF CONTENTS [Download Table] Item Page No. ---- -------- Certain Investment Limitations and Guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Description of Certain Securities and Investment Techniques . . . . 3 Fundamental Policies and Investment Restrictions. . . . . . . . . . 8 Fund Organization and Voting Rights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Fund Directors/Trustees and Other Officers. . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Management. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Taxes and Distributions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Purchase of Shares. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Sales Charges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Sales Charge Reductions and Waivers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Individual Retirement Account (IRA) Rollovers . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Price of Shares . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Selling Shares. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Shareholder Account Services and Privileges . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Execution of Portfolio Transactions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Class A Share Investment Results and Related Statistics . . . . . . 46 Appendix. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Financial Statements National Tax-Exempt Income Funds - Page 1
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CERTAIN INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS AND GUIDELINES The following limitations and guidelines are considered at the time of purchase, under normal circumstances, and are based on a percentage of the funds' net assets unless otherwise noted. This summary is not intended to reflect all of the funds' investment limitations. THE TAX-EXEMPT BOND FUND OF AMERICA ----------------------------------- . The fund will invest at least 80% of its assets in securities exempt from regular federal income tax. . The fund will not invest in securities subject to alternative minimum tax. . The fund will invest at least 80% of its assets in bonds (for purposes of this limit, bonds include any debt instrument and cash equivalents, and may include certain preferred securities). . The fund will invest at least 65% of its assets in debt securities rated A or better by Standard & Poor's Corporation (S&P) or Moody's Investors Service, Inc. (Moody's) or unrated but determined to be of equivalent quality. . The fund may invest up to 35% of its assets in straight debt securities rated BBB by S&P or Baa by Moody's or below or unrated but determined to be of equivalent quality (with no more than 20% of its assets in straight debt securities rated BB/Ba or below or unrated but determined to be of equivalent quality). . The fund will invest substantially in securities with maturities in excess of three years. AMERICAN HIGH-INCOME MUNICIPAL BOND FUND ---------------------------------------- . The fund will invest at least 80% of its assets in securities exempt from regular federal income tax (including securities subject to alternative minimum tax). . The fund will invest at least 80% of its assets in bonds (for purposes of this limit, bonds include any debt instrument and cash equivalents, and may include certain preferred securities). . The fund will invest at least 65% of its assets in debt securities rated A or below by S&P or Moody's or unrated but determined to be of equivalent quality. . The fund will invest at least 50% of its assets in debt securities rated BBB/Baa or below or unrated but determined to be of equivalent quality. . The fund may invest more than 25% of its assets in municipal obligations of issuers located in the same state or in obligations of the same type (however, the fund may not invest 25% or more in municipal securities of the same project type issued by non-governmental entities). LIMITED TERM TAX-EXEMPT BOND FUND OF AMERICA -------------------------------------------- . The fund will invest at least 80% of its assets in securities exempt from regular federal income tax. . The fund may invest up to 20% of its assets in securities subject to federal alternative minimum tax. . The fund will invest at least 80% of its assets in bonds (for purposes of this limit, bonds include any debt instrument and cash equivalents, and may include certain preferred securities). . The fund will invest at least 65% of its assets in debt securities rated A or better by S&P or Moody's or unrated but determined to be of equivalent quality. . The fund may invest up to 35% of its assets in straight debt securities rated BBB/Baa by Moody's or S&P or unrated but determined to be of equivalent quality. The fund is not normally required to dispose of a security in the event its rating is reduced below the current minimum rating for its purchase (or it is not rated and its quality becomes equivalent to such a security). National Tax-Exempt Income Funds - Page 2
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. The dollar-weighted average effective maturity of the fund's portfolio will be between 3 and 10 years. . The maximum dollar-weighted average nominal or stated maturity of the fund's portfolio will be 15 years. . The maximum effective maturity of any one security in the fund's portfolio will be 10 years. . The maximum nominal or stated maturity of any security in the fund's portfolio will be 25 years. The funds may experience difficulty liquidating certain portfolio securities during significant market declines or periods of heavy redemptions. DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN SECURITIES AND INVESTMENT TECHNIQUES The descriptions below are intended to supplement the material in the prospectus under "Investment Objective, Strategies and Risks." THE TAX-EXEMPT BOND FUND OF AMERICA, AMERICAN HIGH-INCOME MUNICIPAL BOND FUND ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- AND LIMITED TERM TAX-EXEMPT BOND FUND OF AMERICA ------------------------------------------------ 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. Lower rated bonds, rated Ba or below by S&P and BB or below by Moody's or unrated but considered to be of equivalent quality, are described by the rating agencies as speculative and involve greater risk of default or price changes due to changes in the issuer's creditworthiness than higher rated bonds, or they may already be in default. The market prices of these securities may fluctuate more than higher quality securities and may decline significantly in periods of general economic difficulty. It may be more difficult to dispose of, or to determine the value of, lower rated bonds. Certain risk factors relating to lower rated bonds are discussed below. SENSITIVITY TO INTEREST RATE AND ECONOMIC CHANGES - Lower rated bonds, like other bonds, may be sensitive to adverse economic changes and political and corporate developments and may be sensitive to interest rate changes. During an economic downturn or substantial period of rising interest rates, highly leveraged issuers may experience increased financial stress that would adversely affect their ability to service their principal and interest payment obligations, to meet projected business goals, and to obtain additional financing. In addition, periods of economic uncertainty and changes can be expected to result in increased volatility of market prices and yields of lower rated bonds. PAYMENT EXPECTATIONS - Lower rated bonds, like other bonds, may contain redemption or call provisions. If an issuer exercises these provisions in a declining interest rate market, the fund would have to replace the security with a lower yielding security, resulting in a decreased return for investors. If the issuer of a bond defaults on its obli- National Tax-Exempt Income Funds - Page 3
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gations to pay interest or principal or enters into bankruptcy proceedings, the fund may incur losses or expenses in seeking recovery of amounts owed to it. LIQUIDITY AND VALUATION - There may be little trading in the secondary market for particular bonds, which may affect adversely the fund's ability to value accurately or dispose of such bonds. Adverse publicity and investor perceptions, whether or not based on fundamental analysis, may decrease the value and liquidity of lower rated bonds. The Investment Adviser attempts to reduce the risks described above through diversification of the portfolio and by credit analysis of each issuer, as well as by monitoring broad economic trends and corporate and legislative developments, but there can be no assurance that it will be successful in doing so. MUNICIPAL BONDS - Municipal bonds are debt obligations generally issued to obtain funds for various public purposes, including the construction of public facilities. Opinions relating to the validity of municipal bonds, their exclusion from gross income for federal income tax purposes and, where applicable, state and local income tax are rendered by bond counsel to the issuing authorities at the time of issuance. The two principal classifications of municipal bonds are general obligation bonds and limited obligation or revenue bonds. General obligation bonds are secured by the issuer's pledge of its full faith and credit including, if available, its taxing power for the payment of principal and interest. Issuers of general obligation bonds include states, counties, cities, towns and various regional or special districts. The proceeds of these obligations are used to fund a wide range of public facilities such as the construction or improvement of schools, highways and roads, water and sewer systems and facilities for a variety of other public purposes. Lease revenue bonds or certificates of participation in leases are payable from annual lease rental payments from a state or locality. Annual rental payments are payable to the extent such rental payments are appropriated annually. Typically, the only security for a limited obligation or revenue bond is the net revenue derived from a particular facility or class of facilities financed thereby or, in some cases, from the proceeds of a special tax or other special revenues. Revenue bonds have been issued to fund a wide variety of revenue-producing public capital projects including: electric, gas, water and sewer systems; highways, bridges and tunnels; port and airport facilities; colleges and universities; hospitals; and convention, recreational, tribal gaming and housing facilities. Although the security behind these bonds varies widely, many provide additional security in the form of a debt service reserve fund which may also be used to make principal and interest payments on the issuer's obligations. In addition, some revenue obligations (as well as general obligations) are insured by a bond insurance company or backed by a letter of credit issued by a banking institution. Revenue bonds also include, for example, pollution control, health care and housing bonds, which, although nominally issued by municipal authorities, are generally not secured by the taxing power of the municipality but by the revenues of the authority derived from payments by the private entity which owns or operates the facility financed with the proceeds of the bonds. Obligations of housing finance authorities have a wide range of security features including reserve funds and insured or subsidized mortgages, as well as the net revenues from housing or other public projects. Most of these bonds do not generally constitute the pledge of the credit of the issuer of such bonds. The credit quality of such revenue bonds is usually directly related to National Tax-Exempt Income Funds - Page 4
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the credit standing of the user of the facility being financed or of an institution which provides a guarantee, letter of credit, or other credit enhancement for the bond issue. MUNICIPAL LEASE OBLIGATIONS - The funds may invest, without limitation, in municipal lease revenue obligations that are determined to be liquid by the Investment Adviser. In determining whether these securities are liquid, the Investment Adviser will consider, among other things, the credit quality and support, including strengths and weaknesses of the issuers and lessees, the terms of the lease, the frequency and volume of trading and the number of dealers trading the securities. U.S. COMMONWEALTH OBLIGATIONS - The funds may invest in obligations of the various commonwealths of the United States, such as Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam and their agencies and authorities, to the extent such obligations are exempt from federal and state income taxes. Adverse political and economic conditions and developments affecting any commonwealth may, in turn, affect negatively the value of the funds' holdings in such obligations. ZERO COUPON BONDS - Municipalities may issue zero coupon securities which are debt obligations that do not entitle the holder to any periodic payments of interest prior to maturity or a specified date when the securities begin paying current interest. They are issued and traded at a discount from their face amount or par value, which discount varies depending on the time remaining until cash payments begin, prevailing interest rates, liquidity of the security, and the perceived credit quality of the issuer. PRE-REFUNDED BONDS - From time to time, a municipality may refund a bond that it has already issued prior to the original bond's call date by issuing a second bond, the proceeds of which are used to purchase securities. The securities are placed in an escrow account pursuant to an agreement between the municipality and an independent escrow agent. The principal and interest payments on the securities are then used to pay off the original bondholders. For the purposes of diversification, pre-refunded bonds will be treated as governmental issues. CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS - These securities include, but are not limited to: (i) tax-exempt commercial paper (e.g., short-term notes obligations issued by municipalities that mature, or may be redeemed in 270 days or less), (ii) municipal notes (e.g., bond anticipation notes, revenue anticipation notes, and tax anticipation notes issued by municipalities that mature, or may be redeemed in one year or less), (iii) municipal obligations backed by letters of credit issued by banks or other financial institutions or government agencies that mature, or may be redeemed in one year or less, (iv) tax-exempt variable rate debt issued by municipal conduits for corporate obligors, and (v) securities of the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities that mature, or may be redeemed in one year or less. TEMPORARY INVESTMENTS - The funds may invest in short-term municipal obligations of up to one year in maturity during periods of temporary defensive strategy resulting from abnormal market conditions, or when such investments are considered advisable for liquidity. Generally, the income from all such securities is exempt from federal income tax. Further, a portion of the fund's assets, which will normally be less than 20%, may be held in cash or invested in high-quality taxable short-term securities of up to one year in maturity. Such investments may include: (1) obligations of the U.S. Treasury; (2) obligations of agencies and instrumentalities of the U.S. government; (3) money market instruments, such as certificates of deposit issued by domestic banks, corporate commercial paper, and bankers' acceptances; and (4) repurchase agreements. National Tax-Exempt Income Funds - Page 5
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FORWARD COMMITMENTS - The funds may enter into commitments to purchase or sell securities at a future date. When the funds agree to purchase such securities, they assume the risk of any decline in value of the security beginning on the date of the agreement. When the funds agree to sell such securities, they do not participate in further gains or losses with respect to the securities beginning on the date of the agreement. If the other party to such a transaction fails to deliver or pay for the securities, the funds could miss a favorable price or yield opportunity, or could experience a loss. The funds will not use these transactions for the purpose of leveraging and will segregate liquid assets which will be marked to market daily in an amount sufficient to meet its payment obligations in these transactions. Although these transactions will not be entered into for leveraging purposes, to the extent the funds' aggregate commitments under these transactions exceed its segregated assets, the fund temporarily could be in a leveraged position (because they may have an amount greater than their net assets subject to market risk). Should market values of the funds' portfolio securities decline while the funds are in a leveraged position, greater depreciation of its net assets would likely occur than were it not in such a position. The funds will not borrow money to settle these transactions and therefore, will liquidate other portfolio securities in advance of settlement if necessary to generate additional cash to meet its obligations thereunder. VARIABLE AND FLOATING RATE OBLIGATIONS - The interest rates payable on certain securities in which the funds may invest may not be fixed but may fluctuate based upon changes in market rates. Variable and floating rate obligations bear coupon rates that are adjusted at designated intervals, based on the then current market rates of interest. Variable and floating rate obligations permit the funds to "lock in" the current interest rate for only the period until the next scheduled rate adjustment, but the rate adjustment feature tends to limit the extent to which the market value of the obligation will fluctuate. ADJUSTMENT OF MATURITIES - The Investment Adviser seeks to anticipate movements in interest rates and adjusts the maturity distribution of the portfolio accordingly. Keeping in mind each fund's objective, the Investment Adviser will increase each fund's exposure to this price volatility only when it appears likely to increase current income without undue risk to capital. ISSUE CLASSIFICATION - Securities with the same general quality rating and maturity characteristics, but which vary according to the purpose for which they were issued, often tend to trade at different yields. Correspondingly, securities issued for similar purposes and with the same general maturity characteristics, but which vary according to the creditworthiness of their respective issuers, tend to trade at different yields. These yield differentials tend to fluctuate in response to political and economic developments, as well as temporary imbalances in normal supply/demand relationships. The Investment Adviser monitors these fluctuations closely, and will attempt to adjust portfolio concentrations in various issue classifications according to the value disparities brought about by these yield relationship fluctuations. The Investment Adviser believes that, in general, the market for municipal bonds is less liquid than that for taxable fixed-income securities. Accordingly, the ability of the funds to make purchases and sales of securities in the foregoing manner may, at any particular time and with respect to any particular securities, be limited (or non-existent). PRIVATE PLACEMENTS - Generally, municipal securities acquired in private placements are subject to contractual restrictions on resale. Accordingly, all private placements will be considered illiquid National Tax-Exempt Income Funds - Page 6
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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 adopted by each fund's board of directors. RESTRICTED SECURITIES AND LIQUIDITY - The funds may purchase securities subject to restrictions on resale. Securities not actively traded will be considered illiquid unless they have been specifically determined to be liquid under procedures which have been adopted by the funds' board of directors/trustees, taking into account factors such as the frequency and volume of trading, the commitment of dealers to make markets and the availability of qualified investors, all of which can change from time to time. The funds may incur certain additional costs in disposing of illiquid securities. REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS - The funds may enter into repurchase agreements, under which the funds buy a security and obtain a simultaneous commitment from the seller to repurchase the security at a specified time and price. Repurchase agreements permit the funds to maintain liquidity and earn income over periods of time as short as overnight. The seller must maintain with the funds' custodian collateral equal to at least 100% of the repurchase price, including accrued interest, as monitored daily by the Investment Adviser. The funds will only enter into repurchase agreements involving securities in which they could otherwise invest and with selected banks and securities dealers whose financial condition is monitored by the Investment Adviser. If the seller under the repurchase agreement defaults, the funds may incur a loss if the value of the collateral securing the repurchase agreement has declined and may incur disposition costs in connection with liquidating the collateral. If bankruptcy proceedings are commenced with respect to the seller, realization of the collateral by the funds may be delayed or limited. LIMITED TERM TAX-EXEMPT BOND FUND OF AMERICA AND AMERICAN HIGH-INCOME MUNICIPAL ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BOND FUND --------- SECURITIES SUBJECT TO ALTERNATIVE MINIMUM TAX - The funds may invest in tax-exempt securities believed to pay interest constituting an item of tax preference subject to alternative minimum tax; therefore, while each fund's distributions from tax-exempt securities are not subject to regular federal income tax, a portion or all may be included in determining a shareholder's federal alternative minimum tax. AMERICAN HIGH-INCOME MUNICIPAL BOND FUND ---------------------------------------- CONCENTRATION OF INVESTMENTS - The fund may invest more than 25% of its assets in municipal obligations of issuers located in the same state or in municipal obligations of the same type which pay interest on their obligations from revenue of similar projects. This may make the fund more susceptible to similar economic, political, or regulatory occurrences such as changes in healthcare regulations, environmental considerations related to construction, construction cost increases and labor problems, failure of healthcare facilities to maintain adequate occupancy levels, and inflation. As the similarity in issuers increases, the potential for fluctuations in the fund's share price may also increase. The fund may invest more than 25% of its assets in industrial development bonds. National Tax-Exempt Income Funds - Page 7
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LIMITED TERM TAX-EXEMPT BOND FUND OF AMERICA -------------------------------------------- MATURITY - Under normal market conditions, the fund's dollar-weighted average effective portfolio maturity will range between 3 and 10 years. The fund will not purchase any security with an effective maturity of more than 10 years. In calculating effective maturity, a feature such as a put, call or sinking fund will be considered to the extent it results in a security whose market characteristics indicate a maturity of 10 years or less, even though the nominal or stated maturity may be beyond 10 years. The Investment Adviser will consider the impact on effective maturity of potential changes in the financial condition of issuers and in market interest rates in making investment selections for the fund. Additionally, the fund's dollar-weighted average nominal or stated portfolio maturity will not exceed 15 years, and the fund will not purchase any security with a nominal or stated maturity in excess of 25 years. For purposes of determining nominal or stated maturity, the fund will consider only the techniques approved for such purposes by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission which currently do not include any call or sinking fund features but are limited to those described in rule 2a-7(d) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 applicable to money market funds. * * * * * * PORTFOLIO TURNOVER - Portfolio changes will be made without regard to the length of time particular investments may have been held. Short-term trading profits are not the funds' objective and changes in its investments are generally accomplished gradually, though short-term transactions may occasionally be made. High portfolio turnover (100% or more) involves correspondingly greater transaction costs in the form of dealer spreads or brokerage commissions, and may result in the realization of net capital gains, which are taxable when distributed to shareholders. Fixed-income securities are generally traded on a net basis and usually neither brokerage commissions nor transfer taxes are involved, although the price usually includes a profit to the dealer. A fund's portfolio turnover rate would equal 100% if each security in the fund's portfolio was replaced once per year. See "Financial Highlights" in the prospectus for the funds' annual portfolio turnover for each of the last five fiscal periods. FUNDAMENTAL POLICIES AND INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS FUNDAMENTAL POLICIES - Each fund has adopted the following fundamental policies and investment restrictions which may not be changed without approval by holders of a majority of its outstanding shares. Such majority is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940 ("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. All percentage limitations are considered at the time securities are purchased and are based on the fund's net assets unless otherwise indicated. None of the following investment restrictions involving a maximum percentage of assets will be considered violated unless the excess occurs immediately after, and is caused by, an acquisition by the fund. National Tax-Exempt Income Funds - Page 8
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THE TAX-EXEMPT BOND FUND OF AMERICA ----------------------------------- These restrictions provide that the fund may not: 1. With respect to 75% of the fund's total assets, purchase the security of any issuer (other than securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities) if, as a result, (a) more than 5% of the fund's total assets would be invested in securities of that issuer, or (b) the Fund would hold more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of that issuer; 2. Enter into any repurchase agreement if, as a result, more than 10% of the value of the fund's total assets would be subject to repurchase agreements maturing in more than seven days; 3. Buy or sell real estate in the ordinary course of its business; however, the fund may invest in securities secured by real estate or interests therein; 4. Make loans to others, except for the purchase of debt securities or entering into repurchase agreements; 5. Sell securities short, except to the extent that the fund contemporaneously owns or has the right to acquire at no additional cost securities identical to those sold short; 6. Purchase securities on margin, except such short-term credits as may be necessary for the clearance of purchases or sales; 7. Borrow money, except from banks for temporary or emergency purposes, not in excess of 5% of the value of the fund's total assets, excluding the amount borrowed. This borrowing provision is intended to facilitate the orderly sale of portfolio securities to accommodate unusually heavy redemption requests, if they should occur; it is not intended for investment purposes; 8. Underwrite any issue of securities, except to the extent that the purchase of municipal bonds directly from the issuer in accordance with the fund's investment objective, policies and restrictions, and later resale may be deemed to be an underwriting; 9. Invest in companies for the purpose of exercising control or management; 10. Buy or sell commodities or commodity contracts or oil, gas or other mineral exploration or development programs; 11. Write, purchase or sell puts, calls, straddles, spreads or any combination thereof; For the purpose of the fund's investment restrictions, the identification of the "issuer" of municipal bonds that are not general obligation bonds is made by the Investment Adviser on the basis of the characteristics of the bonds as described, the most significant of which is the ultimate source of funds for the payment of principal and interest on such bonds. For purposes of Investment Restriction #10, the term "oil, gas or other mineral exploration or development programs" includes oil, gas or other mineral exploration or development leases. National Tax-Exempt Income Funds - Page 9
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NON-FUNDAMENTAL POLICIES - The following non-fundamental policy(ies) may be changed without shareholder approval: (a) The fund may not invest 25% or more of its assets in municipal bonds the issuers of which are located in the same state, unless such securities are guaranteed by the U.S. government, or more than 25% of its total assets in securities the interest on which is paid from revenues of similar type projects (such as hospitals and health facilities; turnpikes and toll roads; ports and airports; or colleges and universities). The fund may on occasion invest more than an aggregate of 25% of its total assets in industrial development bonds. There could be economic, business or political developments which might affect all municipal bonds of a similar category or type or issued by issuers within any particular geographical area or jurisdiction; (b) The fund may not invest more than 15% of its net assets in securities which are not readily marketable. (c) The fund may not invest in securities of other investment companies, except as permitted by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. AMERICAN HIGH-INCOME MUNICIPAL BOND FUND ---------------------------------------- These restrictions provide that the fund may not: 1. With respect to 75% of the fund's total assets, purchase the security of any issuer (other than securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities) if, as a result, (a) more than 5% of the fund's total assets would be invested in securities of that issuer, or (b) the fund would hold more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of that issuer. 2. Invest in companies for the purpose of exercising control or management; 3. Purchase or sell real estate (including real estate limited partnerships) unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments (but this shall not prevent the fund from investing in securities or other instruments backed by real estate or securities of companies engaged in the real estate business); 4. Purchase or sell commodities unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments or engage in futures transactions; 5. Engage in the business of underwriting securities of other issuers, except to the extent that the purchase or disposal of an investment position may technically constitute the fund as an underwriter as that term is defined under the Securities Act of 1933; 6. Make loans in an aggregate amount in excess of 33(alpha)% of the value of the fund's total assets, taken at the time any loan is made, provided that the purchase of debt securities pursuant to the fund's investment objective and entering into repurchase agreements maturing in seven days or less shall not be deemed loans for the purposes of this restriction and that loans of portfolio securities may be made; 7. Issue senior securities, except as permitted under the Investment Company Act of 1940; National Tax-Exempt Income Funds - Page 10
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8. Borrow money, except from banks for temporary or emergency purposes not to exceed one-third of the value of the fund's total assets. Moreover, in the event that the asset coverage for the fund's borrowings falls below 300%, the fund will reduce, within three days (excluding Sundays and holidays), the amount of its borrowings in order to provide for 300% asset coverage; 9. Purchase or sell puts, calls, straddles, or spreads, or combinations thereof (this restriction does not prevent the fund from investing in securities with put and call features); 10. Invest 25% or more of its assets in municipal securities of the same project type issued by non-governmental entities. However, the fund may invest more than 25% of its assets in municipal obligations of issuers located in the same state or in municipal obligations of the same type, including without limitation the following: general obligations of states and localities; lease rental obligations of state and local authorities; obligations of state and local housing finance authorities, municipal utilities systems or public housing authorities; or industrial development or pollution control bonds issued for hospitals, electric utility systems, life care facilities or other purposes. As a result, the fund may be more susceptible to adverse economic, political, or regulatory occurrences affecting a particular category of issuers. As the concentration in the securities of a particular category of issuer increases, the potential for fluctuation in the value of the fund's shares also increases; nor 11. Sell securities short, except to the extent that the fund contemporaneously owns, or has the right to acquire at no additional cost, securities identical to those sold short. NON-FUNDAMENTAL POLICIES - The following non-fundamental policy(ies) may be changed without shareholder approval: 1. The fund does not currently intend (at least for the next 12 months) to lend portfolio securities. However, if such action is authorized by the Board of Directors, loans of portfolio securities as described under "Loans of Portfolio Securities" shall be made in accordance with the terms and conditions therein set forth and consistent with fundamental investment restriction #6; 2. The fund will not invest more than 15% of the value of its net assets in illiquid securities; 3. The fund does not currently intend (at least for the next 12 months) to invest in the securities of other registered management investment companies, except in connection with a merger, consolidation, acquisition, reorganization, or in connection with the implementation of any deferred compensation plan as adopted by the Board of Directors; 4. The fund does not currently intend (at least for the next 12 months) to purchase securities in the event its borrowings exceed 5% of total assets. For the purposes of the fund's investment restrictions, the identification of the "issuer" of municipal bonds that are not general obligation bonds is made by the Investment Adviser on the basis of the characteristics of the bonds as described, the most significant of which is the ultimate source of funds for the payment of principal and interest on such bonds. National Tax-Exempt Income Funds - Page 11
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LIMITED TERM TAX-EXEMPT BOND FUND OF AMERICA -------------------------------------------- These restrictions provide that the fund may not: 1. With respect to 75% of the fund's total assets, purchase the securities of any issuer (other than securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or any of its agencies or instrumentalities) if, as a result, (a) more than 5% of the fund's total assets would be invested in the securities of that issuer, or (b) the fund would hold more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of that issuer; 2. Purchase or sell real estate unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments (but this shall not prevent the fund from investing in securities or other instruments backed by real estate or securities of companies engaged in the real estate business); 3. Purchase or sell commodities unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments or engage in futures transactions; 4. Invest 25% or more of the fund's total assets in the securities of issuers in the same industry. Obligations of the U.S. government, its agencies and instrumentalities are not subject to this 25% limitation on industry concentration; 5. Invest more than 15% of the value of its net assets in securities which are not readily marketable (including repurchase agreements maturing in more than seven days) or engage in the business of underwriting securities of other issuers, except to the extent that the purchase or disposal of an investment position may technically constitute the fund as an underwriter as that term is defined under the Securities Act of 1933; 6. Invest in companies for the purpose of exercising control or management; 7. Make loans to others except for (a) purchasing debt securities; (b) entering into repurchase agreements; and (c) loaning portfolio securities; 8. Issue senior securities, except as permitted under the Investment Company Act of 1940; 9. Borrow money, except from banks for temporary purposes in an amount not to exceed one-third of the value of the fund's total assets. Moreover, in the event that the asset coverage for such borrowing falls below 300%, the fund will reduce, within three days, the amount of its borrowing in order to provide for 300% asset coverage; nor 10. Purchase or sell puts, calls, straddles, or spreads, or combinations thereof (this restriction does not prevent the fund from investing in securities with put and call features). NON-FUNDAMENTAL POLICIES - The following non-fundamental policy(ies) may be changed without shareholder approval: 1. The fund does not currently intend (at least for the next 12 months) to sell securities short, except to the extent that the fund contemporaneously owns, or has the right to acquire at no additional cost, securities identical to those sold short. National Tax-Exempt Income Funds - Page 12
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2. The fund does not currently intend (at least for the next 12 months) to invest in the securities of other investment companies except as permitted by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. 3. The fund does not currently intend (at least for the next 12 months) to purchase securities in the event its borrowings exceed 5%. 4. The fund does not currently intend (at least for the next 12 months) to invest 25% or more of its assets in municipal bonds the issuers of which are located in the same state, unless such securities are guaranteed by the U.S. government, or more than 25% of its total assets in securities the interest on which is paid from revenues of similar type projects. The fund may on occasion invest more than an aggregate of 25% of its total assets in industrial development bonds. There could be economic, business or political developments which might affect all municipal bonds of a similar category or type or issued by issuers within any particular geographical area or jurisdiction. 5. The fund does not currently intend (at least for the next 12 months) to loan portfolio securities. For the purpose of the fund's investment restrictions, the identification of the "issuer" of municipal bonds that are not general obligation bonds is made by the Investment Adviser on the basis of the characteristics of the bonds as described, the most significant of which is the ultimate source of funds for the payment of principal and interest on such bonds. FUND ORGANIZATION AND VOTING RIGHTS Each fund is an open-end, diversified management investment company. The Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America and American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund were each organized as a Maryland corporation on July 20, 1979 and June 14, 1994, respectively. Limited Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America was organized as a Massachusetts business trust on July 12, 1993. All fund operations are supervised by each fund's Board of Directors/Trustees which meets periodically and performs 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 "Directors/Trustees and Director/Trustee Compensation" below. They may elect to defer all or a portion of these fees through a deferred compensation plan in effect for each fund. The funds have four classes of shares - Class A, B, C and F. The shares of each class represent an interest in the same investment portfolio. Each class has equal rights as to voting, redemption, dividends and liquidation, except that each class bears different distribution expenses and may bear different transfer agent fees and other expenses properly attributable to the particular class as approved by the Board of Directors/Trustees and set forth in each fund's rule 18f-3 Plan. Class A, B, C and F shareholders have exclusive voting rights with respect to the respective class' rule 12b-1 Plans adopted in connection with the distribution of shares and on other matters in which the interests of one class are different from interests in another class. Shares of all classes of the fund vote together on matters that affect all classes in substantially the same manner. Each class votes as a class on matters that affect that class alone. National Tax-Exempt Income Funds - Page 13
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The funds do not hold annual meetings of shareholders. However, significant matters which require shareholder approval, such as certain elections of board members or a change in a fundamental investment policy, will be presented to shareholders at a meeting called for such purpose. Shareholders have one vote per share owned. At the request of the holders of at least 10% of the shares, the funds will hold a meeting at which any member of the board could be removed by a majority vote. National Tax-Exempt Income Funds - Page 14
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FUND DIRECTORS/TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS Directors/Trustees and Director/Trustee Compensation [Enlarge/Download Table] AGGREGATE COMPENSATION (INCLUDING VOLUNTARILY DEFERRED COMPENSATION/1/) POSITION FROM THE FUND WITH PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION(S) DURING DURING THE NAME, ADDRESS AND AGE REGISTRANT PAST 5 YEARS 2001 FISCAL YEAR/2/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Richard G. Capen, Jr. Director/ Corporate Director and author; former TEBF $3,843/4/ 6077 San Elijo, Box 2494 Trustee United States Ambassador to Spain; AHIM $2,843/4/ Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067 former Vice Chairman, Knight-Ridder, LTEX $2,843/4/ Age: 67 Inc., former Chairman and Publisher, The Miami Herald ---------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- H. Frederick Christie Director/ Private Investor. Former President and TEBF $3,843/4/ P.O. Box 144 Trustee Chief Executive Officer, The Mission AHIM $2,843/4/ Palos Verdes Estates, CA Group (non-utility holding company, LTEX $2,843/4/ 90274 subsidiary of Southern California Age: 68 Edison Company) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + Don R. Conlan LTEX: Trustee President (retired), The Capital Group none/5/ 1630 Milan Avenue Companies, Inc. South Pasadena, CA 91030 Age: 65 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Diane C. Creel Director/ CEO and President, The Earth Technology TEBF $1,259/4/ 100 W. Broadway Trustee Corporation (international consulting AHIM $2,757/4/ Suite 240 engineering) LTEX $2,757/4/ Long Beach, CA 90802 Age: 52 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Martin Fenton Director/ Managing Director, Senior Resource TEBF $4,179/4/ 4660 La Jolla Village Trustee Group LLC (development and management AHIM $4,177/4/ Drive of senior living communities) LTEX $4,177/4/ Suite 725 San Diego, CA 92121-2116 Age: 66 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Leonard R. Fuller Director/ President, Fuller Consulting (financial TEBF $3,843/4/ 4337 Marina City Drive Trustee management consulting firm) AHIM $2,843/4/ Suite 841 ETN LTEX $2,843/4/ Marina del Rey, CA 90292 Age: 55 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- +* Abner D. Goldstine AHIM and Senior Vice President and Director, none/5/ Age: 71 TEBF: Capital Research and Management Company Vice Chairman and Director LTEX: President and Trustee ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- +** Paul G. Haaga, Jr. Chairman of Executive Vice President and Director, none/5/ Age: 52 the Board Capital Research and Management Company ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- +*Neil L. Langberg TEBF: Vice President, Investment Management none/5/ Age: 48 President and Group, Capital Research and Management Director Company AHIM and LTEX: Senior Vice President ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- +*Mark R. Macdonald AHIM: Vice President, Investment Management none/5/ Age: 42 President and Group, Capital Research and Management Director Company ------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Richard G. Newman Director/ Chairman and CEO, AECOM Technology TEBF $4,179/4/ 555 South Flower Street Trustee Corporation (architectural engineering) AHIM $4,177/4/ Suite 3700 LTEX $4,177/4/ Los Angeles, CA 90071 Age: 66 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Frank M. Sanchez Director/ President, The Sanchez Family TEBF $3,969/4/ 5234 Via San Delarro, #1 Trustee Corporation dba McDonald's Restaurants AHIM $3,467/4/ Los Angeles, CA 90022 (McDonald's licensee) LTEX $3,467/4/ Age: 58 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TOTAL COMPENSATION (INCLUDING VOLUNTARILY DEFERRED COMPENSATION/1/) FROM TOTAL NUMBER ALL FUNDS MANAGED BY OF FUND CAPITAL RESEARCH AND BOARDS MANAGEMENT COMPANY ON WHICH OR ITS AFFILIATES/3/ FOR THE DIRECTOR/TRUSTEE NAME, ADDRESS AND AGE 2001 FISCAL YEAR END SERVES/2/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Richard G. Capen, Jr. 7/31/01 $98,620 14 6077 San Elijo, Box 2494 8/31/01 $98,620 Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067 ------------------ Age: 67 ---------------------------------------------------------------- H. Frederick Christie 7/31/01 $205,620 19 P.O. Box 144 8/31/01 $205,620 Palos Verdes Estates, CA ------------------ 90274 Age: 68 ---------------------------------------------------------------- + Don R. Conlan none/5/ 7 1630 Milan Avenue South Pasadena, CA 91030 Age: 65 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Diane C. Creel 7/31/01 $48,580 12 100 W. Broadway 8/31/01 $48,580 Suite 240 ------------------ Long Beach, CA 90802 Age: 52 ---------------------------------------------------------------- Martin Fenton 7/31/01 $182,120 17 4660 La Jolla Village 8/31/01 $184,120 Drive ------------------ Suite 725 San Diego, CA 92121-2116 Age: 66 ---------------------------------------------------------------- Leonard R. Fuller 7/31/01 $80,620 13 4337 Marina City Drive 8/31/01 $80,620 Suite 841 ETN ------------------ Marina del Rey, CA 90292 Age: 55 ---------------------------------------------------------------- +* Abner D. Goldstine none/5/ 12 Age: 71 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- +** Paul G. Haaga, Jr. none/5/ 15 Age: 52 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- +*Neil L. Langberg none/5/ 1 Age: 48 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- +*Mark R. Macdonald none/5/ 1 Age: 42 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Richard G. Newman 7/31/01 $116,620 13 555 South Flower Street 8/31/01 $116,620 Suite 3700 ------------------ Los Angeles, CA 90071 Age: 66 ---------------------------------------------------------------- Frank M. Sanchez 7/31/01 $52,100 12 5234 Via San Delarro, #1 8/31/01 $52,100 Los Angeles, CA 90022 ------------------ Age: 58 ---------------------------------------------------------------- National Tax-Exempt Income Funds - Page 15
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+ "Interested persons" within the meaning of the 1940 Act on the basis of their affiliation with the funds' Investment Adviser, Capital Research and Management Company, or the parent company of the Investment Adviser, The Capital Group Companies, Inc. * Address is 11100 Santa Monica Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90025 ** Address is 333 South Hope Street, Los Angeles, CA 90071 1 Amounts may be deferred by eligible Directors/Trustees 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 Directors/Trustees. 2 The Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America's fiscal year ends on August 31. American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund's and Limited Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America's fiscal year ends on July 31. 3 Capital Research and Management Company manages The American Funds Group consisting of 29 funds: AMCAP Fund, Inc., 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., New World 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. Capital Research and Management Company also manages American Funds Insurance Series and Anchor Pathway Fund, which serve as the underlying investment vehicle for certain variable insurance contracts; and Endowments, whose shareholders are limited to (i) any entity exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended ("501(c)(3) organization"); (ii) any trust, the present or future beneficiary of which is a 501(c)(3) organization, and (iii) any other entity formed for the primary purpose of benefiting a 501(c)(3) organization. An affiliate of Capital Research and Management Company, Capital International, Inc., manages Emerging Markets Growth Fund, Inc. 4 Since the deferred compensation plans' adoption, the total amount of deferred compensation accrued by each fund (plus earnings thereon) through the 2001 fiscal year for participating Directors/Trustees is as follows: TEBF - Richard G. Capen, Jr. ($5,093), H. Frederick Christie ($10,819), Diane C. Creel ($9,360), Martin Fenton ($12,931), and Leonard R. Fuller ($16,598). AHIM - Richard G. Capen, Jr. ($3,895), H. Frederick Christie ($7,323), Diane C. Creel ($3,954), Martin Fenton ($1,439) and Leonard R. Fuller ($6,686). LTEX - Richard G. Capen, Jr. ($3,895), H. Frederick Christie ($6,943), Diane C. Creel ($3,954), Martin Fenton ($10,864) and Leonard R. Fuller ($6,686). Amounts deferred and accumulated earnings thereon are not funded and are general unsecured liabilities of the fund until paid to the Directors/Trustees. 5 Don R. Conlan, Abner D. Goldstine, Paul G. Haaga, Jr., Neil L. Langberg and Mark R. Macdonald are affiliated with the Investment Adviser and, accordingly, receive no compensation from the funds. National Tax-Exempt Income Funds - Page 18
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OTHER OFFICERS [Download Table] POSITION(S) PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION(S) NAME AND ADDRESS AGE WITH REGISTRANT DURING ---------------------------------------------------- PAST 5 YEARS ----------------------------- Michael J. Downer 46 Vice President Senior Vice President - Fund 333 South Hope Street Business Management Group, Los Angeles, CA 90071 Capital Research and Management Company --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Brenda S. Ellerin 38 Senior Vice Senior Vice President and 11100 Santa Monica President -TEBF and Director, Capital Research Blvd. LTEX; Company* Los Angeles, CA 90025 Vice President - AHIM --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- David A. Hoag 36 Senior Vice Senior Vice President, 11100 Santa Monica President - TEBF and Capital Research Company* Blvd. LTEX Los Angeles, CA 90025 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Edward B. Nahmias 49 Vice President - Vice President and Director, 11100 Santa Monica AHIM Capital Research Company* Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90025 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Julie F. Williams 53 Secretary Vice President - Fund 333 South Hope Street Business Management Group, Los Angeles, CA 90071 Capital Research and Management Company --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Anthony W. Hynes, Jr. 38 Treasurer Vice President - Fund 135 South State Business Management Group, College Blvd. Capital Research and Brea, CA 92821 Management Company --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kimberly S. Verdick 37 Assistant Secretary Assistant Vice President - 333 South Hope Street Fund Business Management Los Angeles, CA 90071 Group, Capital Research and Management Company --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Susi M. Silverman 31 Assistant Treasurer Vice President - Fund 135 South State Business Management Group, College Blvd. Capital Research and Brea, CA 92821 Management Company --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Company affiliated with Capital Research and Management Company. All of the officers listed are officers and/or directors/trustees of one or more of the other funds for which Capital Research and Management Company serves as Investment Adviser. No compensation is paid by the fund to any officer or Director/Trustee who is a director, officer or employee of the Investment Adviser or affiliated companies. TEBF pays annual fees of $2,500 to Directors/Trustees who are not affiliated with the Investment Adviser, plus $210 for each Board of Directors/Trustees meeting attended. In addition, various Directors/Trustees participate with directors and trustees of certain other funds in The American Funds Group in joint meetings of Contracts Committees, Audit Committees and Nominating Committees; total fees for attendance at these meetings, which are prorated among the participants in proportion to the number of funds represented, are $2,510 for each meeting of the Contracts Committee and $1,000 for each meeting of the Audit and Nominating Committees. AHIM and LTEX pay annual fees of $1,500 to Directors/Trustees who are not affiliated with the Investment Adviser. In addition, each fund pays $210 for each Board of Directors/Trustees meeting attended, plus a pro rata portion of $2,520 for each meeting of the Contracts Committee attended and a pro rata portion of $1,000 for each meeting of the Audit and Nominating Committees attended. No pension or retirement benefits National Tax-Exempt Income Funds - Page 19
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are accrued as part of fund expenses. The Directors/Trustees may elect, on a voluntary basis, to defer all or a portion of their fees through a deferred compensation plan in effect for the funds. The funds also reimburse certain expenses of the Directors/Trustees who are not affiliated with the Investment Adviser. As of October 1, 2001 the officers and Directors/Trustees of each fund and their families, as a group, owned beneficially or of record less than 1% of the outstanding shares of each fund. MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT ADVISER - The Investment Adviser, Capital Research and Management Company, founded in 1931, maintains research facilities in the U.S. and abroad (Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Washington, D.C., London, Geneva, Hong Kong, Singapore 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 research 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. The Investment Adviser is responsible for managing more than $350 billion of stocks, bonds and money market instruments and serves over 11 million shareholder accounts of all types throughout the world. These investors include privately owned businesses 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 Agreements (the "Agreements") between the funds and the Investment Adviser will continue in effect until May 31, 2002, 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/Trustees, or by the vote of a majority (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the outstanding voting securities of the fund, and (ii) the vote of a majority of Directors/Trustees who are not parties to the Agreements or interested persons (as defined in the 1940 Act) of any such party, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. The Agreements provide that the Investment Adviser has no liability to the funds for its acts or omissions in the performance of its obligations to the funds not involving willful misconduct, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of its obligations under the Agreements. The Agreements also provide that either party has the right to terminate them, without penalty, upon 60 days' written notice to the other party, and that the Agreements automatically terminate in the event of their 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 the executive, administrative, clerical and bookkeeping functions of the funds, and provides suitable office space, necessary small office equipment and utilities, general purpose accounting forms, supplies, and postage used at the offices of the funds. The funds pay all expenses not assumed by the Investment Adviser, including, but not limited to, custodian, stock transfer and dividend disbursing fees and expenses; shareholder recordkeeping and administrative services; costs of the designing, printing and mailing of reports, prospectuses, proxy statements, and notices to its shareholders; taxes; expenses of the issuance and redemption of shares of the funds (including National Tax-Exempt Income Funds - Page 20
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stock certificates, registration and qualification fees and expenses); expenses pursuant to the funds' Plans of Distribution (described below); legal and auditing expenses; compensation, fees and expenses paid to directors/trustees unaffiliated with the Investment Adviser; association dues; costs of stationery and forms prepared exclusively for the funds; and costs of assembling and storing shareholder account data. For TEBF the Investment Adviser receives a monthly fee based on the following rates and net asset levels: NET ASSET LEVEL [Download Table] RATE IN EXCESS OF UP TO ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 0.30% $ 0 $ 60,000,000 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 0.21 60,000,000 1,000,000,000 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 0.18 1,000,000,000 3,000,000,000 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 0.16 3,000,000,000 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The agreement also provides for fees based on monthly gross investment income at the following rates: MONTHLY GROSS INVESTMENT [Download Table] INCOME RATE IN EXCESS OF UP TO ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3.00% $ 0 $3,333,333 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2.50 3,333,333 8,333,333 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2.25 8,333,333 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Assuming net assets of $1.8 billion and gross investment income levels of 3%, 4%, 5%, 6% and 7%, management fees would be 0.29%, 0.31%, 0.34%, 0.36% and 0.38%, respectively. For the purposes of such computations under the Agreement, the fund's gross investment income shall be determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and does not reflect any net realized gains or losses on the sale of portfolio securities but does include original-issue discount as defiined for federal income tax purposes. The Agreement provides for a management fee reduction to the extent that the annual ordinary operating expenses of the fund's Class A shares exceed the lesser of either 25% of gross income of the Fund for the preceding year or the sum or (a) 1-1/2% of the average daily net assets of the preceding year up to and including $30,000,000 and (b) 1% of any excess of average daily net assets of the preceding year over $30,000,000. Expenses which are not subject to these limitations are interest, taxes, and extraordinary expenses. 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. To the extent each fund's management fee must be waived due to Class A share National Tax-Exempt Income Funds - Page 21
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expense ratios exceeding this limit, management fees will be reduced similarly for all classes of shares of the fund or other Class A fees will be waived in lieu of management fees. For AHIM the Investment Adviser receives a monthly fee at the annual rate of 0.30% on the first $60 million of average net assets, plus 0.21% on net assets over $60 million, plus 3% of gross investment income. Assuming net assets of $600 million and gross investment income levels of 3%, 4%, 5%, 6% and 7%, management fees would be 0.31%, 0.34%, 0.37%, 0.40% and 0.43%, respectively. For the purposes of such computations under the Agreement, the fund's gross investment income shall be determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and does not reflect any net realized gains or losses on the sale of portfolio securities but does include original-issue discount as defined for federal income tax purposes. The Investment Adviser has agreed that in the event the expenses of Class A shares of the fund (with the exclusion of interest, taxes, brokerage costs, extraordinary expenses such as litigation and acquisitions or other expenses excludable under applicable state securities laws or regulations) for any fiscal year ending on a date on which the Agreement is in effect, exceed the expense limitations, if any, applicable to the fund pursuant to state securities laws or any regulations thereunder, it will reduce its fee by the extent of such excess and, if required pursuant to any such laws or any regulations thereunder, will reimburse the fund in the amount of such excess. To the extent the fund's management fee must be waived due to Class A share expense ratios exceeding the above limit, management fees will be reduced similarly for all classes of shares of the fund or other Class A fees will be waived in lieu of management fees. For LTEX the Investment Adviser receives a monthly fee, at an annual rate of 0.30% per annum on the first $60 million of the fund's average net assets, plus 0.21% per annum on the portion of such net assets in excess of $60 million, plus 3% of the fund's gross investment income for the preceding month. Assuming net assets of $300 million and gross income levels of 3%, 4%, 5%, 6%, and 7%, management fees would be 0.32%, 0.35%, 0.38%, 0.41% and 0.44%, respectively. For the purposes of such computations under the Agreement, the fund's gross Investment income shall be determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and does not reflect any net realized gains or losses on the sale of portfolio securities but does include original-issue discount as defined for federal income tax purposes. The Investment Adviser has agreed that in the event the expenses of Class A shares of the fund (with the exclusion of interest, taxes, brokerage costs, extraordinary expenses such as litigation and acquisitions or other expenses excludable under applicable state securities laws or regulations) for any fiscal year ending on a date on which the Agreement is in effect, exceed the expense limitations, if any, applicable to the fund pursuant to state securities laws or any regulations thereunder, it will reduce its fee by the extent of such excess and, if required pursuant to any such laws or any regulations thereunder, will reimburse the fund in the amount of such excess. To the extent the fund's management fee must be waived due to Class A share expense ratios exceeding the above limit, management fees will be reduced similarly for all classes of shares of the fund or other Class A fees will be waived in lieu of management fees. For the fiscal years ended 2001, 2000, and 1999, the Investment Adviser received advisory fees from TEBF of $6,893,000, $6,502,000, and $6,526,000, respectively. For the fiscal years ended 2001, 2000, and 1999, the Investment Adviser received advisory fees from AHIM of $2,451,000, $2,240,000, and $2,083,000, respectively. For the fiscal years ended 2001, 2000, and 1999, the Investment Adviser received advisory fees from LTEX of $1,025,000, $1,045,000, and $999,000, respectively. National Tax-Exempt Income Funds - Page 22
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ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AGREEMENT - The Administrative Services Agreement (the "Administrative Agreement") between each fund and the Investment Adviser, relating to the funds' Class C and F shares, will continue in effect until May 31, 2002, unless sooner terminated, and may be renewed from year to year thereafter, provided that any such renewal has been specifically approved at least annually by the vote of a majority of Directors/Trustees who are not parties to the Administrative Agreement or interested persons (as defined in the 1940 Act) of any such party, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. The Administrative Agreement provides that each fund may terminate the agreement at any time by vote of a majority of Directors/Trustees who are not interested persons of each fund. The Investment Adviser has the right to terminate the Administrative Agreement upon 60 days' written notice to each fund. The Administrative Agreement automatically terminates in the event of its assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act). Under the Administrative Agreement, the Investment Adviser provides certain transfer agent and administrative services for shareholders of the funds' Class C and F shares. The Investment Adviser contracts with third parties, including American Funds Service Company, the funds' Transfer Agent, to provide these services. Services include, but are not limited to, shareholder account maintenance, transaction processing, tax information reporting, and shareholder and fund communications. In addition, the Investment Adviser monitors, coordinates and oversees the activities performed by third parties. As compensation for its services, the Investment Adviser receives transfer agent fees for transfer agent services provided to the funds' Class C and F shares. Transfer agent fees are paid monthly according to a fee schedule contained in a Shareholder Services Agreement between the funds and American Funds Service Company. TEBF'S Class C and F shares pay only those transfer agent fees that are attributed to accounts and activities generated by their respective share class. The Investment Adviser also receives an administrative services fee for administrative services provided to the funds' Class C and F shares. Administrative services fees are paid monthly, accrued daily and calculated at the annual rate of 0.15% of the average daily net assets of the funds' Class C and F shares. Administrative service fees paid for Class C and F shares for the fiscal periods ended 2001 were $6,000 and $3,000 for TEBF, respectively, $2,000 and $1,000 for AHIM, respectively, and $1,000 and $1,000 for LTEX, respectively. PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER AND PLANS OF DISTRIBUTION - American Funds Distributors, Inc. (the "Principal Underwriter") is the principal underwriter of each 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, 3500 Wiseman Boulevard, San Antonio, TX 78251, 8332 Woodfield Crossing Boulevard, Indianapolis, IN 46240, and 5300 Robin Hood Road, Norfolk, VA 23513. Each fund has adopted Plans of Distribution (the "Plans"), pursuant to rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. The Principal Underwriter receives amounts payable pursuant to the Plans (see below). In addition, the Principal Underwriter receives revenues from sales of each fund's shares. For Class A shares, the Principal Underwriter receives commission revenue consisting of that portion of the Class A sales charge remaining after the allowances by the Principal Underwriter to investment dealers. For Class B shares, the Principal Underwriter sells the rights to Class B 12b-1 fees paid by each fund for distribution expenses to a third party and receives the revenue remaining after compensating investment dealers for sales of Class B shares. Each fund also pays the Principal Underwriter for advancing the immediate service fees paid to qualified dealers of Class B shares. For Class C shares, the Principal Underwriter receives any contingent deferred sales charges National Tax-Exempt Income Funds - Page 23
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that apply to Class C shares during the first year after purchase. Each fund pays the Principal Underwriter for advancing the immediate service fees and commissions paid to qualified dealers of Class C shares. For Class F shares, each fund pays the Principal Underwriter for advancing the immediate service fees paid to qualified dealers and advisers of Class F shares. Commissions retained by the Principal Underwriter on sales of Class A shares during the 2001 fiscal year amounted to $947,000 after an allowance of $3,515,000 to dealers for TEBF; $306,000 after allowance of $1,182,000 to dealers for AHIM; $113,000 after allowance of $420,000 to dealers for LTEX. For TEBF during the fiscal years ended 2000 and 1999, the Principal Underwriter retained $502,000 and $1,005,000, respectively, on sales of Class A shares after an allowance of $1,952,000 and $3,987,000 to dealers, respectively. Revenue retained and service fees received by the Principal Underwriter on sales of Class B shares during the 2001 period amounted to $148,000 after compensation of $864,000 to dealers. During the fiscal year ended 2000, the Principal Underwriter retained $28,724 on sales of Class B shares after compensation of $134,323 to dealers. For AHIM during the fiscal years ended 2000 and 1999, the Principal Underwriter retained $229,000 and $450,000, respectively, on sales of Class A shares after an allowance of $901,000 and $1,829,000 to dealers, respectively. Revenue retained and service fees received by the Principal Underwriter on sales of Class B shares during the 2001 period amounted to $64,000 after compensation of $363,000 to dealers. During the fiscal year ended 2000, the Principal Underwriter retained $15,938 on sales of Class B shares after compensation of $74,986 to dealers. For LTEX during the fiscal years ended 2000 and 1999, the Principal Underwriter retained $111,000 and $189,000, respectively, on sales of Class A shares after an allowance of $443,000 and $737,000 to dealers, respectively. Revenue retained and service fees received by the Principal Underwriter on sales of Class B shares during the 2001 period amounted to $19,000 after compensation of $106,000 to dealers. During the fiscal year ended 2000, the Principal Underwriter retained $5,864 on sales of Class B shares after compensation of $28,030 to dealers. As required by rule 12b-1 and the 1940 Act, the Plans (together with the Principal Underwriting Agreement) have been approved by the full Boards of Directors/Trustees and separately by a majority of the directors/trustees who are not "interested persons" of the funds and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Plans or the Principal Underwriting Agreement. Potential benefits of the Plans to the funds include shareholder services, savings to the fund in transfer agency costs, savings to the funds 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/trustees who are not "interested persons" of the fund are committed to the discretion of the directors/trustees who are not "interested persons" during the existence of the Plans. The Plans may not be amended to increase materially the amount spent for distribution without shareholder approval. Plan expenses are reviewed quarterly and the Plans must be renewed annually by the Boards of Directors/Trustees. Under the Plans, each fund may annually expend (i) for Class A shares, up to 0.25%, 0.30% in the case of AHIM and LTEX, of its net assets attributable to Class A shares, (ii) for Class B National Tax-Exempt Income Funds - Page 24
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shares, 1.00% of its net assets attributable to Class B shares, (iii) for Class C shares, 1.00% of its net assets attributable to Class C shares, and (iv) for Class F shares, up to 0.50% of its net assets attributable to Class F shares, to finance any activity which is primarily intended to result in the sale of fund shares, provided each fund's Board of Directors/Trustees has approved the category of expenses for which payment is being made. For Class A shares, (i) up to 0.25% is reimbursed to the Principal Underwriter for paying service-related expenses, including service fees paid to qualified dealers, and (ii) up to the amount allowable under each fund's Class A 12b-1 limit is reimbursed to the Principal Underwriter for paying distribution-related expenses, including dealer commissions and wholesaler compensation paid on sales of shares of $1 million or more purchased without a sales charge (including purchases by employer-sponsored defined contribution-type retirement plans investing $1 million or more or with 100 or more eligible employees, and retirement plans, endowments and foundations with $50 million or more in assets) ("no load purchases"). Commissions on no load purchases of Class A shares in excess of the Class A Plan limitation not reimbursed to the Principal Underwriter during the most recent fiscal quarter are recoverable for five quarters, provided that such commissions do not exceed the annual expense limit. After five quarters these commissions are not recoverable. For Class B shares, (i) 0.25% is paid to the Principal Underwriter for paying service-related expenses, including service fees paid to qualified dealers, and (ii) 0.75% is paid to the Principal Underwriter for distribution-related expenses, including the financing of commissions paid to qualified dealers. For Class C shares, (i) 0.25% is paid to the Principal Underwriter for paying service-related expenses, including service fees paid to qualified dealers, and (ii) 0.75% is paid to the Principal Underwriter for paying distribution-related expenses, including commissions paid to qualified dealers. For Class F shares, 0.25% is paid to the Principal Underwriter for paying service-related expenses, including service fees paid to qualified dealers or advisers. Currently, no compensation is paid under each fund's Class F Plan for distribution-related expenses. During the 2001 fiscal year, TEBF, AHIM and LTEX paid or accrued $4,915,000, $1,780,000 and $807,000, respectively, for compensation to dealers or the Principal Underwriter under the Plan for Class A shares, $118,000, $56,000 and $14,000, respectively, for Class B shares, $27,000, $7,000 and $6,000, respectively, for Class C shares, and $4,000, $1,000 and $375, respectively for Class F shares. As of July 31, 2001, unreimbursed expenses which were subject to reimbursement under the Plans for AHIM and LTEX Class A shares were $109,000 and $37,000, respectively. As of the end of their respective fiscal year ends, accrued and unpaid distribution expenses for Class A shares for TEBF, AHIM and LTEX were $998,000, $200,000 and $81,000, respectively. Accrued and unpaid distribution expenses for Class B shares for TEBF, AHIM and LTEX were $21,000, $9,000, and $2,000, respectively. Accrued and unpaid distribution expenses for Class C shares for TEBF, AHIM and LTEX were $10,000, $3,000, and $3,000, respectively. Accrued and unpaid distribution expenses for Class F shares for TEBF, AHIM and LTEX were $2,000, $255, and $236, respectively. National Tax-Exempt Income Funds - Page 25
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OTHER COMPENSATION TO DEALERS - The Principal Underwriter, at its expense (from a designated percentage of its income), currently provides additional compensation to dealers. Currently these payments are limited to the top 100 dealers who have sold shares of the fund or other funds in The American Funds Group. These payments will be based principally on a pro rata share of a qualifying dealer's sales. The Principal Underwriter will, on an annual basis, determine the advisability of continuing these payments. TAXES AND DISTRIBUTIONS FUND TAXATION - Each fund intends to qualify each year as a "regulated investment company" under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code ("Code") so that it will not be liable for federal tax on income and capital gains distributed to shareholders. In order to qualify as a regulated investment company, and avoid being subject to federal income or excise taxes at the fund level, each fund intends to distribute substantially all of its net investment income and net realized capital gains within each calendar year as well as on a fiscal year basis, and intends to comply with other tax rules applicable to regulated investment companies. To avoid federal excise taxes, the Code requires each fund to distribute by December 31 of each year, at a minimum, the following amounts: 98% of its taxable ordinary income earned during the calendar year; 98% of its capital gain net income earned during the twelve month period ending October 31; and 100% of any undistributed amounts from the prior year. Interest on the municipal securities purchased by each fund is believed to be free from regular federal income tax. However, the Code imposes limitations on the use and investment of the proceeds of state and local governmental bonds and of other funds of the issuers of such bonds. These limitations must be satisfied on a continuing basis to maintain the exclusion from gross income of interest on such bonds. Bond counsel qualify their opinions as to the federal tax status of new issues of bonds by making such opinions contingent on the issuer's future compliance with these limitations. Any failure on the part of an issuer to comply could cause the interest on its bonds to become taxable to investors retroactive to the date the bonds were issued. DIVIDENDS AND CAPITAL GAIN DISTRIBUTIONS DIVIDENDS - By meeting certain requirements of the Code, each fund qualifies to pay exempt-interest dividends to shareholders. These dividends ("exempt-interest dividends") are derived from interest income exempt from regular federal income tax, and are not subject to regular federal income tax when they are distributed to fund shareholders. In addition, to the extent that exempt-interest dividends are derived from interest on obligations of a state or its political subdivisions, or from interest on qualifying U.S. territorial obligations (including qualifying obligations of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands or Guam), they also may be exempt from that state's personal income taxes. CAPITAL GAIN DISTRIBUTIONS - Each fund may derive capital gains and losses in connection with sales or other dispositions of its portfolio securities. Distributions from net short-term capital gains will be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income. Distributions from net long-term capital gains will be taxable to shareholders as long-term capital gain, regardless of how long a particular shareholder has held shares in each fund. A portion of the gain on municipal bonds purchased at market discount after April 30, 1993 is taxable to shareholders as ordinary income, not as capital gains. National Tax-Exempt Income Funds - Page 26
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SHAREHOLDER TAXATION - Individual shareholders are required to report to the federal government all exempt-interest dividends and all other tax-exempt interest received. Distributions by each fund result in a reduction in the net asset value of each fund's shares. Should a distribution reduce the net asset value below a shareholder's cost basis, such distribution nevertheless will be taxable to the shareholder to the extent it consists of ordinary income or capital gain as described above, even though, from an investment standpoint, it may constitute a partial return of investment capital. For this reason, investors should consider the tax implications of buying shares just prior to a distribution. The price of shares purchased at that time includes the amount of the forthcoming distribution. Those purchasing just prior to a distribution will then receive a partial return of investment capital upon the distribution, which may be taxable to them, in whole or in part. Redemptions and exchanges of fund shares are taxable transactions for federal and state income tax purposes. If a shareholder redeems fund shares, or exchanges shares for shares of a different fund, the IRS will require the shareholder to report any gain or loss on the redemption or exchange. Generally, the gain or loss realized will be capital gain or loss and will be long-term or short-term, generally depending on how long the shareholder held the shares. Any loss incurred on the redemption or exchange of shares held for six months or less will be disallowed to the extent of any exempt-interest dividends distributed to a shareholder with respect to fund shares and any remaining loss will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any long-term capital gains distributed to the shareholder by each fund on those shares. All or a portion of any loss a shareholder realizes upon the redemption of fund shares will be disallowed to the extent that shareholder buys other shares in each fund (through reinvestment of dividends or otherwise) within 30 days before or after the share redemption. Any loss disallowed under these rules will be added to the shareholder's tax basis in the new shares purchased. If a shareholder redeems shares in each fund, and then reinvests the sales proceeds in each fund or in another fund within 90 days of buying the original shares, the sales charge that would otherwise apply to the shareholder's reinvestment may be reduced or eliminated. The IRS will require the shareholder to report any gain or loss on the redemption of the original shares in each fund. In doing so, all or a portion of the sales charge paid by the shareholder for the original shares in the fund will be excluded from the shareholder's tax basis in the shares sold (for the purpose of determining gain or loss upon the sale of such shares). The portion of the sales charge excluded will equal the amount that the sales charge is reduced on the reinvestment. Any portion of the sales charge excluded from a shareholder's tax basis in the shares sold will be added to the tax basis of the shares acquired from the reinvestment. Interest on certain private activity bonds, while exempt from regular federal income tax, is a preference item for taxpayers when determining their alternative minimum tax under the Code and under the income tax provisions of several states. Private activity bond interest could subject a shareholder to or increase liability under federal and state alternative minimum taxes, depending on a shareholder's individual or corporate tax position. Persons who are defined in the Code as substantial users (or persons related to such users) of facilities financed by private activity bonds should consult with their tax advisors before buying fund shares. National Tax-Exempt Income Funds - Page 27
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Each fund is not intended to constitute a balanced investment program and is not designed for investors seeking capital appreciation or maximum tax-exempt income without fluctuation of principal. Shares of each fund generally would not be suitable for tax-exempt institutions or tax-deferred retirement plans (e.g., plans qualified under Section 401 of the Code, and individual retirement accounts). Such retirement plans would not gain any benefit from the tax-exempt nature of each fund's dividends because such dividends would be ultimately taxable to beneficiaries when distributed to them. Each fund will be required to report to the IRS all distributions of investment company taxable income and capital gains as well as gross proceeds from the redemption or exchange of fund shares, except in the case of certain exempt shareholders. Under the backup withholding provisions of Section 3406 of the Code, distributions of investment company taxable income and capital gains and proceeds from the redemption or exchange of a regulated investment company may be subject to withholding of federal income tax at the rate of 31% in the case of non-exempt U.S. shareholders who fail to furnish the investment company with their taxpayer identification numbers and with required certifications regarding their status under the federal income tax law. Withholding may also be required if the fund is notified by the IRS or a broker that the taxpayer identification number furnished by the shareholder is incorrect or that the shareholder has previously failed to report interest or dividend income. If the withholding provisions are applicable, any such distributions and proceeds, whether taken in cash or reinvested in additional shares, will be reduced by the amounts required to be withheld. The foregoing discussion of U.S. federal income tax law relates solely to the application of that law to U.S. persons, i.e., U.S. citizens and residents and U.S. corporations, partnerships, trusts and estates. Each shareholder who is not a U.S. person should consider the U.S. and foreign tax consequences of ownership of shares of each fund, including the possibility that such a shareholder may be subject to a U.S. withholding tax at a rate of 30% (or a lower rate under an applicable income tax treaty) on taxable dividends, excluding long-term capital gain distributions, received by him or her. Shareholders should consult their tax advisers about the application of federal, state and local tax law in light of their particular situation. National Tax-Exempt Income Funds - Page 28
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PURCHASE OF SHARES [Download Table] METHOD INITIAL INVESTMENT ADDITIONAL INVESTMENTS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- See "Purchase $50 minimum (except where a Minimums" for initial lower minimum is noted under investment minimums. "Purchase Minimums"). ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- By contacting Visit any investment Mail directly to your your investment dealer dealer who is investment dealer's address registered in the printed on your account state where the statement. purchase is made and who has a sales agreement with American Funds Distributors. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- By mail Make your check Fill out the account additions payable to the fund form at the bottom of a recent and mail to the account statement, make your address indicated on check payable to the fund, the account write your account number on application. Please your check, and mail the check indicate an investment and form in the envelope dealer on the account provided with your account application. statement. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- By telephone Please contact your Complete the "Investments by investment dealer to Phone" section on the account open account, then application or American follow the procedures FundsLink Authorization Form. for additional Once you establish the investments. privilege, you, your financial advisor or any person with your account information can call American FundsLine(R) and make investments by telephone (subject to conditions noted in "Shareholder Account Services and Privileges - Telephone and Computer Purchases, Redemptions and Exchanges" below). ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- By computer Please contact your Complete the American FundsLink investment dealer to Authorization Form. Once you open account, then established the privilege, you, follow the procedures your financial advisor or any for additional person with your account investments. information may access American FundsLine OnLine(R) on the Internet and make investments by computer (subject to conditions noted in "Shareholder Account Services and Privileges - Telephone and Computer Purchases, Redemptions and Exchanges" below). ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- By wire Call 800/421-0180 to Your bank should wire your obtain your account additional investments in the number(s), if same manner as described under necessary. Please "Initial Investment." 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 the Principal Underwriter reserve the right to reject any purchase order. Generally, Class F shares may only be purchased through fee-based programs of investment firms and registered investment advisers who have special agreements with the fund's distributor. Class B and C shares are generally not available to certain employer-sponsored retirement plans, such as 401(k) plans, employer-sponsored 403(b) plans, and money purchase National Tax-Exempt Income Funds - Page 29
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pension and profit sharing plans. In addition, the state tax-exempt funds are only offered in certain states and tax-exempt funds in general should not serve as retirement plan investments. PURCHASE MINIMUMS - The minimum initial investment for all funds in The American Funds Group, except the money market funds and the state tax-exempt funds, is $250. The minimum initial investment for the money market funds (The Cash Management Trust of America, The Tax-Exempt Money Fund of America, and The U.S. Treasury Money Fund of America) and the state tax-exempt funds (The Tax-Exempt Fund of California, The Tax-Exempt Fund of Maryland, and The Tax-Exempt Fund of Virginia) is $1,000. Purchase 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. The minimum is $50 for additional investments (except for retirement plan payroll deductions as noted above). PURCHASE MAXIMUM FOR CLASS B SHARES - The maximum purchase order for Class B shares for all American Funds is $100,000. For investments above $100,000, Class A shares are generally a less expensive option over time due to sales charge reductions or waivers. PURCHASE MAXIMUM FOR CLASS C SHARES - The maximum purchase order for Class C shares for all American Funds is $500,000. FUND NUMBERS - Here are the fund numbers for use with our automated phone line, American FundsLine/(R)/ (see description below): [Enlarge/Download Table] FUND FUND FUND FUND NUMBER NUMBER NUMBER NUMBER FUND CLASS A CLASS B CLASS C CLASS F ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- STOCK AND STOCK/BOND FUNDS AMCAP Fund/(R)/ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02 202 302 402 American Balanced Fund/(R)/ . . . . . . . . . 11 211 311 411 American Mutual Fund/(R)/ . . . . . . . . . . 03 203 303 403 Capital Income Builder/(R)/ . . . . . . . . . 12 212 312 412 Capital World Growth and Income Fund/SM/ . . 33 233 333 433 EuroPacific Growth Fund/(R)/ . . . . . . . . 16 216 316 416 Fundamental Investors/SM/ . . . . . . . . . . 10 210 310 410 The Growth Fund of America/(R)/ . . . . . . . 05 205 305 405 The Income Fund of America/(R)/ . . . . . . . 06 206 306 406 The Investment Company of America/(R)/ . . . 04 204 304 404 The New Economy Fund/(R)/ . . . . . . . . . . 14 214 314 414 New Perspective Fund/(R)/ . . . . . . . . . . 07 207 307 407 New World Fund/SM/ . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 236 336 436 SMALLCAP World Fund/(R)/ . . . . . . . . . . 35 235 335 435 Washington Mutual Investors Fund/SM/ . . . . 01 201 301 401 BOND FUNDS American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund/(R)/ 40 240 340 440 American High-Income Trust/SM/ . . . . . . . 21 221 321 421 The Bond Fund of America/SM/ . . . . . . . . 08 208 308 408 Capital World Bond Fund/(R)/ . . . . . . . . 31 231 331 431 Intermediate Bond Fund of America/SM/ . . . . 23 223 323 423 Limited Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America/SM/ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 243 343 443 The Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America/(R)/ . . 19 219 319 419 The Tax-Exempt Fund of California/(R)/* . . . 20 220 320 420 The Tax-Exempt Fund of Maryland/(R)/* . . . . 24 224 324 424 The Tax-Exempt Fund of Virginia/(R)/* . . . . 25 225 325 425 U.S. Government Securities Fund/SM/ . . . . . 22 222 322 422 MONEY MARKET FUNDS The Cash Management Trust of America/(R)/ . . 09 209 309 409 The Tax-Exempt Money Fund of America/SM/ . . 39 N/A N/A N/A The U.S. Treasury Money Fund of America/SM/ . 49 N/A N/A N/A ___________ *Available only in certain states. National Tax-Exempt Income Funds - Page 30
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SALES CHARGES CLASS A SALES CHARGES - The sales charges you pay when purchasing Class A shares of 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 "Fund Numbers" for a listing of the funds.) [Enlarge/Download Table] DEALER SALES CHARGE AS COMMISSION PERCENTAGE OF THE: AS PERCENTAGE ------------------ OF THE AMOUNT OF PURCHASE AT THE OFFERING PRICE NET AMOUNT OFFERING OFFERING -INVESTED- PRICE PRICE ------------------------------------------------------------- -------- ----- ----- STOCK AND STOCK/BOND FUNDS Less than $25,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.10% 5.75% 5.00% $25,000 but less than $50,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.26 5.00 4.25 $50,000 but less than $100,000. . 4.71 4.50 3.75 BOND FUNDS Less than $100,000 . . . . . . . . 3.90 3.75 3.00 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 $750,000 . 2.04 2.00 1.60 $750,000 but less than $1 million 1.52 1.50 1.20 $1 million or more . . . . . . . . . . none none (see below) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- CLASS A PURCHASES NOT SUBJECT TO SALES CHARGES - Investments of $1 million or more are sold with no initial sales charge. HOWEVER, A 1% CONTINGENT DEFERRED SALES CHARGE (CDSC) MAY BE National Tax-Exempt Income Funds - Page 31
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IMPOSED IF REDEMPTIONS ARE MADE WITHIN ONE YEAR OF PURCHASE. Employer-sponsored defined contribution-type plans investing $1 million or more, or with 100 or more eligible employees, and Individual Retirement Account rollovers from retirement plans with assets invested in the American Funds (see "Individual Retirement Account (IRA) Rollovers" below) may invest with no sales charge and are not subject to a CDSC. 403(b) plans may be treated as employer-sponsored plans for sales charge purposes if: (i) the American Funds are principal investment options; (ii) the employer facilitates the enrollment process by, for example, allowing for onsite group enrollment meetings held during working hours; and (iii) there is only one dealer firm assigned to the plans. 403(b) plans meeting these criteria may invest with no sales charge and are not subject to a CDSC if investing $1 million or more or having 100 or more eligible employees. Investments made through accounts that purchased Class A shares of the fund before March 15, 2001 and are part of certain qualified fee-based programs, and retirement plans, endowments or foundations with $50 million or more in assets, may also be made with no sales charge and are not subject to a CDSC. A dealer concession of up to 1% may be paid by the fund under its Class A Plan of Distribution on investments made with no initial sales charge. In addition, Class A shares of the stock, stock/bond and bond funds may be sold at net asset value to: (1) current or retired directors, trustees, officers and advisory board members of, and certain lawyers who provide services to, the funds managed by Capital Research and Management Company, current or retired employees of Washington Management Corporation, current or retired employees and partners of The Capital Group Companies, Inc. and its affiliated companies, certain family members and employees of the above persons, and trusts or plans primarily for such persons; (2) 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 the Principal Underwriter (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) insurance company separate accounts; (5) accounts managed by subsidiaries of The Capital Group Companies, Inc.; (6) The Capital Group Companies, Inc., its affiliated companies and Washington Management Corporation; (7) an individual or entity with a substantial business relationship with The Capital Group Companies as determined by a Vice President or Senior Vice President of the Capital Research and Management Company Fund Administration and Compliance Unit; and (8) wholesalers and full-time employees directly supporting wholesalers involved in the distribution of insurance company separate accounts whose underlying investments are managed by any affiliate of The Capital Group Companies, Inc. National Tax-Exempt Income Funds - Page 32
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Shares are offered at net asset value to these persons and organizations due to anticipated economies in sales effort and expense. CONTINGENT DEFERRED SALES CHARGE ON CLASS A AND C SHARES - Except as described above, a CDSC of 1% applies to redemptions of Class A shares of the American Funds, other than the money market funds, made within 12 months following the purchase of Class A shares of $1 million or more made without an initial sales charge. A CDSC of 1% also applies to redemptions of Class C shares of the American Funds made within 12 months following the purchase of the Class C shares. 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 the longest are assumed to be redeemed first for purposes of calculating this CDSC. The CDSC may be waived in certain circumstances. See "CDSC Waivers for Class A and C Shares" below. CLASS B SALES CHARGES - Class B shares are sold without any initial sales charge. However, a CDSC may be applied to shares you sell within six years of purchase, as shown in the table below: [Download Table] CONTINGENT DEFERRED SALES CHARGE ON SHARES SOLD WITHIN YEAR AS A % OF SHARES BEING SOLD ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1 5.00% 2 4.00% 3 4.00% 4 3.00% 5 2.00% 6 1.00% There is no CDSC on appreciation in share value above the initial purchase price or on shares acquired through reinvestment of dividends or capital gain distributions. In addition, the CDSC may be waived in certain circumstances. See "CDSC Waivers for Class B shares" below. The CDSC is based on the original purchase cost or the current market value of the shares being sold, whichever is less. In processing redemptions of Class B shares, shares that are not subject to any CDSC will be redeemed first followed by shares that you have owned the longest during the six-year period. CLASS F SALES CHARGE - Class F shares are sold with no initial or contingent deferred sales charge. DEALER COMMISSIONS AND COMPENSATION - For Class A shares, commissions (up to 1%) are paid to dealers who initiate and are responsible for purchases of $1 million or more, for purchases by any employer-sponsored defined contribution-type plan investing $1 million or more or with 100 or more eligible employees, IRA rollover accounts (as described in "Individual Retirement Account (IRA) Rollovers" below), and for purchases made at net asset value by certain retirement plans, endowments and foundations with assets of $50 million or more. Commissions on investments in Class A shares are paid at the following rates: 1.00% on amounts of $1 million to $4 million, 0.50% on amounts over $4 million to $10 million, and 0.25% on amounts over $10 million. Commissions are based on cumulative investments and are not annually reset. National Tax-Exempt Income Funds - Page 33
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For Class B shares, compensation equal to 4.00% of the amount invested is paid by the Principal Underwriter to dealers who sell Class B shares. For Class C shares, compensation equal to 1.00% of the amount invested is paid by the Principal Underwriter to dealers who sell Class C shares. CONVERSION OF CLASS B AND C SHARES - Class B shares automatically convert to Class A shares in the month of the eight-year anniversary of the purchase date. Class C shares automatically convert to Class F shares in the month of the ten-year anniversary of the purchase date. The conversion of shares is subject to the Internal Revenue Service's continued position that the conversions are not subject to federal income tax. In the event the Internal Revenue Service no longer takes this position, the automatic conversion feature may be suspended, in which event no further conversions of Class B or C shares would occur while such suspension remained in effect. In that event, at your option, Class B shares could be exchanged for Class A shares and Class C shares for Class F shares on the basis of the relative net asset values of the two classes, without the imposition of a sales charge or fee; however, such an exchange could constitute a taxable event for you. Absent such an exchange, Class B and C shares would continue to be subject to higher expenses for longer than eight years and ten years, respectively. SALES CHARGE REDUCTIONS AND WAIVERS REDUCING YOUR CLASS A SALES CHARGE - You and your "immediate family" (your spouse and your children under age 21) may combine investments to reduce your costs. You must let your investment dealer or American Funds Service Company (the "Transfer Agent") know if you qualify for a reduction in your sales charge using one or any combination of the methods described below. STATEMENT OF INTENTION - You may enter into a non-binding commitment to purchase shares of a fund(s) over a 13-month period and receive the same sales charge as if all shares had been purchased at once. This includes purchases made during the previous 90 days, but does not include future appreciation of your investment or reinvested distributions. The reduced sales charges and offering prices set forth in the Prospectus apply to purchases of $25,000 or more for equity funds and $100,000 or more for bond funds made within a 13-month period subject to the following statement of intention (the "Statement"). The Statement is not a binding obligation to purchase the indicated amount. When a shareholder elects to use 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. The dealer assigned to the account at the end of the period will receive an appropriate commission adjustment. If the difference is not paid by the close of the Statement period, the appropriate number of shares held in escrow will be redeemed to 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. National Tax-Exempt Income Funds - Page 34
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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. Accordingly, upon your request, the sales charge paid on investments made 90 days prior to the Statement revision will be adjusted to reflect the revised Statement. Existing holdings eligible for rights of accumulation (see below), including Class A shares held in a fee-based arrangement, other classes of shares of the American Funds, and any individual investments in American Legacy variable annuities and variable life insurance policies (American Legacy, American Legacy II and American Legacy III variable annuities, American Legacy Life, American Legacy Variable Life, and American Legacy Estate Builder) 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. The Statement will be considered completed if the shareholder dies within the 13-month Statement period. Commissions will not be adjusted or paid on the difference between the Statement amount and the amount actually invested before the shareholder's death. When the trustees of certain retirement plans purchase shares 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 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 made by you and your immediate family (your spouse and your children under the age of 21), if all parties are purchasing shares for their own accounts and/or: . individual-type employee benefit plan(s), such as an IRA, 403(b) plan (see exception below), or single-participant Keogh-type plan; . business accounts solely controlled by you or your immediate family (for example, you own the entire business); . trust accounts established by you or your immediate family. However, if the person(s) who established the trust is deceased, the trust account may be aggregated with accounts of the person who is the primary beneficiary of the trust; or National Tax-Exempt Income Funds - Page 35
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. endowments or foundations established and controlled by you or your immediate family. Individual purchases by a trustee(s) or other fiduciary(ies) may also be aggregated if the investments are: . for a single trust estate or fiduciary account, including employee benefit plans other than the individual-type employee benefit plans described above; . made for two or more employee benefit plans of a single employer or of affiliated employers as defined in the 1940 Act, again excluding individual-type employee benefit plans described above; . for a diversified common trust fund or other diversified pooled account not specifically formed for the purpose of accumulating fund shares; . for non-profit, charitable or educational organizations (or any employer-sponsored retirement plan for such an endowment or foundation) or any endowments or foundations established and controlled by the organization; or . for participant accounts of a 403(b) plan that is treated as an employer-sponsored plan (see "Class A Purchases Not Subject to Sales Charges" above), or made for two or more 403(b) plans that are treated as employer-sponsored plans of a single employer or affiliated employers as defined in the 1940 Act. Purchases made for nominee or street name accounts (securities held in the name of an investment dealer or another nominee such as a bank trust department instead of the customer) may not be aggregated with those made for other accounts and may not be aggregated with other nominee or street name accounts unless otherwise qualified as described above. CONCURRENT PURCHASES - You may combine purchases of all classes of shares of two or more funds in The American Funds Group, as well as individual holdings in American Legacy variable annuities and variable life insurance policies. Shares of money market funds purchased through an exchange, reinvestment or cross-reinvestment from a fund having a sales charge also qualify. However, direct purchases of the money market funds are excluded. RIGHTS OF ACCUMULATION - You may take into account the current value (or if greater, the amount you invested less any withdrawals) of your existing holdings in all share classes of The American Funds Group, as well as your holdings in Endowments (shares of which may be owned only by tax-exempt organizations), to determine your sales charge on investments in accounts eligible to be aggregated, or when making a gift to an individual or charity. When determining your sales charge, you may also take into account the value of your individual holdings, as of the end of the week prior to your investment, in various American Legacy variable annuities and variable life insurance policies. Direct purchases of the money market funds are excluded. National Tax-Exempt Income Funds - Page 36
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CDSC WAIVERS FOR CLASS A SHARES - Any CDSC on Class A shares may be waived in the following cases: (1) Exchanges (except if shares acquired by exchange are then redeemed within 12 months of the initial purchase). (2) Distributions from 403(b) plans or IRAs due to death, post-purchase disability or attainment of age 59-1/2. (3) Tax-free returns of excess contributions to IRAs. (4) Redemptions through systematic withdrawal plans (see "Automatic Withdrawals" below), not exceeding 12% each year of the lesser of the original purchase cost or the current market value of the shares being sold that would otherwise be subject to a CDSC. CDSC WAIVERS FOR CLASS B AND C SHARES - Any CDSC on Class B and C shares may be waived in the following cases: (1) Redemptions through systematic withdrawal plans ("SWPs") (see "Automatic Withdrawals" below) not exceeding 12% each year of the lesser of the original purchase cost or the current market value of the shares being sold that would otherwise be subject to a CDSC. Shares not subject to a CDSC (such as shares representing reinvestment of distributions) will be redeemed first and will count toward the 12% limitation. If there are insufficient shares not subject to a CDSC, shares subject to the lowest CDSC will be redeemed next until the 12% limit is reached. The 12% fee from CDSC limit is calculated on a pro rata basis at the time the first payment is made and is recalculated thereafter on a pro rata basis at the time of each SWP payment. Shareholders who establish a SWP should be aware that the amount of that payment not subject to a CDSC may vary over time depending on fluctuations in net asset value of their account. This privilege may be revised or terminated at any time. (2) Required minimum distributions taken from retirement accounts upon the attainment of age 70-1/2. Such distributions may not exceed 12% of the value of the account annually. (3) Distributions due to death or post-purchase disability of a shareholder. In the case of joint tenant accounts, if one joint tenant dies, the surviving joint tenant(s), at the time they notify the Transfer Agent of the decedent's death and remove his/her name from the account, may redeem shares from the account without incurring a CDSC. Redemptions subsequent to the notification to the Transfer Agent of the death of one of the joint owners will be subject to a CDSC. Dividend and capital gain distributions, redemptions of appreciated shares, redemptions through SWPs, and required minimum distributions in excess of 12% of an account value will not qualify for a CDSC waiver. INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT (IRA) ROLLOVERS Assets from a retirement plan (plan assets) may be invested in any class of shares of the American Funds (except as described below) through an IRA rollover plan. All such rollover investments will be subject to the terms and conditions for Class A, B, C and F shares contained National Tax-Exempt Income Funds - Page 37
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in the fund's current prospectus and statement of additional information. An IRA rollover involving plan assets that offered an investment option managed by any affiliate of The Capital Group Companies, Inc., including any of the American Funds, may be invested in Class A shares at net asset value and will not be subject to a contingent deferred sales charge. Dealers who initiate and are responsible for such investments will be compensated pursuant to the schedule applicable to Class A share investments of $1 million or more (see "Dealers Commissions and Compensation" above). PRICE OF SHARES Shares are purchased at the offering price or sold at the net asset value price next determined after the purchase or sell order is received and accepted by the funds or the Transfer Agent; the offering or net asset value price is effective for orders received prior to the time of determination of the net asset value and, in the case of orders placed with dealers or their authorized designees, accepted by the Principal Underwriter, the Transfer Agent, a dealer or any of their designees. In the case of orders sent directly to the fund or the Transfer Agent, an investment dealer MUST be indicated. The dealer is responsible for promptly transmitting purchase and sell orders to the Principal Underwriter. Orders received by the investment dealer or authorized designee, the Transfer Agent, or the funds 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 do not always indicate prices at which you will be purchasing and redeeming shares of the funds, 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 as of approximately 4:00 p.m. New York time, which is the normal close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange each day the Exchange is open. If, for example, the Exchange closes at 1:00 p.m., the fund's share price would still be determined as of 4:00 p.m. New York time. The New York Stock Exchange is currently closed on weekends and on the following holidays: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. All portfolio securities of funds managed by Capital Research and Management Company (other than money market funds) are valued, and the net asset value per share is determined as follows: 1. Equity securities, including depositary receipts, are valued at the last reported sale price on the exchange or market on which such securities are traded, as of the close of business on the day the securities are being valued or, lacking any sales, at the last available bid price. In cases where equity securities are traded on more than one exchange, the securities are valued on the exchange or market determined by the Investment Adviser to be the broadest and most representative market, which may be either a securities exchange or the over-the-counter market. Fixed-income securities are valued at prices obtained from a pricing service, when such prices are available; however, in circumstances where the Investment Adviser deems it appropriate to do so, such securities will be valued at the mean quoted bid and asked prices or at prices for securities of comparable maturity, quality and type. Short-term securities maturing within 60 days are valued at amortized cost which approximates market value. National Tax-Exempt Income Funds - Page 38
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Assets or liabilities initially expressed in terms of non-U.S. currencies are translated prior to the next determination of the net asset value of the fund's shares into U.S. dollars at the prevailing market rates. Securities and assets for which representative market quotations are not readily available are valued at fair value as determined in good faith under policies approved by the funds' Boards. The fair value of all other assets is added to the value of securities to arrive at the total assets; 2. Liabilities, including accruals of taxes and other expense items, are deducted from total assets; and 3. Net assets so obtained are then divided by the total number of shares outstanding, 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 each fund. The Principal Underwriter will not knowingly sell shares of each fund directly or indirectly to any person or entity, where, after the sale, such person or entity would own beneficially directly or indirectly more than 4.5% of the outstanding shares of each fund without the consent of a majority of each fund's Board of Directors/Trustees. SELLING SHARES Shares are sold at the net asset value next determined after your request is received in good order by the Transfer Agent, dealer or any of their designees. Sales of certain Class A, B and C shares may be subject to a CDSC. Generally, Class F shares may only be sold through fee-based programs of investment firms and registered investment advisers with special agreements with the fund's distributor. You may sell (redeem) other classes of shares in your account in any of the following ways: THROUGH YOUR DEALER (certain charges may apply) - Shares held for you in your dealer's street name must be sold through the dealer. WRITING TO AMERICAN FUNDS SERVICE COMPANY - Requests must be signed by the registered shareholder(s). - A signature guarantee is required if the redemption is: - Over $50,000; - Made payable to someone other than the registered shareholder(s); or - Sent to an address other than the address of record, or an address of record which has been changed within the last 10 days. Your signature may be guaranteed by a domestic stock exchange or the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., bank, savings association or credit union National Tax-Exempt Income Funds - Page 39
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that is an eligible guarantor institution. The Transfer Agent reserves the right to require a signature guarantee on any redemptions. - Additional documentation may be required for sales of shares held in corporate, partnership or fiduciary accounts. - You must include any shares you wish to sell that are in certificate form. TELEPHONING OR FAXING AMERICAN FUNDS SERVICE COMPANY, OR USING AMERICAN FUNDSLINE/(R)/ OR AMERICAN FUNDSLINE ONLINE/(R)/ - Redemptions by telephone or fax (including American FundsLine and American FundsLine OnLine) are limited to $50,000 per shareholder each day. - Checks must be made payable to the registered shareholder(s). - Checks must be mailed to an address of record that has been used with the account for at least 10 days. MONEY MARKET FUNDS - You may have redemptions of $1,000 or more wired to your bank by writing American Funds Service Company. - You may establish check writing privileges (use the money market funds application). - If you request check writing privileges, you will be provided with checks that you may use to draw against your account. These checks may be made payable to anyone you designate and must be signed by the authorized number of registered shareholders exactly as indicated on your checking account signature card. - Check writing is not available for Class B, C or F shares of The Cash Management Trust. If you sell Class A, B or C shares and request a specific dollar amount to be sold, we will sell sufficient shares so that the sale proceeds, after deducting any applicable CDSC, equals the dollar amount requested. Redemption proceeds will not be mailed until sufficient time has passed to provide reasonable assurance that checks or drafts (including certified or cashier's checks) for shares purchased have cleared (which may take up to 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 1940 Act), sale proceeds will be paid on or before the seventh day following receipt and acceptance of an order. Interest will not accrue or be paid on amounts that represent uncashed distribution or redemption checks. You may reinvest proceeds from a redemption or a dividend or capital gain distribution without a sales charge in any fund in The American Funds Group within 90 days after the date of the National Tax-Exempt Income Funds - Page 40
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redemption or distribution. Proceeds from a Class B share redemption where a CDSC was charged will be reinvested in Class A shares. Proceeds from any other type of redemption and all dividend and capital gain distributions will be reinvested in the same share class from which the original redemption or distribution was made. Any CDSC on Class A or C shares will be credited to your account. Redemption proceeds of Class A shares representing direct purchases in the money market funds that are reinvested in non-money market funds will be subject to a sales charge. Proceeds will be reinvested at the next calculated net asset value after your request is received and accepted by the Transfer Agent. SHAREHOLDER ACCOUNT SERVICES AND PRIVILEGES The following services and privileges are generally available to all shareholders. However, certain services and privileges may not be available if your account is held with an investment dealer. AUTOMATIC INVESTMENT PLAN - An automatic investment plan enables you to make monthly or quarterly investments in The American Funds through automatic debits from your bank account. To set up a plan you must fill out an account application and specify the amount you would like to invest ($50 minimum) and the date on which you would like your investments to occur. The plan will begin within 30 days after your account application is received. Your bank account will be debited on the day or a few days before your investment is made, depending on the bank's capabilities. The Transfer Agent will then invest your money into the fund you specified on or around the date you specified. For example, if the date you specified falls on a weekend or holiday, your money will be invested on the previous business day. If your bank account cannot be debited due to insufficient funds, a stop-payment or the closing of the account, the plan may be terminated and the related investment reversed. You may change the amount of the investment or discontinue the plan at any time by writing to the Transfer Agent. AUTOMATIC REINVESTMENT - Dividends and capital gain distributions are reinvested in additional shares of the same class and fund at net asset value unless you indicate otherwise on the account application. You also may elect to have dividends and/or capital gain distributions paid in cash by informing the fund, the Transfer Agent or your investment dealer. If you have elected to receive dividends and/or capital gain distributions in cash, and the postal or other delivery service is unable to deliver checks to your address of record, or you do not respond to mailings from American Funds Service Company with regard to uncashed distribution checks, your distribution option will automatically be converted to having all dividends and other distributions reinvested in additional shares. CROSS-REINVESTMENT OF DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS - You may cross-reinvest dividends and capital gains ("distributions") of the same share class into any other fund in The American Funds Group at net asset value, subject to the following conditions: (a) The aggregate value of your account(s) in the fund(s) paying distributions equals or exceeds $5,000 (this is waived if the value of the account in the fund receiving the distributions equals or exceeds that fund's minimum initial investment requirement), (b) If the value of the account of the fund receiving distributions is below the minimum initial investment requirement, distributions must be automatically reinvested, National Tax-Exempt Income Funds - Page 41
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(c) If you discontinue the cross-reinvestment of distributions, the value of the account of the fund receiving distributions must equal or exceed the minimum initial investment requirement. If you do not meet this requirement within 90 days of notification, the fund has the right to automatically redeem the account. EXCHANGE PRIVILEGE - You may only exchange shares into other funds in The American Funds Group within the same class. However, exchanges from Class A shares of The Cash Management Trust of America may be made to Class B or C shares of any other American Fund for dollar cost averaging purposes. 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. Exchanges of Class F shares generally may only be done through fee-based programs of investment firms and registered investment advisers with special agreements with the fund's distributor. You may exchange shares of other classes by writing to the Transfer Agent (see "Selling Shares"), by contacting your investment dealer, by using American FundsLine and American FundsLine OnLine (see "American FundsLine and American FundsLine OnLine" below), or by telephoning 800/421-0180 toll-free, faxing (see "American Funds Service Company Service Areas" -- "Principal Underwriter and Transfer Agent" in the prospectus for the appropriate fax numbers) or telegraphing the Transfer Agent. (See "Telephone and Computer Purchases, Redemptions and Exchanges" below.) Shares held in corporate-type retirement plans for which Capital Bank and Trust Company serves as trustee may not be exchanged by telephone, computer, 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 of the same class 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. 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 fund of sufficient shares, deposited by the shareholder with the Transfer Agent, to provide the withdrawal payment specified. ACCOUNT STATEMENTS - Your account is opened in accordance with your registration instructions. Transactions in the account, such as additional investments will be reflected on regular confirmation statements from the Transfer Agent. Dividend and capital gain reinvestments, purchases through automatic investment plans and certain retirement plans, as well as automatic exchanges and withdrawals will be confirmed at least quarterly. AMERICAN FUNDSLINE AND AMERICAN FUNDSLINE ONLINE - You may check your share balance, the price of your shares, or your most recent account transaction, redeem shares (up to $50,000 National Tax-Exempt Income Funds - Page 42
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per shareholder each day) from non-retirement plan accounts, or exchange shares around the clock with American FundsLine and American FundsLine OnLine. To use these services, call 800/325-3590 from a TouchTone(TM) telephone or access the American Funds Web site on the Internet at www.americanfunds.com. Redemptions and exchanges through American FundsLine and American FundsLine OnLine are subject to the conditions noted above and in "Telephone and Computer Purchases, Redemptions and Exchanges" below. You will need your fund number (see the list of funds in The American Funds Group under "Purchase of Shares - Purchase Minimums" and "Purchase of Shares - Fund Numbers"), personal identification number (generally the last four digits of your Social Security number or other tax identification number associated with your account) and account number. TELEPHONE AND COMPUTER PURCHASES, REDEMPTIONS AND EXCHANGES - By using the telephone (including American FundsLine) or computer (including American FundsLine OnLine), fax or telegraph purchase, redemption and/or exchange options, you agree to hold the fund, the Transfer Agent, any of its affiliates or mutual funds managed by such affiliates, and each of their respective directors, trustees, officers, employees and agents harmless from any losses, expenses, costs or liability (including attorney fees) 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 the Transfer Agent (you may also reinstate them at any time by writing the Transfer Agent). If the Transfer Agent does not employ reasonable procedures to confirm that the instructions received from any person with appropriate account information are genuine, it and/or the fund may be liable for losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent instructions. In the event that shareholders are unable to reach the fund by telephone because of technical difficulties, market conditions, or a natural disaster, redemption and exchange requests may be made in writing only. REDEMPTION OF SHARES - The funds' Articles of Incorporation or Declaration of Trust permits the funds to direct the Transfer Agent to redeem the shares of any shareholder for their then current net asset value per share if at such time the shareholder of record owns shares having an aggregate net asset value of less than the minimum initial investment amount required of new shareholders as set forth in the fund's current registration statement under the 1940 Act, and subject to such further terms and conditions as the Board of Directors/Trustees of the fund may from time to time adopt. EXECUTION OF PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS The Investment Adviser places orders for the funds' portfolio securities transactions. The Investment Adviser strives to obtain the best available prices in its portfolio transactions taking into account the costs and quality of executions. When, in the opinion of the Investment Adviser, two or more brokers (either directly or through their correspondent clearing agents) are in a position to obtain the best price and execution, preference may be given to brokers who have sold shares of the fund or who have provided investment research, statistical, or other related services to the Investment Adviser. The funds do not consider that they have an obligation to obtain the lowest available commission rate to the exclusion of price, service and qualitative considerations. There are occasions on which portfolio transactions for the funds 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 National Tax-Exempt Income Funds - Page 43
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advantageous or disadvantageous to the funds, they are effected only when the Investment Adviser believes that to do so is in the interest of the funds. When such concurrent authorizations occur, the objective is to allocate the executions in an equitable manner. The funds will not pay a mark-up for research in principal transactions. Brokerage commissions paid on portfolio transactions, including dealer concessions on underwritings, for the 2001, 2000 and 1999 fiscal years for TEBF, amounted to $2,407,000, $1,036,000 and $1,261,000, respectively. Brokerage commissions paid on portfolio transactions, including dealer concessions on underwritings, for the 2001, 2000 and 1999 fiscal years for AHIM, amounted to $649,000, $602,000 and $690,000, respectively. Brokerage commissions paid on portfolio transactions, including dealer concessions on underwritings, for the 2001, 2000 and 1999 fiscal years for LTEX, amounted to $149,000, $147,000 and $221,000, respectively. GENERAL INFORMATION CUSTODIAN OF ASSETS - Securities and cash owned by the funds, including proceeds from the sale of shares of the funds and of securities in the funds' portfolio, are held by The Chase Manhattan Bank, 270 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017, as Custodian. If the fund holds non-U.S. securities, the Custodian may hold these securities 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 funds' 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 $489,000, $165,000, and $51,000, by TEBF, AHIM and LTEX, respectively, for Class A shares and $3,000, $2,000 and $1,000 for Class B shares, for the 2001 fiscal year. INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS - PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, 350 South Grand Street, Los Angeles, CA 90071, serves as the fund's independent accountants providing audit services, preparation of tax returns and review of certain documents to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The financial statements included in this Statement of Additional Information from the Annual Report have been so included in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent accountants, given on the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing. The selection of the funds' independent accountants is reviewed and determined annually by the Board of Directors/Trustees. PROSPECTUSES, REPORTS TO SHAREHOLDERS AND PROXY STATEMENTS - TEBF'S fiscal year ends on August 31. AHIM's and LTEX's fiscal year ends on July 31. Shareholders are provided updated prospectuses annually and at least semiannually with reports showing the investment portfolio, financial statements and other information. The funds' annual financial statements are audited by the funds' independent accountants, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. In addition, shareholders may also receive proxy statements for the funds. In an effort to reduce the volume of mail shareholders receive from the funds when a household owns more than one account, the Transfer Agent has taken steps to eliminate duplicate mailings of prospectuses, shareholder National Tax-Exempt Income Funds - Page 44
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reports and proxy statements. To receive additional copies of a prospectus, report or proxy statement, shareholders should contact the Transfer Agent. PERSONAL INVESTING POLICY - The funds, Capital Research and Management Company and its affiliated companies, including the fund's principal underwriter, have adopted codes of ethics which allow for personal investments, including securities in which the funds may invest from time to time. 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; 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. OTHER INFORMATION - The financial statements including the investment portfolio and the report of Independent Accountants contained in the Annual Report are included in this Statement of Additional Information. The following information is not included in the Annual Report: DETERMINATION OF TEBF'S NET ASSET VALUE, REDEMPTION PRICE AND MAXIMUM OFFERING PRICE PER SHARE FOR CLASS A SHARES -- AUGUST 31, 2001 [Download Table] Net asset value and redemption price per share (Net assets divided by shares outstanding) . . . . . . . . . $12.38 Maximum offering price per share (100/96.25 of net asset value per share, which takes into account the fund's current maximum sales charge). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $12.86 DETERMINATION OF AHIM'S NET ASSET VALUE, REDEMPTION PRICE AND MAXIMUM OFFERING PRICE PER SHARE FOR CLASS A SHARES -- JULY 31, 2001 [Download Table] Net asset value and redemption price per share (Net assets divided by shares outstanding) . . . . . . . . . $15.35 Maximum offering price per share (100/96.25 of net asset value per share, which takes into account the fund's current maximum sales charge). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $15.95 DETERMINATION OF LTEX'S NET ASSET VALUE, REDEMPTION PRICE AND MAXIMUM OFFERING PRICE PER SHARE FOR CLASS A SHARES -- JULY 31, 2001 [Download Table] Net asset value and redemption price per share (Net assets divided by shares outstanding) . . . . . . . . . $15.08 Maximum offering price per share (100/96.25 of net asset value per share, which takes into account the fund's current maximum sales charge). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $15.67 National Tax-Exempt Income Funds - Page 45
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CLASS A SHARE INVESTMENT RESULTS AND RELATED STATISTICS TEBF's yield was 4.06% based on a 30-day (or one month) period ended August 31, 2001. AHIM's and LTEX's yield were 5.57% and 3.67%, respectively, based on a 30-day (or one month) period ended July 31, 2001. The yield was 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 funds may also calculate a tax equivalent yield based on a 30-day (or one month) period ended no later than the date of the most recent balance sheet included in the registration statement, computed by dividing that portion of the yield (as computed by the formula stated above) which is tax-exempt by one minus a stated income tax rate and adding the product to that portion, if any, of the yield that is not tax-exempt. TEBF'S tax-equivalent yield based on the maximum federal tax rate of 39.1% for the 30-day (or one month) period ended August 31, 2001 was 6.67%. AHIM's and LTEX's tax-equivalent yield based on the maximum federal tax rate of 39.1% for the 30-day (or one month) period ended July 31, 2001 was 9.15% and 6.03%, respectively. As of August 31, 2001, TEBF's total return over the past 12 months and average annual total return at the maximum offering price for the five- and ten-year periods were 6.09%, 5.80% and 6.58%, respectively. The fund's one year total return and average annual total return at net asset value for the five- and ten-year periods ended on August 31, 2001 were 10.22%, 6.61% and 6.99%, respectively. As of July 31, 2001, AHIM's total return over the past 12 months and average annual total return at the maximum offering price for five years and its lifetime were 5.04%, 5.28% and 6.77%, respectively. Over the fund's lifetime (September 26, 1994 to July 31, 2001), the Lehman Brothers Municipal Bond Index<F1> and the Lipper High Yield Municipal Debt Funds Average<F2> had average annual total returns of 7.16% and 5.43%, respectively. The fund's total return at net asset value over the past 12 months and average annual total return over the past five years and its lifetime at July 31, 2001 were 9.14%, 6.08% and 7.37%, respectively. <FN> <F1> The Lehman Brothers Municipal Bond Index represents the investment grade municipal bond market. This index is unmanaged and does not reflect sales charges, commissions or expenses. <F2> The Lipper High Yield Municipal Debt Funds Average represents an average of funds in the objective that invest at least 50% of their assets in lower rated municipal debt issues. The results of the underlying funds in the average include the reinvestment of dividend and capital gain distributions and brokerage commissions paid by the funds for portfolio transactions, but do not reflect sales charges. National Tax-Exempt Income Funds - Page 46
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As of July 31, 2001, LTEX's total return over the past twelve months and average annual total return at the maximum offering price over five years and its lifetime were 4.92%, 4.68% and 4.77%, respectively. Over the fund's lifetime (October 6, 1993 to July 31, 2001), the Lehman Brothers 7-Year Municipal Bond Index<F1> and the Lipper Intermediate Municipal Debt Funds Average<F2> had average annual total returns of 5.57% and 4.96%, respectively. The fund's one year total return and average annual total return at net asset value over the past five years and its lifetime at July 31, 2001 were 8.99%, 5.48% and 5.29%, respectively. The average 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. In calculating average annual total return at the maximum offering price, the funds assume: (1) deduction of the maximum sales load of 3.75% 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 funds will provide lifetime average total return figures. From time to time, the funds may calculate investment results for Class B, C and F shares. The funds 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. These total returns may be calculated over periods in addition to those described above. 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 funds may include information on their investment results and/or comparisons of their investment results to various unmanaged indices (such as the Dow Jones Average of 30 Industrial Stocks and the Standard and Poor's 500 Composite Stock Index) or results of other mutual funds or investment or savings vehicles in advertisements or in reports furnished to present or prospective shareholders. The funds may also, from time to time, combine their results with those of other funds in The American Funds Group for purposes of illustrating investment strategies involving multiple funds. The funds may refer to results and surveys compiled by organizations such as CDA/ Wiesenberger, Ibbotson Associates, Lipper Analytical Services, Morningstar, Inc., and by the U.S. Department of Commerce. Additionally, the funds may refer to results published in various newspapers and 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. <FN> <F1> The Lehman Brothers 7-Year Municipal Bond Index is unmanaged, reflects no expenses or management fees and consists of a large universe of municipal bonds issued as state general obligations or revenue bonds with a minimum rating of BBB by Standard & Poor's Corporation. <F2> The Lipper Intermediate Municipal Debt Funds Average is comprised of funds that invest in municipal debt issues with dollar-weighted average maturities of five to ten years. The results of the underlying funds in the average include the reinvestment of dividend and capital gain distributions and brokerage commissions paid by the funds for portfolio transactions, but do not reflect sales charges. National Tax-Exempt Income Funds - Page 47
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The funds may illustrate the benefits of tax-deferral by comparing taxable investments to investments made through tax-deferred retirement plans. The funds may compare their investment results with 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, and fuels, transportation, and other goods and services that people buy for day-to-day living). National Tax-Exempt Income Funds - Page 48
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APPENDIX Description of Bond Ratings BOND RATINGS - The ratings of Moody's Investors Service, Inc. (Moody's) and Standard & Poor's Corporation (S&P) represent their opinions as to the quality of the municipal bonds which they undertake to rate. It should be emphasized, however, that ratings are general and are not absolute standards of quality. Consequently, municipal bonds with the same maturity, coupon and rating may have different yields, while municipal bonds of the same maturity and coupon with different ratings may have the same yield. Moody's rates the long-term debt securities issued by various entities from ------- "Aaa" to "C." Moody's applies the numerical modifiers 1, 2, and 3 in each generic rating classification from Aa through B in its corporate bond rating system. The modifier 1 indicates that the security ranks in the higher end of its generic rating category; the modifier 2 indicates a mid-range ranking; and the modifier 3 indicates that the issue ranks in the lower end of its generic rating category. Ratings are described as follows: "Bonds which are 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 which are 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 which are rated A possess many favorable investment attributes and are to be considered as upper medium grade obligations. 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." "Bonds which are rated Baa are considered as medium grade obligations, i.e., they are neither highly protected nor poorly secured. Interest payments and principal security appear adequate for the present but certain protective elements may be lacking or may be characteristically unreliable over any great length of time. Such bonds lack outstanding investment characteristics and, in fact, have speculative characteristics as well." "Bonds which are rated Ba are judged to have speculative elements; their future cannot be considered as well assured. Often the protection of interest and principal payments may be very moderate and thereby not well safeguarded during both good and bad times over the future. Uncertainty of position characterizes bonds in this class." "Bonds which are rated B generally lack characteristics of the desirable investment. Assurance of interest and principal payments or of maintenance of other terms of the contract over any long period of time may be small." National Tax-Exempt Income Funds - Page 49
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"Bonds which are rated Caa are of poor standing. Such issues may be in default or there may be present elements of danger with respect to principal or interest." "Bonds which are rated Ca represent obligations which are speculative in a high degree. Such issues are often in default or have other marked shortcomings." "Bonds which are rated C are the lowest rated class of bonds, and issues so rated can be regarded as having extremely poor prospects of ever attaining any real investment standing." S & P rates the long-term securities debt of various entities in categories ----- ranging from "AAA" to "D" according to quality. The ratings from "AA" to "CCC" may be modified by the addition of a plus (+) or minus (-) sign to show relative standing within the major rating categories. Ratings are described as follows: "Debt rated 'AAA' has the highest rating assigned by S & P. 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 it is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than debt in higher rated categories." "Debt rated 'BBB' is regarded as having an adequate capacity to pay interest and repay principal. Whereas it normally exhibits adequate protection parameters, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity to pay interest and repay principal for debt in this category than in higher rated categories." "Debt rated 'BB' has less near-term vulnerability to default than other speculative issues. However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to adverse business, financial, or economic conditions which could lead to inadequate capacity to meet timely interest and principal payments. The 'BB' rating category is also used for debt subordinated to senior debt that is assigned an actual or implied 'BBB-' rating. "Debt rated 'B' has a greater vulnerability to default but currently has the capacity to meet interest payments and principal repayments. Adverse business, financial, or economic conditions will likely impair capacity or willingness to pay interest and repay principal. The 'B' rating category is also used for debt subordinated to senior debt that is assigned an actual or implied 'BB' or 'BB-' rating." "The rating 'CC' is typically applied to debt subordinated to senior debt that is assigned an actual or implied 'CCC' rating." "The rating 'C' is typically applied to debt subordinated to senior debt which is assigned an actual or implied 'CCC-' debt rating. The 'C' rating may be used to cover a situation where a bankruptcy petition has been filed, but debt service payments are continued." "The rating 'C1' is reserved for income bonds on which no interest is being paid." National Tax-Exempt Income Funds - Page 50
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"Debt rated 'D' is in payment default. The 'D' rating category is used when interest payments or principal payments are not made on the date due even if the applicable grace period has not expired, unless S&P believes that such payments will be made during such grace period. The 'D' rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition if debt service payments are jeopardized." Note Ratings STANDARD & POOR'S CORPORATION: "SP-1" and "SP-2" are the two highest note rating categories, and are described as follows: "SP-1 Very strong or strong capacity to pay principal and interest. Those issues determined to possess overwhelming safety characteristics will be given a plus (+) designation." "SP-2 Satisfactory capacity to pay principal and interest." MOODY'S INVESTORS SERVICE, INC.: "MIG-1" and "MIG-2" are the two highest note rating categories, and are described as follows: "MIG 1: This designation denotes best quality. There is present strong protection by established cash flows, superior liquidity support or demonstrated broad based access to the market for refinancing." "MIG 2: This designation denotes high quality. Margins of protection are ample although not as large as in the preceding group." Description of Commercial Paper Ratings MOODY'S employs the designations "Prime-1," "Prime-2" and "Prime-3" to indicate ------- commercial paper having the highest capacity for timely repayment. Issuers rated Prime-1 have a superior capacity for repayment of short-term promissory obligations. Prime-1 repayment capacity will normally be evidenced by the following characteristics: leading market positions in well-established industries; high rates of return on funds employed; conservative capitalization structures with moderate reliance on debt and ample asset protection; broad margins in earnings coverage of fixed financial charges and high internal cash generation; and well-established access to a range of financial markets and assured sources of alternate liquidity. Issues rated Prime-2 have a strong capacity for repayment of short-term promissory obligations. This will normally be evidenced by many of the characteristics cited above, but to a lesser degree. Earnings trends and coverage ratios, while sound, will be more subject to variation. Capitalization characteristics, while still appropriate, may be more affected by external conditions. Ample alternate liquidity is maintained. S&P ratings of commercial paper are graded into four categories ranging from "A" --- for the highest quality obligations to "D" for the lowest. A - Issues assigned its highest rating are regarded as having the greatest capacity for timely payment. Issues in this category are delineated with numbers 1, 2, and 3 to indicate the relative degree of safety. National Tax-Exempt Income Funds - Page 51
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A-1 - This designation indicates that the degree of safety regarding timely payment is either overwhelming or very strong. Those issues determined to possess overwhelming safety characteristics will be denoted with a plus (+) sign designation. A-2 - Capacity for timely payments on issues with this designation is strong; however, the relative degree of safety is not as high as for issues designated "A-1." National Tax-Exempt Income Funds - Page 52 [Enlarge/Download Table] The Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America, Inc. Investment Portfolio, August 31, 2001 Principal Market Amount Value Fixed Income Securities - 93.73% (000) (000) Alabama - 0.51% Public School and College Auth., Capital Improvement 5,255 5,766 Pool Bonds, Series 2001-A, 5.625% 2015 Health Care Auth. of Lauderdale County and the 1,150 1,269 City of Florence, Coffee Health Group, Series 2000-A Bonds, MBIA Insured, 5.50% 2009 Jefferson County, Sewer Rev. Capital Improvement 2,865 2,862 Warrants, Series 1999A, FGIC Insured, 5.125% 2029 21st Century Auth., Tobacco Settlement Rev. Bonds, 1,500 1,548 Series 2000, 5.75% 2020 Alaska - 1.40% Housing Fin. Corp., Collateralized Bonds 1,815 1,868 (Veterans Mortgage Program), Series 1992A-1, 6.75% 2032 Municipality of Anchorage: 1995 G.O. Ref. General Purpose Bonds, Series B, 2,895 3,374 FGIC Insured, 6.00% 2012 Municipal Light & Power, Senior Lien Ref. Electric 5,000 6,082 Rev. Bonds, Series 1996, MBIA Insured, 6.50% 2014 North Slope Borough, G.O. Bonds, Series 1997A, 10,935 8,292 MBIA Insured, 0% 2008 Northern Tobacco Securitization Corp., Tobacco Settlement Asset-Backed Bonds, Series 2000: 5.60% 2010 1,000 1,078 5.70% 2011 4,890 5,268 5.80% 2012 4,785 5,153 5.375% 2021 500 506 Arizona - 0.39% Health Facs. Auth., Rev. Bonds (Catholic Healthcare 3,655 3,843 West), Series 1999A, 6.125% 2009 State Transportation Board, Subordinated Highway 1,850 1,939 Rev. Bonds, Series 1992B, 6.50% 2008 (Preref. 2002) Industrial Dev. Auth. of the County of Maricopa, 2,850 2,916 Health Fac. Rev. Bonds (Catholic Healthcare West Project), 1998 Series A, 5.25% 2006 California - 5.86% Educational Facs. Auth., Rev. Bonds, Stanford 3,000 3,120 University, Series N, 5.35% 2027 Housing Fin. Agcy., Single Family Mortgage Bonds, 1997 Series C-4, Class I: 5.10% 2007 1,565 1,673 5.20% 2009 1,155 1,238 Public Works Board, Lease Rev. Bonds, California 1,315 1,480 Community Colleges, 1994 Series B (Various Community College Projects), 7.00% 2007 (Preref. 2004) Statewide Communities Dev. Auth., Apartment Dev. Rev. 4,000 4,081 Ref. Bonds (Irvine Apartment Communities, LP), Series 1998A-3, 5.10% 2025 (Put 2010) City of Antioch, Public Fncg. Auth., 1998 Reassessment 1,475 1,553 Rev. Bonds, Subordinated Series B, 5.85% 2015 Association of Bay Area Governments, Fin. Auth. For Nonprofit Corps., Ref. Rev. Cert. of Part.: (American Baptist Homes of the West Facs. Project), Series 1997B: 5.50% 2007 1,210 1,183 6.20% 2027 1,545 1,408 (Episcopal Homes Foundation), Series 1998, 5.125% 2013 2,000 2,041 Bonita Canyon Public Facs. Fncg. Auth., Community Facs. 3,500 3,384 Dist. No. 98-1, Special Tax Bonds, Series 1998, 5.375% 2028 Central Valley Fncg. Auth., Cogeneration Project 1,000 1,085 Rev. Bonds (Carson Ice-Gen Project), Series 1993, 6.10% 2013 (Preref. 2003) County of El Dorado, Community Facs. Dist. No. 1992-1 985 1,027 (El Dorado Hills Dev.), Series 1999 Special Tax Bonds, 6.125% 2016 City of Folsom, Community Facs. Dist. No. 10, Special 2,000 2,185 Tax Bonds, Series 1999, 7.00% 2024 City of Fontana, Community Facs. Dist. No. 12 (Sierra 1,000 1,073 Lakes), Special Tax Bonds, Series 1999, 6.50% 2015 City of Irvine, Limited Obligation Improvement Bonds: Assessment Dist. No. 94-13 (Oak Creek), Group One, 5.50% 2022 2,000 1,989 Assessment Dist. No. 94-13 (Oak Creek), Group Two, 6.00% 2022 1,250 1,282 Assessment Dist. No. 95-12, Group Three, 5.50% 2021 2,740 2,732 Assessment Dist. No. 97-17 (Northwood), Group One, 6.00% 2023 1,500 1,547 City of Long Beach: Aquarium of the Pacific, Rev. Bonds (Aquarium of the Pacific Project), 1995 Series A: 6.10% 2010 (Preref. 2005) 4,000 4,527 6.125% 2015 (Preref. 2005) 5,000 5,664 6.125% 2023 (Preref. 2005) 12,500 14,159 MBIA Insured, 6.125% 2023 (Preref. 2005) 2,000 2,265 Bond Fin. Auth., Lease Rev. Ref. Bonds (Aquarium of 2,150 2,399 the Pacific Project), Series 2001, AMBAC Insured, 5.50% 2015 City of Los Angeles: Community Redev. Agcy., Central Business Dist. Redev. 2,000 2,008 Project, Tax Allocation Ref. Bonds, Series I, 5.00% 2001 Regional Airports Improvement Corp., Facs. Lease Ref. Rev. Bonds (L.A. Intl. Airport): Delta Air Lines, Inc., Issue of 1996, 6.35% 2025 2,500 2,561 United Air Lines, Inc., Issue of 1992, 6.875% 2012 2,000 2,053 County of Los Angeles: Capital Asset Leasing Corp., Cert. of Part. (Marina del Rey), 1993 Series A: 6.25% 2003 2,400 2,497 6.50% 2008 4,750 5,031 Los Angeles Community College Dist., G.O. Bonds, 2001 10,500 11,611 Election, Series A, 5.50% 2016 County of Orange, Aliso Viejo Special Tax Bonds of Community Facs. Dist. No. 88-1, Series A of 1992: 7.15% 2006 (Preref. 2002) 2,000 2,130 7.35% 2018 (Preref. 2002) 2,000 2,133 Pleasanton Joint Powers Fncg. Auth., Reassessment Rev. 465 465 Bonds, 1993 Series A, 5.70% 2001 City of Roseville: Highland Reserve North Community Facs. Dist. No. 1, 3,085 3,363 Special Tax Bonds, Series 1999, 6.00% 2011 North Central Roseville Community Facs. Dist. No. 1, Special Tax Ref. Bonds, Series 1999: 5.30% 2007 2,865 3,034 5.80% 2017 3,500 3,567 Woodcreek West Community Facs. Dist. No. 1, 1,465 1,591 Special Tax Bonds, Series 1999, 6.50% 2015 Sacramento Cogeneration Auth., Cogeneration Project Rev. Bonds (Procter & Gamble Project), 1995 Series: 6.00% 2003 2,200 2,299 6.375% 2010 500 541 6.375% 2010 (Preref. 2005) 500 576 County of Sacramento, Laguna Creek Ranch/Elliott 500 526 Ranch Community Facs. Dist. No. 1, Improvement Area No. 2 Special Tax Ref. Bonds (Elliott Ranch), 6.30% 2021 County of San Bernardino Housing Auth., Multifamily 1,500 1,535 Housing Rev. Ref. Bonds (Equity Residential/Redlands Lawn & Tennis Apartments), Issue 1999A, 5.20% 2029 (Put 2009) County of San Diego, Reassessment Dist. No. 97-1 995 1,031 (4-S Ranch), Limited Obligation Improvement Bonds, 6.25% 2012 San Marcos Public Facs. Auth., Ref. Rev. Bonds, 3,000 3,006 Series 1998, 5.80% 2027 San Marcos Unified School Dist., Community Facs. 3,150 3,112 Dist. No. 5 (Rancho Carrillo), Series 1999 Special Tax Bonds, 5.60% 2029 Community Facs. Dist. No. 99-1 (Talega) of the 1,195 1,273 Santa Margarita Water Dist., Series 1999 Special Tax Bonds, 6.10% 2014 South Tahoe Joint Powers Fncg. Auth., Subordinate Bond Anticipation Notes (South Tahoe Redev. Project Area No. 1): Series 1999A, 7.30% 2007 7,000 7,364 Series 1999B, 7.30% 2007 1,905 2,004 The Regents of the University of California, 2,000 2,053 Various University of California Projects, 1993 Series A, 5.50% 2021 Washington Township Health Care Dist., Rev. 1,300 1,336 Bonds, Series 1999, 5.00% 2014 Colorado - 4.35% Health Facs. Auth., Hospital Rev. Bonds (PorterCare 3,800 4,027 Adventist Health System Project), Series 2001, 6.50% 2031 Housing and Fin. Auth.: Multi-family Housing Insured Mortgage Rev. Bonds: 1982 Series A, 9.00% 2025 1,515 1,519 1997 Series C-3, 5.65% 2015 1,300 1,300 Single Family Housing Program Senior and Subordinate Bonds: 1997 Series: A-3, 7.00% 2016 1,270 1,359 B-3, 6.80% 2028 740 798 C-3, 6.75% 2017 840 915 1998 Series: B-3, 6.55% 2025 4,580 4,958 D-3, 6.125% 2023 1,920 2,096 Arapahoe County, Capital Improvement Trust Fund Highway Rev. Bonds (E-470 Project): 6.90% 2015 (Preref. 2005) 2,500 2,920 6.95% 2020 (Preref. 2005) 17,500 20,468 City and County of Denver, Airport System Rev. Bonds, Series 1992A: 7.25% 2025 (Preref. 2002) 5,590 6,012 7.25% 2025 (Preref. 2002) 14,210 15,283 E-470 Public Highway Auth. Senior Rev. Bonds, 7,500 680 Series 2000B (Capital Appreciation Bonds), 0% 2034 Eagle County, Bachelor Gulch Metropolitan Dist., 3,400 3,582 G.O. Bonds, Series 1999, 6.70% 2019 EagleBend Affordable Housing Corp., Multi-family Housing Project Rev. Ref. Bonds, Series 1997A: 6.40% 2017 1,000 1,001 6.45% 2021 2,175 2,168 EagleBend Dowd Affordable Housing Corp., Multi-family Housing Project Rev. Bonds, Series 1998A: 6.35% 2014 1,065 1,073 6.63% 2039 2,000 1,966 Metropolitan Football Stadium Dist., Capital Appreciation Sales Tax Rev. Bonds, MBIA Insured: Series 1999A: 0% 2008 2,675 2,074 0% 2011 2,600 1,729 0% 2012 4,700 2,956 Series 1999B, 0% 2006 4,000 3,417 Northwest Parkway Public Highway Auth., Rev. 2,800 2,885 Bonds, Series 2001D, 7.125% 2041 Rampart Range Metropolitan Dist. No. 1 (City of 5,415 5,420 Lone Tree), Rev. Bonds (Rampart Range Metropolitan Dist. No. 2 Project), Series 2001, 7.75% 2026 Vista Ridge Metropolitan Dist. (Weld County), 7,310 7,411 Limited Tax G.O. Bonds, Series 2001, 7.50% 2031 Connecticut - 0.85% G.O. Bonds, 2001 Series B, 5.375% 2016 1,900 2,055 Dev. Auth., Pollution Control Rev. Ref. Bonds (The 5,025 5,161 Connecticut Light and Power Co. Project), Series 1993A, 5.85% 2028 Health and Educational Fac. Auth., Rev. Bonds, 1,800 1,856 University of Hartford Issue, Series D, 6.75% 2012 Mashantucket (Western) Pequot Tribe, Special Rev. Bonds, 1996 Series A: (1) 6.25% 2002 (Escrowed to Maturity) 1,000 1,038 6.375% 2004 (Escrowed to Maturity) 1,985 2,185 6.50% 2005 (Escrowed to Maturity) 1,490 1,681 6.40% 2011 2,025 2,206 6.40% 2011 (Preref. 2007) 2,470 2,881 Delaware - 0.04% Econ. Dev. Auth., First Mortgage Rev. Bonds (Peninsula 1,000 1,024 United Methodist Homes, Inc. Issue), Series 1997A, 6.00% 2009 District of Columbia - 0.98% G.O. Bonds: Series 1993A, AMBAC Insured, 5.875% 2005 2,125 2,332 (Escrowed to Maturity) Series 1993 B-1, AMBAC Insured, 5.50% 2009 1,500 1,651 Convention Center Auth. (Washington D.C.), Senior 5,750 5,439 Lien Dedicated Tax Rev. Bonds, Series 1998, AMBAC Insured, 4.75% 2028 Hospital Rev. Ref. Bonds: Medlantic Healthcare Group, Inc. Issue, 1,030 1,068 Series 1992B, 6.50% 2002 (Escrowed to Maturity) Washington Hospital Center Issue, Series 1992A, 1,170 1,225 7.00% 2005 (Preref. 2002) MedStar Health, Inc. Issue, Multimodal Rev. Bonds (Georgetown University Hospital and Washington Hospital Center Projects): Series 2001B, 6.625% 2031 (Put 2005) 4,000 4,191 Series 2001D, 6.875% 2031 (Put 2007) 5,000 5,336 Redev. Land Agcy., Sports Arena Special Tax Rev. 785 787 Bonds, Series 1996, 5.625% 2010 Florida - 4.51% Arbor Greene Community Dev. Dist. (City of Tampa, Hillsborough County), Special Assessment Rev. Bonds: Series 1996, 7.60% 2018 915 981 Series 1998, 5.75% 2006 375 379 Series 2000, 6.50% 2007 805 825 Capital Region Community Dev. Dist. (Tallahassee), 1,000 1,021 Capital Improvement Rev. Bonds, Series 2001A-2, 6.85% 2031 Championsgate Community Dev. Dist., Capital 1,515 1,487 Improvement Rev. Bonds, Series 1998B, 5.70% 2005 The Crossings at Fleming Island Community Dev. Dist. (Clay County), Special Assessment Bonds: Series 1995, 8.25% 2016 (Preref. 2005) 1,020 1,201 Series 2000C, 7.10% 2030 7,000 7,418 Fishhawk Community Dev. Dist. (Hillsborough County), 3,000 3,068 Special Assessment Rev. Bonds, Series 2000, 6.65% 2007 Fleming Island Plantation Community Dev. Dist. 3,000 3,227 (Clay County), Series 2000B (Long Term), 7.375% 2031 The Groves Community Dev. Dist. (Pasco County), 1,170 1,192 Special Assessment Rev. Bonds, Series 2000B, 7.625% 2008 Harbor Bay Community Dev. Dist. (Hillsborough 1,500 1,508 County), Capital Improvement Rev. Bonds, Series 2001B, 6.35% 2010 Harbour Lake Estates Community Dev. Dist. (Miramar), 3,500 3,538 Special Assessment Bonds, Series 2001, 6.40% 2006 Heritage Harbor Community Dev. Dist. Rev. 1,475 1,481 Bonds, Series B, 6.00% 2003 Heritage Palms Community Dev. Dist. (Fort Myers), Capital Improvement Rev. Bonds: Series 1998, 5.40% 2003 850 848 Series 1999, 6.25% 2004 3,470 3,513 Heritage Pines Community Dev. Dist. (Pasco County), 2,550 2,528 Capital Improvement Rev. Bonds, Series 1998B, 5.50% 2005 Heritage Springs Community Dev. Dist. (Pasco County), 1,540 1,556 Capital Improvement Rev. Bonds, Series 1999B, 6.25% 2005 Lake Ashton Community Dev. Dist. (City of Lake Wales, Polk County), Capital Improvement Rev. Bonds: Series 2001A, 7.40% 2032 1,000 1,025 Series 2001B, 6.40% 2011 2,750 2,792 Lake Powell Residential Golf Community Dev. Dist. 3,720 3,788 (Bay County), Special Assessment Rev. Bonds, Series 2000B, 7.00% 2010 Lakewood Ranch Community Dev. Dist. 5 (Manatee County), 1,250 1,246 Special Assessment Rev. Bonds, Series 2001B, 6.00% 2011 Lee County Industrial Dev. Auth., Healthcare Facs. Rev. Bonds: Series 1997A (Cypress Cove at Healthpark Florida, Inc. Project): 5.80% 2006 1,005 1,019 6.25% 2017 5,550 5,092 Series 1999A (Shell Point/Alliance Obligated Group, Shell Point Village Project): 5.25% 2006 1,150 1,163 5.50% 2010 1,500 1,495 5.75% 2012 1,360 1,365 5.75% 2013 1,840 1,839 5.75% 2015 1,575 1,549 5.50% 2021 1,550 1,395 5.50% 2029 2,000 1,757 Marshall Creek Community Dev. Dist. (St. Johns County), Special Assessment Bonds: Series 2000A, 7.65% 2032 4,000 4,219 Series 2000B, 6.75% 2007 2,080 2,146 Meadow Pointe II, Community Dev. Dist. (Pasco County), Capital Improvement Rev. Bonds: Series 1998A, 5.25% 2003 160 161 Series 1998B, 5.50% 2005 845 849 Meadow Pointe III, Community Dev. Dist. (Pasco County), 1,480 1,491 Capital Improvement Rev. Bonds, Series 2001-1, 5.90% 2006 Miami-Dade County Health Facs. Auth., Hospital Rev. 5,495 6,020 Ref. Bonds, Series 2001A (Miami Children's Hospital Project), AMBAC Insured, 5.625% 2016 Mid-Bay Bridge Auth., Rev. Ref. Bonds: Series 1991B, 8.50% 2022 (Subject to Crossover 2,000 2,069 Refunding) Series 1993D, 6.10% 2022 500 518 North Broward Hospital Dist., Improvement Rev. 2,500 2,613 Bonds, Series 2001, 6.00% 2031 Northern Palm Beach County Improvement Dist., Water Control and Improvement Bonds: Unit of Dev. No. 9A, Series 1996A: 6.80% 2006 910 988 7.30% 2027 1,500 1,613 Unit of Dev. No. 9B, Series 1999: 5.85% 2013 950 977 6.00% 2029 2,200 2,226 North Springs Improvement Dist. Special Assessment 220 222 Bonds (Parkland Isles Project), Series 1997B, 6.25% 2005 City of Orlando, Special Assessment Rev. Bonds (Conroy Road Interchange Project), Series 1998A: 5.50% 2010 1,000 999 5.80% 2026 2,000 1,920 River Ridge Community Dev. Dist. (Lee County), 700 707 Capital Improvement Rev. Bonds, Series 1998, 5.75% 2008 Sampson Creek Community Dev. Dist. (St. Johns County), 2,750 2,825 Capital Improvement Rev. Bonds, Series 2000A, 6.95% 2031 Stoneybrook West Community Dev. Dist. (City of Winter Garden, Orange County), Special Assessment Rev. Bonds: Series 2000A, 7.00% 2032 1,775 1,829 Series 2000B, 6.45% 2010 2,060 2,114 Vista Lakes Community Dev. Dist. (City of Orlando), 1,615 1,632 Capital Improvement Rev. Bonds, Series 2000B, 6.35% 2005 Waterlefe Community Dev. Dist. (Manatee County), Capital Improvement Rev. Bonds: Series 2001A, 6.95% 2031 500 511 Series 2001B, 6.25% 2010 1,620 1,639 Georgia - 1.82% G.O. Bonds, Series 2001B, 5.25% 2016 10,000 10,651 Municipal Electric Auth.: General Power Rev. Bonds, Series X, 6.50% 2012 1,215 1,395 Project One Senior Bond, Fourth Crossover Series, 5,700 6,678 MBIA Insured, 6.50% 2012 City of Atlanta: Airport Facs. Rev. Ref. Bonds, Series 1994A, AMBAC 1,000 1,169 Insured, 6.50% 2009 Fulco Hospital Auth., Rev. Anticipation Certificates, Georgia Baptist Health Care System Project: Series 1992A (Preref. 2002): 6.40% 2007 1,000 1,058 6.25% 2013 2,100 2,216 6.375% 2022 1,595 1,685 Series 1992B, 6.375% 2022 (Preref. 2002) 610 645 Water and Wastewater Rev. Bonds, Series 1999, FGIC 8,500 9,375 Insured, 5.50% 2022 Housing Auth. of the County of DeKalb, Multi-family 6,000 6,100 Housing Rev. Ref. Bonds (The Park at Briarcliff Apartments Project), Series 1998A, 4.55% 2028 (Put 2008) Hawaii - 0.47% G.O. Bonds of 1997, Series CN, FGIC Insured, 5.25% 2013 3,000 3,176 City and County of Honolulu: G.O. Bonds: Ref. and Improvement Series, 1993B: 5.00% 2013 1,370 1,459 5.00% 2013 (Escrowed to Maturity) 630 677 Series 2001A, FSA Insured, 5.375% 2012 2,000 2,188 Wastewater System Rev. Bonds (First Bond Resolution), Senior Series 2001, AMBAC Insured: 5.50% 2015 1,875 2,037 5.50% 2016 1,000 1,080 Illinois - 10.96% G.O. Bonds, Illinois FIRST, Series of May 2001, 2,000 2,214 FSA Insured, 5.50% 2016 Build Illinois Bonds (Sales Tax Rev. Bonds), Illinois FIRST: Series of March 2001, 5.50% 2016 3,000 3,239 Series of June 2001: 5.50% 2016 7,470 8,065 5.50% 2017 8,000 8,591 Civic Center Bonds (Special State Obligation 6,500 7,544 Bonds), Series 1991, AMBAC Insured, 6.25% 2020 Dev. Fin. Auth., Rev. Bonds, Series 1998A 5,120 5,622 (Provena Health), MBIA Insured, 5.50% 2010 Educational Facs. Auth., Rev. Bonds: MJH Education Assistance Illinois III 1,500 1,583 LLC, Series 1999D, AMBAC Insured, 5.45% 2014 Wesleyan University, Series 1993, 5.625% 2018 1,490 1,535 Health Facs. Auth.: Rev. Bonds: Advocate Health Care Network: Series 1998A: 5.00% 2007 700 740 5.00% 2007 (Escrowed to Maturity) 920 992 5.00% 2008 810 853 5.00% 2008 (Escrowed to Maturity) 1,060 1,143 4.50% 2009 840 851 4.50% 2009 (Preref. 2008) 1,090 1,152 4.625% 2010 1,310 1,329 4.625% 2010 (Preref. 2008) 1,690 1,799 Series 1998B: 4.875% 2013 2,130 2,155 4.875% 2013 (Preref. 2008) 330 357 MBIA Insured, 5.25% 2018 2,115 2,172 MBIA Insured, 5.25% 2018 (Preref. 2008) 385 424 Alexian Brothers Health System, Series 1999, FSA Insured: 5.00% 2008 1,230 1,305 5.25% 2012 6,960 7,389 5.00% 2025 2,000 1,963 5.125% 2028 2,000 1,991 Centegra Health System, Series 1998: 5.50% 2008 1,640 1,724 5.50% 2009 2,290 2,407 5.50% 2010 2,440 2,554 5.20% 2012 2,200 2,226 5.25% 2013 2,430 2,448 5.25% 2018 5,050 4,887 The Children's Memorial Hospital, Series 1999A, AMBAC Insured: 5.75% 2010 1,835 2,049 5.75% 2011 1,690 1,875 Edward Hospital Association Project, 1,000 1,040 Series 1992, 7.00% 2022 (Preref. 2002) Edward Hospital Obligated Group, Series 2001A, FSA Insured: 5.50% 2012 2,545 2,796 5.50% 2017 1,500 1,591 Friendship Village of Schaumburg, 3,675 3,078 Series 1997A, 5.25% 2018 Lutheran Senior Ministries Obligated Group 2,000 2,002 - Lutheran Hillside Village Project, Series 2001A, 7.375% 2031 Northwestern Memorial Hospital, 2,000 2,086 Series 1994A, 6.00% 2024 OSF Healthcare System: Series 1993, 5.75% 2007 5,760 6,060 Series 1999, 6.25% 2019 4,500 4,796 Riverside Health System, Series 2000, 2,500 2,756 6.85% 2029 Sherman Health Systems, Series 1997, 2,595 2,798 AMBAC Insured, 5.50% 2010 Hospital Sisters Services, Inc. - Obligated 4,000 4,311 Group, Series 1998A, MBIA Insured, 5.25% 2008 Rev. Ref. Bonds: Advocate Health Care Network, Series 1997A: 5.50% 2008 1,000 1,083 5.80% 2016 8,000 8,447 Edward Hospital Project, Series 1993A: 5.75% 2009 1,550 1,622 6.00% 2019 1,435 1,471 Fairview Obligated General Project, 1995 Series A: 6.50% 2006 770 795 7.40% 2023 3,000 3,018 Rev. and Rev. Ref. Bonds: Evangelical Hospitals Corp., Series C, 4,000 4,676 6.25% 2022 (Escrowed to Maturity) Lutheran General Health, Series C, 2,705 2,923 6.00% 2018 Housing Dev. Auth., Multi-family Housing 1,490 1,544 Bonds, 1992 Series A, 7.00% 2010 Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Auth., McCormick Place Expansion Project Bonds: Series 1992A, 6.50% 2027 (Preref. 2003) 3,910 4,248 Ref. Bonds, Series 1996A, MBIA Insured, 0% 2024 10,000 2,958 City of Chicago: G.O. Bonds, Series 1999, FGIC Insured: City Colleges of Chicago Capital 7,700 3,824 Improvement Project, 0% 2016 Emergency Telephone System, Ref. Bonds, 2,000 2,120 5.25% 2020 Chicago O'Hare International Airport, Special Fac. Rev. Ref. Bonds: Series 1994 (American Airlines, Inc. 2,750 3,069 Project), 8.20% 2024 Series 1999A (United Air Lines, Inc. 14,605 13,257 Project), 5.35% 2016 Metropolitan Water Reclamation Dist. of Greater Chicago, Series B: Capital Improvement Bonds, 5.25% 2004 5,000 5,351 Ref. Bonds, 5.30% 2005 5,325 5,771 School Reform Board of Trustees of the Board of Education of the City of Chicago, Unlimited Tax G.O. Bonds: Series 1997A, AMBAC Insured: 0% 2011 2,745 1,754 Capital Appreciation Bonds, 0% 2015 3,245 1,637 Dedicated Tax Rev., AMBAC Insured: Series 1997, 6.75% 2012 1,000 1,222 Series 1997A, 0% 2014 7,085 3,799 Series 1998B, FGIC Insured, 0% 2014 2,000 1,072 Skyway Toll Bridge Ref. Rev. Bonds, Series 1994 (Preref. 2004): 6.50% 2010 13,250 14,571 6.75% 2014 6,500 7,184 Tax Increment Allocation Bonds (Central Loop Redev. Project), Capital Appreciation Bonds, Series 2000A, AMBAC Insured: 0% 2007 7,000 5,505 0% 2008 7,000 5,227 Water Rev. Bonds, Series 1997, FGIC Insured, 3,500 1,884 0% 2014 County of Cook, G.O. Capital Improvement Bonds, 4,000 4,777 Series 1996, FGIC Insured, 6.50% 2011 Regional Transportation Auth., Cook, Du Page, 4,500 6,023 Kane, Lake, McHenry and Will Counties, G.O. Bonds, Series 1994D, FGIC Insured, 7.75% 2019 Township High School Dist. Number 205, Cook 4,730 3,532 County (Thornton), G.O. Limited Capital Appreciation Bonds, Series 1998D, FSA Insured, 0% 2008 University of Illinois, Cert. of Part., 3,530 3,774 Series A, AMBAC Insured, 5.375% 2015 Indiana - 3.71% State Dev. Fin. Auth.: Pollution Control Rev. Bonds (Inland Steel Co. 2,500 1,397 Project No. 12), 6.85% 2012 Rev. Ref. Bonds, Exempt Fac.-Inland Steel, 5.75% 2011 4,000 2,135 Educational Facs. Auth., Educational Facs. Rev. 1,000 1,025 Bonds (University of Evansville Project), Series 1996, 5.25% 2005 Health Fac. Fncg. Auth., Hospital Rev. Bonds: Charity Obligated Group: Series 1997D, 5.00% 2026 (Preref. 2007) 15,010 16,227 Series 1999D, 5.25% 2016 3,000 3,089 Clarian Health Partners, Inc., Series 1996A: MBIA Insured, 5.25% 2008 1,700 1,831 MBIA Insured, 5.50% 2016 4,000 4,198 5.50% 2016 10,250 10,562 Holy Cross Health System Corp., Series 1998, 7,095 7,666 MBIA Insured, 5.375% 2010 The Methodist Hospitals, Inc., Series 2001, 5.50% 2031 2,000 2,006 Sisters of St. Francis Health Services, Inc. 1,000 1,069 Project, Series 1997A, MBIA Insured, 5.00% 2008 Housing Fin. Auth., Single Family Mortgage Ref. 1,275 1,324 Rev. Bonds, 1992 Series A, 6.75% 2010 State Office Building Commission, Correctional 8,490 10,036 Facs. Program Rev. Bonds, Series 1995B, AMBAC Insured, 6.25% 2012 Transportation Fin. Auth., Airport Facs. Lease Rev. Bonds, Series A: 6.50% 2007 1,160 1,217 6.50% 2007 (Preref. 2002) 3,755 4,001 6.75% 2011 (Preref. 2002) 2,400 2,564 Boone County Hospital Association, Lease Rev. 1,255 1,332 Bonds, Series 2001, FGIC Insured, 5.00% 2010 City of East Chicago, Pollution Control Rev. 3,000 1,893 Ref. Bonds, Inland Steel Co. Project No.11, Series 1994, 7.125% 2007 Hospital Auth. of the City of Fort Wayne, Rev. Bonds (Parkview Memorial Hospital Inc. Project), Series 1992: 6.375% 2013 (Preref. 2002) 4,000 4,259 6.40% 2022 (Preref. 2002) 2,000 2,130 Marion County, Convention and Recreational Facs. 3,370 3,638 Auth., Excise Taxes Lease Rental Rev. Ref. Senior Bonds, Series 2001A, MBIA Insured, 5.50% 2015 Iowa - 0.99% Fin. Auth.: Econ. Dev. Rev. Bonds (Foundation for Affordable 1,500 1,587 Housing Project), Series 2000A, FNMA Insured, 5.65% 2033 (Put 2013) Hospital Rev. Bonds (Mercy Medical Center Project), Series 1999, FSA Insured: 5.50% 2011 1,420 1,554 5.60% 2012 1,375 1,504 Rev. and Ref. Bonds: Mercy Health Services Obligated Group, 1997 590 629 Series V, 5.00% 2010 (Escrowed to Maturity) Trinity Health Credit Group, Series 2000B, 5,000 5,482 AMBAC Insured, 6.00% 2027 Rev. Bonds (Catholic Health Initiatives), 3,000 3,197 Series 2000A, 6.00% 2018 Single Family Mortgage Bonds, 1997 Series F, 1,840 1,909 5.55% 2016 Polk County, Catholic Health Initiatives, Rev. Bonds, Series 1997A: 5.50% 2007 1,520 1,641 5.125% 2011 1,500 1,556 5.125% 2012 3,170 3,262 Kentucky - 1.32% Econ. Dev. Fin. Auth.: Health System Rev. Bonds (Norton Healthcare, Inc.), MBIA Insured: Series 2000, 6.50% 2020 8,500 8,952 Series 2000, 6.625% 2028 5,500 5,811 Series 2000A, 6.125% 2010 2,000 2,138 Hospital System Ref. and Improvement Rev. Bonds (Appalachian Regional Healthcare, Inc. Project), Series 1997: 5.20% 2004 1,540 1,457 5.60% 2008 630 561 5.60% 2009 3,305 2,878 5.70% 2010 490 422 5.75% 2011 2,190 1,856 5.85% 2017 2,000 1,572 City of Ashland, Pollution Control Ref. Rev. Bonds, 3,750 4,023 Series 1999 (Ashland Inc. Project), 5.70% 2009 Louisiana - 4.29% Health Education Auth. (Lambeth House Project): Rev. Bonds, Series 1996, 9.00% 2026 (Preref. 2006) 9,000 11,483 Rev. Ref. Bonds, Series 1998A: 5.50% 2010 5,505 5,091 6.15% 2018 2,000 1,777 6.20% 2028 3,950 3,395 Public Facs. Auth., Hospital Rev. Ref. Bonds (Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System Project), Series 1998A, FSA Insured: 5.75% 2014 3,495 3,923 5.75% 2015 3,825 4,286 5.75% 2018 4,000 4,433 Jefferson Parish Hospital Services: Dist. No. 1, Parish of Jefferson (West Jefferson Medical Center), Hospital Rev. Bonds, Series 1998A, FSA Insured: 5.25% 2011 2,070 2,220 5.25% 2012 1,930 2,055 Dist. No. 2, Parish of Jefferson, Hospital 2,000 2,164 Rev. Bonds, Series 1998, FSA Insured, 5.25% 2011 Lake Charles Harbor and Terminal Dist., Port 24,000 25,647 Facs. Rev. Ref. Bonds (Trunkline LNG Co. Project), Series 1992, 7.75% 2022 Local Government Environmental Facs. And 11,500 13,936 Community Dev. Auth., Rev. Bonds (Capital Projects and Equipment Acquisition Program), Series 2000A, AMBAC Insured, 6.30% 2030 Parish of West Feliciana, Pollution Control Rev. Bonds (Gulf States Utilities Co. Project): Gulf States Utilities Co. Project, Series 2,000 2,055 1985B, 9.00% 2015 Entergy Gulf States, Inc. Project, Series 13,500 14,019 1999A, 5.65% 2028 (Put 2004) Maine - 0.25% Health and Higher Educational Facs. Auth., Rev. Bonds, Piper Shores Issue, Series 1999A: 7.50% 2019 3,000 3,031 7.55% 2029 2,575 2,596 Maryland - 1.13% Community Dev. Administration, Dept. of Housing 5,815 6,167 and Community Dev., Single Family Program Bonds, 1997 First Series, 5.25% 2005 Health and Higher Educational Facs. Auth.: First Mortgage Rev. Bonds, PUMH of Maryland, 2,400 2,208 Inc. Issue (Heron Point of Chestertown), Series 1998A, 5.75% 2019 Rev. Bonds, Howard County General Hospital Issue, Series 1993 (Escrowed to Maturity): 5.50% 2013 2,000 2,133 5.50% 2021 1,225 1,282 Anne Arundel County, Special Obligation Bonds: Arundel Mills Project, Series 1999, 7.10% 2029 5,750 6,226 National Business Park Project, Series 2000, 1,000 1,089 7.375% 2028 Calvert County, Econ. Dev. Rev. Bonds 2,500 2,959 (Asbury-Solomons Island Fac.), Series 1995, 8.625% 2024 (Preref. 2005) Frederick County, Special Obligation Bonds 2,500 2,563 (Urbana Community Dev. Auth.), Series 1998, 6.625% 2025 Prince George's County, Hospital Rev. Bonds, 750 794 Dimensions Health Corp. Issue, Series 1992, 7.25% 2017 (Preref. 2002) Massachusetts - 0.89% Massachusetts Bay Transportation Auth., General 5,000 5,851 Transportation System Bonds, 1994 Series A Ref. Bonds, 7.00% 2007 Health and Educational Facs. Auth., Rev. Bonds, Partners HealthCare System Issue: Series B, 5.25% 2029 2,000 1,978 Series C: 6.00% 2015 1,335 1,469 6.00% 2016 1,520 1,662 5.75% 2032 2,000 2,065 Turnpike Auth., Metropolitan Highway System Rev. 5,500 5,368 Bonds, Series 1999A, AMBAC Insured, 5.00% 2039 The New England Loan Marketing Corp., Student 1,500 1,534 Loan Ref. Bonds, 1993 Series G, 5.20% 2002 Michigan - 4.49% Building Auth., 2001 Rev. Ref. Bonds, Series I 3,000 3,251 (Facs. Program), 5.50% 2016 Hospital Fin. Auth.: Hospital Rev. Bonds: The Detroit Medical Center Obligated Group, Series 1998A: 5.00% 2013 1,000 911 5.00% 2014 1,525 1,375 5.25% 2028 3,000 2,556 Henry Ford Health System, Series 1999A: 5.70% 2011 2,985 3,246 5.80% 2012 1,075 1,169 Hospital Rev. Ref. Bonds: Daughters of Charity, National Health System, 1,180 1,248 5.50% 2005 (Escrowed to Maturity) The Detroit Medical Center Obligated Group: Series 1993A, 6.375% 2009 2,000 2,046 Series 1993B, AMBAC Insured, 5.00% 2006 1,000 1,061 Genesys Health System Obligated Group, Series 1995A: 7.10% 2002 (Escrowed to Maturity) 285 299 7.20% 2003 (Escrowed to Maturity) 1,000 1,091 8.00% 2005 (Escrowed to Maturity) 8,880 10,512 8.10% 2013 (Preref. 2005) 5,000 6,026 8.125% 2021 (Preref. 2005) 4,500 5,428 7.50% 2027 (Preref. 2005) 4,520 5,265 Hackley Hospital Obligated Group, Series 1998A: 5.00% 2008 1,215 1,202 5.30% 2013 2,400 2,305 McLaren Obligated Group, Series 1993A, 2,985 3,044 5.375% 2013 Pontiac Osteopathic, Series 1994A: 5.375% 2006 850 844 6.00% 2014 2,545 2,465 6.00% 2024 4,775 4,328 Sinai Hospital of Greater Detroit, Series 1995: 6.00% 2008 2,000 1,994 6.625% 2016 3,190 3,235 Variable Rate Rev. Bonds (Ascension Health Credit Group): Series 1999B-3, 5.30% 2033 (Put 2006) 2,000 2,091 Series 1999B-4, 5.375% 2033 (Put 2007) 3,000 3,144 Housing Dev. Auth., Rental Housing Rev. Bonds, 1,600 1,657 1994 Series A, 6.20% 2003 Municipal Bond Auth., Public School Academy Facs. Program Rev. Bonds: Detroit Academy of Arts and Sciences Project, Series 2001A: 7.90% 2021 1,000 1,016 8.00% 2031 1,000 1,016 YMCA Service Learning Academy Project, 4,150 4,218 Series 2001, 7.75% 2031 Strategic Fund, Limited Obligation Ref. Rev. 1,000 1,046 Bonds (Detroit Edison Co. Pollution Control Bonds Project), Series 1995CC, AMBAC Insured, 4.85% 2030 (Put 2011) Trunk Line Fund Bonds, Series 2001A, 5.50% 2015 4,000 4,345 City of Detroit: G.O. Rev. Bonds (Unlimited Tax), Series 1995B: 7.00% 2004 2,500 2,718 6.25% 2008 1,730 1,862 6.25% 2009 1,195 1,280 6.25% 2010 1,250 1,334 Downtown Dev. Auth., Tax Increment Bonds (Dev. 2,900 3,320 Area No. 1 Projects), Series 1996C, 6.20% 2017 (Preref. 2006) School Dist. of the City of Detroit, Wayne County, 1,955 2,060 School Building and Site Improvement Ref. Bonds, Series 1998C, FGIC Insured, 5.25% 2025 City of Flint, Hospital Building Auth. (Hurley Medical Center): Rev. Ref. Bonds, Series 1998A, 5.25% 2016 1,250 1,160 Rev. Rental Bonds, Series 1998B, 5.375% 2028 1,000 876 City of Royal Oak, Hospital Fncg. Auth., Hospital 3,000 3,022 Rev. Ref. Bonds (William Beaumont Hospital), Series 1993G, 5.25% 2019 Minnesota - 0.26% Housing Fin. Agcy., Single Family Mortgage Bonds, 1,765 1,843 1994 Series E, 5.60% 2013 City of Minneapolis, G.O. Various Purpose Bonds, 4,000 4,025 Series 2000, 5.00% 2001 Mississippi - 0.38% Development Bank, Special Obligation Bonds (Capital 7,500 7,561 Projects and Equipment Acquisition Program), Series 2001A, AMBAC Insured, 5.00% 2031 Hospital Equipment and Facs. Auth., Rev. Bonds, 1,000 1,043 Series 2000 (Forrest County General Hospital Project), FSA Insured, 5.50% 2027 Nebraska - 0.01% City of Kearney, Industrial Dev. Rev. Bonds (The 2,750 330 Great Platte River Road Memorial Foundation Project), Series 1998, 6.75% 2028 Nevada - 2.41% Housing Division, Single Family Mortgage Bonds, 755 761 1999 Series A-1, 4.75% 2012 Clark County: G.O. (Limited Tax) Bond Banks Bonds, Series 2001, 3,000 3,238 FGIC Insured, 5.50% 2016 Special Improvement Dist. No. 121 (Southern Highlands Area), Local Improvement Bonds, Series 1999: 7.00% 2009 2,500 2,697 7.50% 2019 14,000 15,028 Special Improvement Dist. No. 132 (Summerlin 2,235 2,295 South Area (Villages 15A and 18)), Local Improvement Bonds, Series 2001, 6.75% 2021 City of Henderson: Health Fac. Rev. Bonds (Catholic Healthcare 7,000 6,105 West), 1998 Series A, 5.375% 2026 Local Improvement Dist. No. T-4C (Green Valley Properties), Limited Obligation Ref. Bonds, 1999 Series A: 5.65% 2009 1,495 1,540 5.75% 2013 3,990 3,954 5.90% 2018 2,990 2,934 City of Las Vegas: G.O. (Limited Tax) Sewer and Flood Control 2,855 3,063 Bonds, Series 2001, FGIC Insured, 5.375% 2015 Special Improvement Dist. No. 808 (Summerlin Area), Local Improvement Bonds, Series 2001: 6.375% 2014 2,080 2,139 6.75% 2021 4,500 4,622 Las Vegas Monorail Project Rev. Capital 3,545 2,485 Appreciation Bonds, 1st Tier Series 2000, AMBAC Insured, 0% 2010 Truckee Meadows Water Auth., Water Rev. Bonds, 3,105 3,340 Series 2001A, FSA Insured, 5.50% 2016 New Jersey - 2.00% Econ. Dev. Auth.: Econ. Dev. Bonds, Kapkowski Road Landfill Reclamation Improvement Dist. Project (City of Elizabeth), Series 1998A: 6.375% 2018 1,000 1,058 6.375% 2031 7,500 7,908 First Mortgage Rev. Fixed-Rate Bonds: Fellowship Village Project, Series 1995A, 7,000 8,434 9.25% 2025 (Preref. 2005) Winchester Gardens at Ward Homestead Project, Series 1996A: 8.50% 2016 4,000 4,296 8.625% 2025 3,500 3,762 First Mortgage Rev. Ref. Bonds (Fellowship Village Project), Series 1998A: 4.95% 2005 1,230 1,242 5.50% 2018 2,295 2,188 Tax-Exempt Term Bonds, 5.50% 2025 3,000 2,767 Retirement Community Rev. Bonds (Seabrook 6,000 6,288 Village, Inc. Fac.), Series 2000A, 8.25% 2030 Housing and Mortgage Fin. Agcy., Section 8 Bonds, 1991 Series A: 6.80% 2005 2,570 2,628 6.85% 2006 2,500 2,557 Gloucester County Improvement Auth., Solid 1,585 1,802 Waste Resource Recovery Rev. Ref. Bonds (Waste Management, Inc. Project), Series 1999A, 6.85% 2029 (Put 2009) New York - 5.82% Dormitory Auth.: Center for Nursing/Rehabilitation, Inc. Rev. 2,100 2,218 Bonds, FHA Insured, 5.45% 2017 City University System Consolidated Third 2,000 2,224 General Resolution Rev. Bonds, 1998 Series 2, AMBAC Insured, 5.50% 2008 Edgar Health Care Center (Nursing Home) 2,375 2,434 Rev. Bonds, FHA Insured, 4.90% 2013 Mental Health Services Facs. Improvement Rev. Bonds: Series 1997A, 6.00% 2007 1,750 1,984 Series 1997B: 6.00% 2007 2,490 2,823 6.00% 2007 (Preref. 2007) 10 12 5.60% 2008 1,300 1,445 Series 1998B: 5.375% 2009 1,270 1,397 5.00% 2010 1,495 1,606 5.00% 2010 1,530 1,644 Series 1998C, 5.00% 2010 1,760 1,891 Secured Hospital: Rev. Bonds (Interfaith Medical Center), 2,000 2,169 Series 1998D, 5.25% 2007 Rev. Ref. Bonds: Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center, Series 1998E, 8,520 8,963 MBIA Insured, 5.20% 2014 Brookdale Hospital, Series 1998J, 5.125% 2009 2,500 2,707 State University Educational Facs.: Rev. Bonds: Series 1990B, 7.50% 2011 1,160 1,399 Series 1990B, 7.50% 2011 (Preref. 2010) 560 713 Series 1997, 6.00% 2007 3,000 3,394 Rev. Ref. Bonds, Series 1990A, 7.50% 2013 3,500 4,546 St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, Mortgage 5,000 5,281 Hospital Rev. Bonds, Series 2000A, FHA Insured, 5.75% 2021 Housing Fin. Agcy.: Health Facs. Rev. Bonds (New York City), 1996 3,000 3,339 Series A Ref., 6.00% 2006 Service Contract Obligation Rev. Ref. Bonds, 1,750 1,891 Series 1997C, 5.20% 2010 Local Government Assistance Corp.: Series 1991C, Capital Appreciation Bonds, 0% 2005 5,000 4,482 Series 1991D: 7.00% 2011 (Preref. 2002) 2,000 2,093 6.75% 2021 (Preref. 2002) 1,350 1,411 State Medical Care Facs. Fin. Agcy.: Hospital Insured Mortgage Rev. Bonds, 1994 Series A Ref., FHA Insured: 5.10% 2010 2,095 2,185 5.25% 2014 5,000 5,238 Mental Health Services Facs. Improvement Rev. 1,000 1,009 Bonds, 1993 Series D, 5.25% 2023 St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, FHA Insured 12,215 13,047 Mortgage Rev. Bonds, 1993 Series A, 5.60% 2013 Urban Dev. Corp., Correctional Capital Facs. Rev. Bonds: Ref. Series 1993A, 5.30% 2005 1,800 1,924 Series 7, 5.25% 2009 1,375 1,495 Castle Rest Residential Health Care Fac., FHA 1,700 1,813 Insured Mortgage Rev. Bonds, Series 1997A, 5.60% 2017 City of New York: G.O. Bonds: Fiscal 1992 Series C, 6.50% 2004 (Preref. 2002) 470 494 Fiscal 1992 Series H, 6.875% 2002 155 158 Fiscal 1995 Series F: 6.60% 2010 (Preref. 2005) 2,000 2,262 6.625% 2025 (Preref. 2005) 1,500 1,698 Fiscal 1996 Series E, 6.50% 2006 3,000 3,391 Fiscal 1999 Series H, 5.00% 2029 3,000 2,976 Fiscal 2001 Series F: 5.00% 2010 1,500 1,617 5.25% 2011 6,260 6,866 Fiscal 2001 Series H, 5.25% 2016 3,510 3,703 Transitional Fin. Auth., Future Tax Secured Bonds: Fiscal 1998 Series A, 5.00% 2027 1,500 1,493 Fiscal 1998 Series B, 4.50% 2027 5,000 4,592 Fiscal 1998 Series C, 5.00% 2018 2,000 2,043 Fiscal 1999 Series B, 4.75% 2023 5,725 5,538 Fiscal 2001 Series C, 5.375% 2015 2,000 2,176 Suffolk County Industrial Dev. Agcy., Continuing 2,000 2,018 Care Retirement Community Rev. Bonds (Peconic Landing at Southhold, Inc. Project), Series 2000, 8.00% 2030 Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Auth., General 1,000 1,167 Purpose and Rev. Bonds, Series Y, 6.00% 2012 North Carolina - 2.59% Eastern Municipal Power Agcy., Power System Rev. Bonds: Ref. Series 1993B: 6.00% 2006 3,120 3,367 7.25% 2007 5,425 6,205 7.00% 2008 10,720 12,283 6.125% 2009 2,000 2,204 6.00% 2022 2,000 2,144 6.00% 2026 1,990 2,131 MBIA Insured, 6.00% 2026 2,500 2,902 Series 1993C, 5.00% 2021 2,300 2,154 Ref. Series 1999B: 5.55% 2014 1,800 1,865 5.60% 2015 2,500 2,582 5.65% 2016 2,000 2,060 5.70% 2017 4,775 4,909 Series 1999D, 6.75% 2026 3,500 3,856 Municipal Power Agcy. Number One (Catawba Electric Rev. Bonds): Series 1992, 6.25% 2017 2,000 2,082 Series 1999A, MBIA Insured, 6.00% 2008 3,935 4,422 County of Catawba, Hospital Ref. Rev. Bonds 1,000 1,044 (Catawba Memorial Hospital Project), Series 1999, AMBAC Insured, 4.60% 2010 County of New Hanover, Hospital Rev. Bonds 1,995 2,167 (New Hanover Regional Medical Center Project), Series 1999, MBIA Insured, 5.25% 2011 Ohio - 0.42% County of Knox, Hospital Facs. Ref. Rev. Bonds, 2,175 2,250 Series 1998 (Knox Community Hospital), Asset Guaranty Insured, 4.60% 2007 County of Lorain, Health Care Facs. Rev. Ref. 2,000 1,758 Bonds (Kendal at Oberlin), Series 1998A, 5.25% 2021 County of Montgomery, Hospital Facs. Rev. Bonds (Kettering Medical Center Network Obligated Group), Series 1999: 6.75% 2018 1,000 1,068 6.75% 2022 1,000 1,051 County of Richland, Hospital Facs. Rev. Improvement Bonds (MedCentral Health System Obligated Group), Series 2000B: 6.375% 2022 1,250 1,294 6.375% 2030 2,000 2,051 Oklahoma - 0.50% Health System Rev. Bonds, Baptist Medicine 2,500 2,764 Center of Oklahoma, Series 1995C, AMBAC Insured, 6.375% 2009 Industrial Auth., Health System Rev. Ref. 2,500 2,830 Bonds (Obligated Group consisting of INTEGRIS Baptist Medical Center, Inc., INTEGRIS South Oklahoma City Hospital Corp. and INTEGRIS Rural Health, Inc.), AMBAC Insured, 6.00% 2009 Industries Auth., Health Facs. Rev. Ref. Bonds 2,505 2,541 (Sisters of Mercy Health System, St. Louis, Inc.), Series 1993A, 5.00% 2013 Tulsa Industrial Auth., Hospital Rev. and Ref. 3,000 3,036 Bonds, St. John Medical Center Project, Series 1996, 5.375% 2017 Oregon - 0.94% City of Klamath Falls, Electric Rev. Ref. Bonds (Klamath Cogeneration Project), Series 1999: 5.75% 2013 7,000 6,953 5.875% 2016 3,500 3,465 6.00% 2025 11,000 10,729 Pennsylvania - 5.82% Convention Center Auth., Ref. Rev. Bonds, 8,240 8,591 1994 Series A, 6.25% 2004 Higher Educational Facs. Auth.: Rev. Bonds (Thomas Jefferson University), 1992 Series A: MBIA Insured, 6.625% 2009 375 396 6.625% 2009 (Preref. 2002) 875 926 UPMC Health System Rev. Bonds, Series 1999A, 2,000 2,148 FSA Insured, 5.00% 2009 Housing Fin. Agcy., Rental House Ref. Bonds, FNMA Insured: Issue 1992, 6.50% 2023 2,000 2,062 Issue 1993, 5.80% 2018 1,000 1,030 Housing Fin. Auth., Single Family Mortgage 1,000 1,033 Rev. Bonds, Series 1992-33, 6.85% 2009 Allegheny County, Cert. of Part. (ACJCT Fac. 2,150 2,165 Holdings L.P.), AMBAC Insured, 5.00% 2019 Allegheny County Hospital Dev. Auth.: Health System Rev. Bonds, Catholic Health East Issue, Series 1998A, AMBAC Insured: 5.50% 2008 1,000 1,099 5.00% 2010 2,705 2,880 UPMC Health System Rev. Ref. Bonds, Series 5,160 5,624 1999B, AMBAC Insured, 5.25% 2008 Port Auth. of Allegheny County, Special Rev. 1,000 1,093 Transportation Bonds, Ref. Series of 2001, FGIC Insured, 5.50% 2015 Chester County Health and Education Facs. Auth., 4,150 4,160 Health System Rev. Bonds (Jefferson Health System), Series 1997B, 5.375% 2027 Delaware County Auth., Rev. Bonds, Catholic 2,465 2,615 Health Systems, Series A, AMBAC Insured, 5.00% 2010 Lehigh County, General Purpose Auth. Rev. Bonds 1,500 1,633 (KidsPeace Obligated Group), 5.70% 2009 Montgomery County Industrial Dev. Auth.: Retirement Community Rev. Ref. Bonds (Adult 1,000 1,021 Communities Total Services, Inc. Obligated Group), Series 1996A, 5.875% 2022 Retirement Community Rev. Bonds (ACTS 17,500 16,618 Retirement-Life Communities, Inc. Obligated Group), Series 1998, 5.25% 2028 City of Philadelphia, G.O. Ref. Bonds, 3,300 3,238 Series 1998, FGIC Insured, 4.75% 2020 Hospitals and Higher Education Facs. Auth. of Philadelphia: The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Project, Rev. Bonds, Series A of 1992: 6.50% 2009 (Preref. 2002) 4,500 4,671 6.50% 2021 (Preref. 2002) 3,000 3,114 Frankford Hospital, Series A (Escrowed to Maturity): 6.00% 2014 3,705 3,932 6.00% 2023 4,000 4,150 Health System Rev. Bonds (Jefferson Health System), Series 1997A: 5.50% 2006 2,285 2,440 5.50% 2007 1,995 2,138 5.50% 2008 2,000 2,144 5.00% 2009 1,000 1,038 5.00% 2010 1,000 1,034 5.00% 2018 1,475 1,448 Temple University Hospital Rev. Bonds: Series of 1983, 6.625% 2023 2,000 2,000 Series of 1993A, 6.50% 2008 15,500 16,210 Series of 1997, 5.70% 2009 1,000 990 Philadelphia Auth. for Industrial Dev., Rev. 2,815 2,737 Bonds (Cathedral Village Project), Series of 1998, 5.50% 2010 City of Pottsville Hospital Auth., Hospital 8,500 9,614 Rev. Bonds (The Pottsville Hospital and Warne Clinic), Series of 1994, 7.25% 2024 (Preref. 2004) Scranton-Lackawanna Health and Welfare Auth., City of Scranton, Lackawanna County, Hospital Rev. Bonds (Moses Taylor Hospital Project), Series 1997: 6.05% 2010 1,000 923 6.15% 2012 2,245 2,027 6.15% 2014 3,000 2,627 6.20% 2017 3,000 2,560 Westmoreland County, Health Care Fac. Rev. Bonds 6,500 6,738 (Redstone Presbyterian SeniorCare Obligated Group), Fixed Rate Rev. Bonds, Series 2000B, 8.125% 2030 Rhode Island - 0.44% Depositors Econ. Protection Corp., Special Obligation Bonds, 1993 Series A: MBIA Insured, 5.75% 2012 4,850 5,546 5.75% 2021 2,715 3,060 5.75% 2021 (Escrowed to Maturity) 1,210 1,364 South Carolina - 1.53% Florence County, Hospital Rev. Bonds, 2,785 3,035 McLeod Regional Medical Center Project, MBIA Insured, Series 1998A, 5.25% 2010 Lexington County Health Services Dist. Inc., Hospital Rev. Ref. and Improvement Bonds, Series 1997, FSA Insured: 5.50% 2007 2,000 2,210 5.00% 2009 1,000 1,075 5.125% 2021 2,000 2,023 Piedmont Municipal Power Agcy., Electric Rev. Bonds: 1991 Ref. Series, FGIC Insured, 6.25% 2021 4,640 5,471 1999A Ref. Series, 5.25% 2015 8,420 8,035 Tobacco Settlement Rev. Management Auth., 12,000 12,653 Tobacco Settlement Asset-Backed Bonds, Series 2001B, 6.00% 2022 South Dakota - 0.71% Building Auth., Rev. Capital Appreciation Bonds, 3,780 2,027 Series 1996A, AMBAC Insured, 0% 2014 Health and Educational Facs. Auth., Rev. Ref. Bonds, Series 1999 (Rapid City Regional Hospital Issue), MBIA Insured: 5.00% 2007 2,045 2,190 5.00% 2009 4,010 4,251 5.00% 2010 4,175 4,398 Housing Dev. Auth., Homeownership Mortgage Bonds, 3,000 3,136 1995 Series A, 5.80% 2014 Tennessee - 0.95% Health and Educational Facs. Board of the 6,600 7,805 Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, Rev. Bonds (Blakeford Project), Series 1994A, 9.25% 2024 (Preref. 2004) Memphis-Shelby County Airport Auth., Special 13,100 13,594 Facs. Rev. Bonds, Ref. Series 1992 (Federal Express Corp.), 6.75% 2012 Texas - 8.96% Public Fin. Auth., G.O. Ref. Bonds, Series 2,540 2,705 2001A, 5.375% 2016 City of Austin (Travis and Williamson Counties), 6,800 7,476 Water and Wastewater System Rev. Ref. Bonds, Series 2001B, FSA Insured, 5.75% 2016 Bell County Health Facs. Dev. Corp., Retirement Fac. Rev. Bonds (Buckner Retirement Services, Inc. Obligated Group Project), Series 1998: 5.25% 2009 1,620 1,683 5.00% 2010 1,705 1,733 5.25% 2028 9,400 8,914 Brazos River Auth., Rev. Ref. Bonds (Houston 3,360 3,437 Industries Incorporated Project), MBIA Insured, 4.90% 2015 Industrial Dev. Corp. of Port of Corpus 10,300 10,107 Christi, Rev. Ref. Bonds (Valero Refining and Marketing Co. Project), Series C, 5.40% 2018 Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School Dist. 6,675 3,938 (Harris County), Unlimited Tax Ref. Bonds, Capital Appreciation Bonds, Series 1993A, 0% 2013 Dallas County, Unlimited Tax Ref. And Improvement Bonds, G.O. Ref. Bonds, Series 2001A: 5.375% 2013 2,465 2,691 5.375% 2015 3,725 4,017 DeSoto Independent School Dist. (Dallas County), Unlimited Tax School Building and Ref. Bonds, Series 2001 Capital Appreciation Bonds: 0% 2018 2,835 1,207 0% 2019 3,335 1,336 0% 2020 3,335 1,258 Eanes Independent School Dist. (Travis County), Unlimited Tax School Building Bonds, Series 2001: 5.50% 2014 2,050 2,241 5.50% 2015 2,150 2,332 5.50% 2016 1,125 1,212 El Paso Independent School Dist. (El Paso County), 3,420 3,399 Unlimited Tax Ref. Bonds, Series 1999, 4.75% 2018 Garland Independent School Dist. (Dallas County), Unlimited Tax Ref. and School Building Bonds, Series 2001: 5.50% 2013 2,170 2,351 5.50% 2015 2,420 2,591 Harris County Health Facs. Dev. Corp.: Hospital Rev. Bonds (Memorial Hermann Hospital System Project): Series 1998, FSA Insured: 5.25% 2008 1,890 2,036 5.50% 2011 5,000 5,459 5.50% 2015 10,325 11,214 Series 2001A, 6.375% 2029 13,900 14,893 Rev. Bonds (CHRISTUS Health), Series 1999A, MBIA 3,380 3,630 Insured, 5.50% 2010 Rev. Bonds (St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital), Series 2001A: 5.625% 2014 1,000 1,068 5.625% 2015 2,500 2,648 5.625% 2016 2,700 2,839 5.625% 2018 2,000 2,080 5.50% 2020 4,000 4,084 5.50% 2021 5,740 5,852 Hidalgo County Health Services Corp., Hospital Rev. Bonds (Mission Hospital, Inc. Project), Series 1996: 7.00% 2008 1,000 1,029 6.75% 2016 1,740 1,670 City of Houston, Water and Sewer System, Junior Lien 3,000 1,184 Rev. Ref. Bonds, Series 1998A, FSA Insured, 0% 2019 Jefferson County, Health Facs. Dev. Corp., Baptist 4,000 4,039 Hospitals of Southeast Texas, FHA Insured Mortgage Rev. Bonds, Series 2001, AMBAC Insured, 5.20% 2021 Katy Independent School Dist. (Fort Ben, Harris and Waller Counties), Limited Tax Ref. Bonds, Series 2001: 5.50% 2015 1,290 1,395 5.50% 2016 1,805 1,939 Keller Independent School Dist. (Tarrant County), 6,040 3,690 Unlimited Tax School Building and Ref. Capital Appreciation Bonds, Series 2001, 0% 2012 Lewisville Independent School Dist. (Denton County), 2,000 2,156 Unlimited Tax School Building and Ref. Bonds, Series 2001, 5.50% 2015 Mansfield Independent School Dist. (Tarrant and 2,635 2,825 Johnson Counties), Unlimited Tax School Building and Ref. Bonds, Series 2001, 5.50% 2016 Midway Independent School Dist. (McLennan County), 5,000 2,007 Unlimited Tax School Building and Ref. Bonds, Capital Appreciation, Series 2000, 0% 2019 Northeast Medical Clinic, Hospital Auth., County 1,000 1,168 of Humble, Rev. Bonds, FSA Insured, 6.25% 2012 Northside Independent School Dist., Unlimited Tax 4,000 4,358 School Building and Ref. Bonds, Series 2001, 5.50% 2014 Round Rock Independent School Dist. (Williamson and Travis Counties), Unlimited Tax School Building Bonds, Series 2001-A: 5.50% 2015 2,000 2,169 5.50% 2016 2,500 2,693 City of San Antonio, Electric and Gas Systems Rev. Ref. Bonds, New Series 1998A: 5.25% 2015 5,075 5,312 4.50% 2021 6,205 5,833 San Antonio Independent School Dist.: Unlimited Tax Ref. Bonds, Series 2001B: 5.375% 2013 4,260 4,633 5.375% 2015 4,390 4,701 Unlimited Tax School Building Bonds, Series 2001A: 5.375% 2015 1,515 1,622 5.375% 2016 1,705 1,812 Spring Branch Independent School Dist. (Harris County), Limited Tax Schoolhouse and Ref. Bonds, Series 2001: 5.375% 2015 3,875 4,137 5.375% 2016 3,070 3,254 Tarrant County Health Facs. Dev. Corp., Texas Health Resources System Rev. Bonds, Series 1997A, MBIA Insured: 5.50% 2007 4,000 4,274 5.75% 2015 3,000 3,226 Tomball Hospital Auth., Rev. Ref. Bonds, 5,250 4,969 Series 1993, 6.125% 2023 Board of Regents of the University of Texas 3,750 3,949 System, Rev. Fncg. System Bonds, Series 1996B, 5.00% 2011 Weatherford Independent School Dist. (Parker County), 2,625 1,148 Unlimited Tax School Building and Ref. Bonds, Capital Appreciation, Series 2000, 0% 2018 Utah - 0.99% Housing Fin. Agcy., Single Family Mortgage Bonds, 360 367 1995 Issue E (Federally Insured or Guaranteed Mortgage Loans), 5.50% 2024 Alpine School Dist., Utah County, G.O. School Building Bonds (Utah School Bond Guaranty Program), Series 2001A: 5.25% 2015 3,000 3,189 5.25% 2016 4,225 4,459 Salt Lake County, G.O. Ref. Bonds, Series 2001: 5.25% 2011 5,000 5,529 5.00% 2012 8,130 8,735 Vermont - 0.11% Educational and Health Buildings Fncg. Agcy., 2,250 2,381 Hospital Rev. Bonds (Medical Center Hospital of Vermont Project), Series 1993, FGIC Insured, 5.75% 2007 Virginia - 1.57% Dulles Town Center Community Dev. Auth. (Loudoun 2,500 2,502 County), Special Assessment Bonds (Dulles Town Center Project), Series 1998, 6.25% 2026 Fairfax County: Econ. Dev. Auth., Retirement Community Rev. 15,500 16,303 Bonds (Greenspring Village, Inc. Fac.), Series 1999A, 7.50% 2029 Industrial Dev. Auth., Hospital Rev. Ref. Bonds (Inova Health Systems Hospital Project), Series 1993A: 5.00% 2011 1,300 1,384 5.00% 2023 1,200 1,218 Gateway Community Dev. Auth. (Prince William 2,130 2,135 County), Special Assessment Bonds, Series 1999, 6.25% 2026 Industrial Dev. Auth., Hanover County, Hospital 1,000 1,175 Rev. Bonds (Memorial Regional Medical Center Project at Hanover Medical Park), Series 1995, MBIA Insured, 6.50% 2009 Heritage Hunt Commercial Community Dev. Auth. (Prince William County), Special Assessment Bonds: Series 1999A, 6.85% 2019 3,399 3,565 Series 1999B, 7.00% 2029 1,000 1,056 Peninsula Ports Auth. Health System Rev. Ref. Bonds 1,000 1,060 (Riverside Health System Project), Series 1998, MBIA Insured, 5.00% 2010 Pocahontas Parkway Association, Route 895 Connector 5,000 4,840 Toll Road Rev. Bonds, Series 1998A, 5.25% 2008 Washington - 6.69% G.O. Bonds: Series B, 5.50% 2010 2,000 2,215 Series 2001C, 5.00% 2010 7,310 7,815 Health Care Facs. Auth., Rev. Bonds, Series 2001A (Providence Health System), MBIA Insured: 5.50% 2011 6,565 7,224 5.625% 2014 3,000 3,262 5.625% 2015 8,635 9,368 Public Power Supply System: Nuclear Project No. 1 Ref. Rev. Bonds, Series 5,000 5,169 1997B, 5.125% 2014 Nuclear Project No. 2 Ref. Rev. Bonds: Series 1993B, FSA Insured, 5.65% 2008 3,030 3,358 Series 1994A, 6.00% 2007 19,900 22,198 Nuclear Project No. 3 Ref. Rev. Bonds: Series 1989A, MBIA Insured, 0% 2013 4,000 2,316 Series 1989B, 7.125% 2016 5,250 6,618 Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Auth., Sales Tax and Motor Vehicle Excise Tax Bonds, Series 1999, FGIC Insured: 5.25% 2021 5,500 5,785 4.75% 2028 21,940 20,632 Public Utility Dist. No. 1 of Chelan County, 11,345 4,606 Columbia River-Rock Island Hydro-Electric System Rev. Ref. Capital Appreciation Bonds, Series 1997A, MBIA Insured, 0% 2019 Energy Northwest, Columbia Generating Station Ref. Electric Rev. Bonds, Series 2001-A, FSA Insured: 5.50% 2016 13,000 14,029 5.50% 2017 5,000 5,365 City of Seattle: Limited Tax G.O. Bonds, Series 2001 (Various Purposes): 5.00% 2013 3,835 4,048 5.00% 2014 4,040 4,228 5.25% 2015 4,255 4,520 5.375% 2016 2,000 2,135 5.375% 2017 4,440 4,707 Municipal Light and Power: Improvements and Ref. Rev. Bonds, Series 2001, 5,000 5,357 FSA Insured, 5.50% 2016 Ref. Rev. Bonds, 1998 Series A, 5.00% 2016 3,410 3,439 Rev. Anticipation Notes, Series 2001, 4.50% 2003 2,000 2,054 Wisconsin - 1.58% G.O. Bonds of 1999, Series A, 5.00% 2012 3,390 3,569 G.O. Ref. Bonds of 1998, Series 1, 5.50% 2010 3,225 3,597 Health and Educational Facs. Auth., Rev. Bonds: Children's Hospital Project, Series 1993, FGIC 2,000 2,180 Insured, 5.50% 2006 Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Inc., Series 1998, 1,130 1,257 AMBAC Insured, 5.625% 2015 Medical College of Wisconsin, Series 1993, 5.95% 2015 3,000 3,102 The Monroe Clinic, Inc.: Series 1998: 4.80% 2010 1,110 1,114 4.90% 2011 1,165 1,173 Series 1999: 5.125% 2016 1,000 983 5.375% 2022 2,000 1,966 Housing and Econ. Dev. Auth.: Home Ownership Rev. Bonds, 1998 Series A, 5.375% 2017 1,510 1,549 Housing Rev. Bonds, 1992 Series A, 6.40% 2003 3,480 3,583 Pollution Control and Industrial Dev. Rev. Bonds 3,650 3,956 (General Motors Corp. Projects), City of Janesville, Series 1984, 5.55% 2009 City of Superior, Limited Obligation Ref. Rev. 6,000 7,562 Bonds (Midwest Energy Resources Co. Project), Series E-1991 (Collateralized), FGIC Insured, 6.90% 2021 2,112,979 Principal Market Amount Value Short-Term Securities - 5.73% (000) (000) Beaver County, Pennsylvania, Industrial Dev. Auth., 1,800 1,800 Pollution Control Rev. Ref. Bonds (Atlantic Richfield Co. Projects), Series 1995, 2.05% 2020 (2) City of Chicago, Illinois, Chicago-O'Hare International 1,200 1,200 Airport, Special Fac. Rev. Bonds (American Airlines, Inc. Project), Series 1983D, 2.55% 2017 (2) City of Columbia, Missouri, Special Obligation 3,400 3,400 Insurance Reserve Bonds, Series 1998A, 2.05% 2008 (2) City of Columbus, Ohio, G.O. Bonds, Sewer Improvement 1,000 1,002 No. 26 (E-U) Bonds, 6.50% 9/15/2001 City of Detroit, Michigan, Sewage Disposal System 2,700 2,700 Rev. Ref. Bonds, Series 1998-A, MBIA Insured , 2.00% 2023 (2) City of Hammond, Indiana, Pollution Control Rev. 1,620 1,620 Ref. Bonds (Amoco Oil Co. Project), Series 1994, 2.50% 2022 (2) Harrison County, Mississippi, Pollution Control Rev. 1,500 1,500 Ref. Bonds (E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company Project), Series 1990, 2.55% 2010 (2) City of Houston, Texas, Tax and Rev. Anticipation 15,000 15,128 Notes, Series 2001, 3.50% 6/28/2002 City of Huntsville, Alabama, G.O. Ref. Warrants, 1,410 1,413 Series 1998-B, 4.00% 11/1/2001 Jackson County, Mississippi, Pollution Control 3,800 3,800 Ref. Rev. Bonds (Chevron U.S.A. Inc. Project), Series 1992, 2.50% 2016 (2) State of Kentucky, Asset/Liability Commission, 15,000 15,187 General Fund Tax and Rev. Anticipation Notes, 2001 Series A, 4.00% 6/26/2002 King County, Washington, Unlimited Tax G.O. Ref. 3,000 3,071 Bonds, 1993 Series C, 5.625% 6/1/2002 County of Los Angeles, California, 2001-2002 Tax 2,500 2,528 and Rev. Anticipation Notes, Series A, 3.75% 6/28/2002 Lower Neches Valley Auth., Industrial Dev. Corp. 6,775 6,775 (Texas), Exempt Facs. Ref. Rev. Bonds (ExxonMobil Project), Series 2001, Subseries 2001A, 2.50% 2031 (2) Maricopa County, Arizona Pollution Control Corp., 1,800 1,800 Pollution Control Rev. Ref. Bonds (Arizona Public Service Co. Palo Verde Project), 1994 Series A-F, 2.45% 2029 (2) Maryland Health and Higher Educational Facs. Auth., 8,190 8,190 Pooled Loan Program Rev. Bonds, Series 1994 D, 2.05% 2029 (2) The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, G.O. Bond 5,000 5,000 Anticipation Notes, 2000 Series A, 5.00% 9/6/2001 State of New Mexico, 01-02 Tax and Rev. 11,000 11,138 Anticipation Notes, Series 2001, 4.00% 6/28/2002 North Carolina Medical Care Commission, Variable Rate Hospital Rev. Bonds: (2) Pooled Fncg. Project, Series 1996A, 2.55% 2016 1,000 1,000 Lexington Memorial Hospital Project, Series 1997, 1,300 1,300 2.55% 2010 Ohio Air Quality Dev. Auth., Air Quality Dev. Rev. 1,900 1,900 Ref. Bonds (The Cincinnati Gas and Electric Compay Project), 1995 Series A, 2.55% 2030 (2) Industrial Dev. Auth. of the City of Phoenix, Arizona, 4,050 4,050 Multifamily Housing Rev. Ref. Bonds (Del Mar Terrace Apartments Project), Series 1999A, FHLMC Secured, 2.00% 2029 (2) City of Princeton, Indiana, Pollution Control Rev. 1,500 1,500 Ref. Bonds, 1996 Series (PSI Energy, Inc. Project), 2.55% 2019 (2) City of San Antonio, Texas, Water System Commercial 6,000 6,000 Paper Notes, Series A, 2.30% 10/3/2001 State of Texas, Tax and Rev. Anticipation Notes, 10,000 10,128 Series 2001A, 3.75% 8/29/2002 Uinta County, Wyoming, Pollution Control Ref. Rev. 2,100 2,100 Bonds (Chevron U.S.A. Inc. Project), Series 1993, 2.50% 2020 (2) Industrial Dev. Auth. of the City of Waynesboro, 2,600 2,600 Virginia, Variable Rate Residential Care Facs. Rev. Bonds (Sunnyside Presbyterian Home), Series 1997, 2.55% 2028 (2) State of Wyoming, General Fund Tax and Rev. 11,000 11,093 Anticipation Notes, Series 2001A, 3.50% 6/27/2002 128,923 TOTAL INVESTMENT SECURITIES (cost: $2,121,305,000) 2,241,902 Excess of cash and receivables over payables 8,591 NET ASSETS $2,250,493 (1) Purchased in a private placement transaction; resale may be limited to qualified institutional buyers; resale to the public may require registration. (2) Coupon rate changes periodically; the date of the next scheduled coupon rate change is considered to be the maturity date. See Notes to Financial Statements Key to Abbreviations Agcy. = Agency Auth. = Authority Cert. of Part. = Certificates of Participation Dept. = Department Dev. = Development Dist. = District Econ. = Economic Fac. = Facility Facs. = Facilities Fin. = Finance Fncg. = Financing G.O. = General Obligation Preref. = Prerefunded Redev. = Redevelopment Ref. = Refunding Rev. = Revenue [Download Table] The Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America Financial statements Statement of assets and liabilities at August 31, 2001 (dollars in thousands) Assets: Investment securities at market (cost: $2,121,305) $2,241,902 Cash 1,941 Receivables for - Sales of investments $1,448 Sales of fund's shares 8,489 Interest 28,606 Other 4 38,547 2,282,390 Liabilities: Payables for - Purchases of investments 24,314 Repurchases of fund's shares 2,317 Dividends on fund's shares 3,372 Management services 625 Other expenses 1,269 31,897 Net assets at August 31, 2001 $2,250,493 Total authorized capital stock - 500,000,000 shares, $.001 par value Class A shares: Net assets $2,202,158 Shares outstanding 177,895,320 Net asset value per share $12.38 Class B shares: Net assets $26,010 Shares outstanding 2,101,370 Net asset value per share $12.38 Class C shares: Net assets $15,009 Shares outstanding 1,212,460 Net asset value per share $12.38 Class F shares: Net assets $7,316 Shares outstanding 591,080 Net asset value per share $12.38 Statement of operations for the year ended August 31, 2001 (dollars in thousands) Investment income: Income: Interest $112,024 Expenses: Management services fee $6,893 Distribution expenses - Class A 4,915 Distribution expenses - Class B 118 Distribution expenses - Class C 27 Distribution expenses - Class F 4 Transfer agent fee - Class A 489 Transfer agent fee - Class B 3 Administrative services fees - Class C 6 Administrative services fees - Class F 3 Reports to shareholders 116 Registration statement and prospectus 282 Postage, stationery and supplies 99 Directors' fees 18 Auditing and legal fees 46 Custodian fee 37 Taxes other than federal income tax 31 Other 20 13,107 Net investment income 98,917 Realized gain and unrealized appreciation on investments: Net realized gain 9,185 Net unrealized appreciation on investments 88,080 Net realized gain and unrealized appreciation on investments 97,265 Net increase in net assets resulting from operations $196,182 Statement of changes in net assets (dollars in thousands) Year ended August 31 2001 2000 Operations: Net investment income $98,917 $95,126 Net realized gain(loss) on investments 9,185 (2,279) Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments 88,080 (1,685) Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations 196,182 91,162 Dividends and distributions paid to shareholders: Dividends from net investment income: Class A (98,662) (94,620) Class B (489) (32) Class C (104) - Class F (68) - Distributions from net realized gain on investments: Class A - (6,722) Total dividends and distributions (99,323) (101,374) Capital share transactions: Proceeds from shares sold 604,544 353,333 Proceeds from shares issued in reinvestment of net investment income dividends and distributions of net realized 61,486 64,719 gain on investments Cost of shares repurchased (346,414) (490,988) Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from capital share transactions 319,616 (72,936) Total increase (decrease) in net assets 416,475 (83,148) Net assets: Beginning of year 1,834,018 1,917,166 End of year (including distributions in excess of net investment income and undistributed net investment income: $18 and $36, respectively) $2,250,493 $1,834,018 See Notes to Financial Statements The Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America Notes to financial statements 1. ORGANIZATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES ORGANIZATION - The Tax-Exempt Bond Fund 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 a high level of federally tax-free current income, consistent with the preservation of capital, through a diversified portfolio of municipal bonds. The fund offers four classes of shares as described below: Class A shares are sold with an initial sales charge of up to 3.75%. Class B shares are sold without an initial sales charge but are subject to a contingent deferred sales charge ("CDSC") paid upon redemption. This charge declines from 5% to zero over a period of six years. Class B shares automatically convert to Class A shares after eight years. Class C shares are sold without an initial sales charge but are subject to a CDSC of 1% for redemptions within one year of purchase. Class C shares automatically convert to Class F shares after ten years. Class F shares, which are sold exclusively through fee-based programs, are sold without an initial sales charge or CDSC. Holders of all classes of shares have equal pro rata rights to assets, dividends, liquidation and other rights. Each class has identical voting rights, except for exclusive rights to vote on matters affecting only its class. Each class of shares may have different distribution, administrative services and transfer agent fees and expenses. Differences in class-specific expenses will result in the payment of different per-share dividends by each class. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - The financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These principles require management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The following is a summary of the significant accounting policies consistently followed by the fund in the preparation of its financial statements: SECURITY VALUATION - Fixed-income securities are valued at prices obtained from a pricing service, when such prices are available; however, in circumstances where the investment adviser deems it appropriate to do so, such securities will be valued at the mean quoted bid and asked prices or at prices for securities of comparable maturity, quality and type. Short-term securities maturing within 60 days are valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value. The ability of the issuers of the debt securities held by the fund to meet their obligations may be affected by economic developments in a specific industry, state or region. Securities and assets for which representative market quotations are not readily available are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by a committee appointed by the fund's Board of Directors. SECURITY TRANSACTIONS AND RELATED INVESTMENT INCOME - Security transactions are accounted for as of the trade date. Realized gains and losses from securities transactions are determined based on specific identified cost. In the event securities are purchased on a delayed delivery or when-issued basis, the fund will instruct the custodian to segregate liquid assets sufficient to meet its payment obligations in these transactions. Interest income is recognized on an accrual basis. Premiums and original issue discounts on securities are amortized daily over the expected life of the security. Amortization of market discounts on securities is recognized upon disposition. On September 1, 2001, the fund will begin amortizing discounts daily over the expected life of fixed-income securities to conform with a recent change in generally accepted accounting principles for mutual funds. Adopting this change will not impact the fund's net asset value but will result in changes to the classification of certain amounts between interest income and realized and unrealized gain/loss in the Statement of Operations. These adjustments will be based on the fixed-income securities held by the fund on September 1, 2001. Because the fund determines its required distributions under federal income tax laws, adoption of this principle will not affect the amount of distributions paid to shareholders. DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS - Dividends to shareholders are declared daily after the determination of the fund's net investment income and are paid to shareholders monthly. Distributions paid to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Class allocations - Income, expenses (other than class-specific expenses) and realized and unrealized gains and losses are allocated daily among the various share classes based on their relative net asset values. Distribution expenses, administrative services fees, certain transfer agent fees and other applicable class-specific expenses are accrued daily and charged to the respective share class. 2. FEDERAL INCOME TAXATION The fund complies with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies and intends to distribute all of its net taxable income and net capital gains for the fiscal year. As a regulated investment company, the fund is not subject to income taxes if such distributions are made. Required distributions are based on net investment income and net realized gains determined on a tax basis and may differ from such amounts for financial reporting purposes. In addition, the fiscal year in which amounts are distributed may differ from the year in which the net investment income is earned and the net gains are realized by the fund. As of August 31, 2001, the cost of investment securities for book and federal income tax reporting purposes was $2,121,305,000. Net unrealized appreciation on investments aggregated $120,597,000; $133,371,000 related to appreciated securities and $12,774,000 related to depreciated securities. For the year ended August 31, 2001, the fund realized tax basis net capital gains of $8,627,000. For the year ended August 31, 2001, the fund utilized the remaining capital loss carryforward totaling $1,792,000 to offset, for tax purposes, capital gains realized during the year up to such amount. In addition, the fund has recognized, for tax purposes, capital losses totaling $917,000 which were realized during the period November 1, 1999 through August 31, 2000. 3. FEES AND TRANSACTIONS WITH RELATED PARTIES INVESTMENT ADVISORY FEE - The fee of $6,893,000 for management services was incurred 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 a series of rates beginning with 0.30% per annum of the first $60 million of daily net assets decreasing to 0.16% of such assets in excess of $3 billion. The agreement also provides for monthly fees, accrued daily, based on a series of rates beginning with 3.00% per annum of the first $3,333,333 of the fund's monthly gross investment income decreasing to 2.25% of such income in excess of $8,333,333. For the year ended August 31, 2001, the management services fee was equivalent to an annualized rate of 0.347% of average daily net assets. DISTRIBUTION EXPENSES - The fund has adopted plans of distribution under which it may finance activities primarily intended to sell fund shares, provided the categories of expenses are approved in advance by the fund's Board of Directors. The plans provide for annual expenses, based on average daily net assets, of up to 0.25% for Class A shares, 1.00% for Class B and Class C shares, and up to 0.50% for Class F shares. All share classes may use up to 0.25% of these expenses to pay service fees, or to compensate American Funds Distributors, Inc.("AFD"), the principal underwriter of the fund's shares, for paying service fees to firms that have entered into agreements with AFD for providing certain shareholder services. The balance may be used for approved distribution expenses as follows: CLASS A SHARES - Approved categories of expense include reimbursements to AFD for commissions paid to dealers and wholesalers in respect of certain shares sold without a sales charge. Those reimbursements are permitted for amounts billed to the fund within the prior 15 months but only to the extent that the overall 0.25% annual expense limit for Class A shares is not exceeded. For the year ended August 31, 2001, aggregate distribution expenses were limited to $4,915,000, or 0.25% of average daily net assets attributable to Class A shares. As of August 31, 2001, unreimbursed expenses which remain subject to reimbursement totaled $2,322,000. CLASS B SHARES - In addition to service fees of 0.25%, approved categories of expense include fees of 0.75% per annum of average daily net assets attributable to Class B shares payable to AFD. AFD sells the rights to receive such payments (as well as any contingent deferred sales charges payable in respect of shares sold during the period) in order to finance the payment of dealer commissions. For the year ended August 31, 2001, aggregate distribution expenses were $118,000, or 1.00% of average daily net assets attributable to Class B shares. CLASS C SHARES - In addition to service fees of 0.25%, the Board of Directors has approved the payment of 0.75% per annum of average daily net assets attributable to Class C shares to AFD to compensate firms selling Class C shares of the fund. For the period ended August 31, 2001, aggregate distribution expenses were $27,000, or 1.00% of average daily net assets attributable to Class C shares. CLASS F SHARES - The plan has an expense limit of 0.50%. However, the Board of Directors has presently approved expenses under the plan of 0.25% per annum of average daily net assets attributable to Class F shares. For the period ended August 31, 2001, aggregate distribution expenses were $4,000, or 0.25% of average daily net assets attributable to Class F shares. As of August 31, 2001, aggregate distribution expenses payable to AFD for all share classes were $1,031,000. AFD received $947,000 (after allowances to dealers) as its portion of the sales charges paid by purchasers of the fund's Class A shares for the year ended August 31, 2001. Such sales charges are not an expense of the fund and, hence, are not reflected in the accompanying Statement of Operations. TRANSFER AGENT FEE - A fee of $492,000 was incurred during the year ended August 31, 2001, pursuant to an agreement with American Funds Service Company ("AFS"), the transfer agent for the fund. As of August 31, 2001, aggregate transfer agent fees payable to AFS for Class A and Class B shares were $48,000. ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES FEES - The fund has an administrative services agreement with CRMC for Class C and Class F shares. Pursuant to this agreement, CRMC provides transfer agency and other related shareholder services. CRMC may contract with third parties to perform these services. Under the agreement, the fund pays CRMC a fee equal to 0.15% per annum of average daily net assets of Class C and Class F shares, plus amounts payable for certain transfer agency services according to a specified schedule. For the period ended August 31, 2001, total fees under the agreement were $9,000. As of August 31, 2001, aggregate administrative services fees payable to CRMC for Class C and Class F shares were $3,000. DEFERRED DIRECTORS' FEES - Since the adoption of the deferred compensation plan in 1993, Directors who are unaffiliated with CRMC may elect to defer the receipt of part or all of their compensation. Deferred compensation amounts, which remain in the fund, are treated as if invested in shares of the fund or other American Funds. These amounts represent general, unsecured liabilities of the fund and vary according to the total returns of the selected funds. As of August 31, 2001, the cumulative amount of these liabilities was $55,000. Directors' fees on the Statement of Operations include the current fees (either paid in cash or deferred) and the net increase or decrease in the value of deferred compensation. AFFILIATED DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS - CRMC is owned by The Capital Group Companies, Inc. AFS and AFD are both wholly owned subsidiaries of CRMC. Officers of the fund and certain Directors are or may be considered to be affiliated with CRMC, AFS and AFD. No such persons received any remuneration directly from the fund. 4. INVESTMENT TRANSACTIONS AND OTHER DISCLOSURES The fund made purchases and sales of investment securities, excluding short-term securities, of $676,756,000 and $392,114,000, respectively, during the year ended August 31, 2001. Pursuant to the custodian agreement, the fund receives credits against its custodian fee for imputed interest on certain balances with the custodian bank. For the year ended August 31, 2001, the custodian fee of $37,000 includes $13,000 that was paid by these credits rather than in cash. For the year ended August 31, 2001, the fund reclassified $352,000 from undistributed net realized gains to undistributed net investment income to reflect permanent differences between book and tax reporting. As of August 31, 2001, net assets consisted of the following: [Download Table] (dollars in thousands) Capital paid in on shares of capital stock $2,123,438 Distributions in excess of net investment income (18) Undistributed net realized gain 6,476 Net unrealized appreciation 120,597 Net assets $2,250,493 Capital share transactions in the fund were as follows: [Enlarge/Download Table] Year ended August 31, Year ended August 31, Amount 2001 Amount 2000 (000) Shares (000) Shares Class A Shares: Sold $550,783 45,771,317 $349,973 30,217,094 Reinvestment of dividends and distributions 61,021 5,082,782 64,695 5,585,672 Repurchased (335,993) (28,026,829) (490,875) (42,438,287) Net increase (decrease) in Class A 275,811 22,827,270 (76,207) (6,635,521) Class B Shares: (1) Sold 23,399 1,941,478 3,360 290,305 Reinvestment of dividends and distributions 340 28,097 24 2,086 Repurchased (1,814) (150,785) (113) (9,811) Net increase in Class B 21,925 1,818,790 3,271 282,580 Class C Shares: (2) Sold 14,787 1,217,593 - - Reinvestment of dividends and distributions 74 6,059 - - Repurchased (136) (11,192) - - Net increase in Class C 14,725 1,212,460 - - Class F Shares: (2) Sold 15,575 1,285,726 - - Reinvestment of dividends and distributions 51 4,161 - - Repurchased (8,471) (698,807) - - Net increase in Class F 7,155 591,080 - - Total net increase (decrease) in fund $319,616 26,449,600 $(72,936) (6,352,941) (1) Class B shares were not offered before March 15, 2000. (2) Class C and Class F shares were not offered before March 15, 2001. [Download Table] Per-share data and ratios Class A Year ended August 31 2001 2000 1999 Net asset value, beginning of year $11.81 $11.86 $12.60 Income from investment operations : Net investment income .60 (1) .60 (1) .59 Net gains (losses) on securities .57 (1) (.01) (1) (.55) (both realized and unrealized) Total from investment operations 1.17 .59 .04 Less distributions : Dividends (from net investment income) (.60) (.60) (.59) Distributions (from capital gains) .00 (.04) (.19) Total distributions (.60) (.64) (.78) Net asset value, end of year $12.38 $11.81 $11.86 Total return (2) 10.22% 5.27% .22% Ratios/supplemental data: Net assets, end of year (in millions) $2,202 $1,831 $1,917 Ratio of expenses to average net assets .66% .67% .65% Ratio of net income to average net assets 5.00% 5.22% 4.78% Year ended August 31 1998 1997 Net asset value, beginning of year $12.27 $11.86 Income from investment operations : Net investment income .62 .64 Net gains (losses) on securities .37 .45 (both realized and unrealized) Total from investment operations .99 1.09 Less distributions : Dividends (from net investment income) (.62) (.64) Distributions (from capital gains) (.04) (.04) Total distributions (.66) (.68) Net asset value, end of year $12.60 $12.27 Total return (2) 8.26% 9.39% Ratios/supplemental data: Net assets, end of year (in millions) $1,795 $1,593 Ratio of expenses to average net assets .66% .68% Ratio of net income to average net assets 4.98% 5.27% Class B Year ended March 15 to August 31, August 31, 2001 2000 (3) Net asset value, beginning of period $11.81 $11.50 Income from investment operations : Net investment income (1) .52 .21 Net gains on securities .57 .34 (both realized and unrealized) (1) Total from investment operations 1.09 .55 Less distributions : Dividends (from net investment income) (.52) (.24) Distributions (from capital gains) .00 .00 Total distributions (.52) (.24) Net asset value, end of period $12.38 $11.81 Total return (2) 9.45% 4.88% Ratios/supplemental data: Net assets, end of period (in millions) $26 $3 Ratio of expenses to average net assets 1.40% .64% Ratio of net income to average net assets 4.06% 1.99% Class C Class F March 15 to March 15 to August 31, August 31, 2001 (3) 2001 (3) Net asset value, beginning of period $12.10 $12.10 Income from investment operations : Net investment income (1) .21 .24 Net gains on securities .29 .29 (both realized and unrealized) (1) Total from investment operations .50 .53 Less distributions : Dividends (from net investment income) (.22) (.25) Distributions (from capital gains) .00 .00 Total distributions (.22) (.25) Net asset value, end of period $12.38 $12.38 Total return (2) 4.20% 4.45% Ratios/supplemental data: Net assets, end of period (in millions) $15 $7 Ratio of expenses to average net assets .73% .40% Ratio of net income to average net assets 1.77% 2.11% Supplemental data - all classes Year ended August 31 2001 2000 Portfolio turnover rate 22.41% 28.64% 1999 1998 1997 Portfolio turnover rate 14.56% 23.19% 14.39% 1) Based on average shares outstanding. 2) Total returns exclude all sales charges, including contingent deferred sales charges. 3) Based on operations for the period shown and, accordingly, not representative of a full year (unless otherwise noted). Report of Independent Accountants To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of The Tax-Exempt Bond Fund 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 Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America, Inc.(the "Fund") at August 31, 2001, the results of its operations, the changes in its net assets and the per-share data and ratios for each of the periods presented in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. 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 auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America, 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 August 31, 2001 by correspondence with the custodian, provide a reasonable basis for our opinion. PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP Los Angeles, California September 28, 2001 Tax Information (unaudited) We are required to advise you within 60 days of the fund's fiscal year-end regarding the federal tax status of certain distributions received by shareholders during such fiscal year. Shareholders may exclude from federal taxable income any exempt-interest dividends paid from net investment income. For purposes of computing this exclusion, 99.7% of the dividends paid from net investment income qualify as exempt-interest dividends. Any distributions paid from realized net short-term or long-term capital gains are not exempt from federal taxation. SINCE THE INFORMATION ABOVE IS REPORTED FOR THE FUND'S FISCAL YEAR AND NOT THE CALENDAR YEAR, SHAREHOLDERS SHOULD REFER TO THEIR FORM 1099-DIV OR OTHER TAX INFORMATION WHICH WILL BE MAILED IN JANUARY 2002 TO DETERMINE THE CALENDAR YEAR AMOUNTS TO BE INCLUDED ON THEIR 2001 TAX RETURNS. SHAREHOLDERS SHOULD CONSULT THEIR TAX ADVISERS. PART C OTHER INFORMATION THE TAX-EXEMPT BOND FUND OF AMERICA, INC. ITEM 23. EXHIBITS (a) Previously filed (see Post-Effective Amendment No. 29 filed 3/13/01) (b) Previously filed (see Post-Effective Amendment No. 23 filed 10/29/97) (c) Previously filed (see Post-Effective Amendment No. 29 filed 3/13/01) (d) Previously filed (see Post-Effective Amendment No. 27 filed 3/14/00) (e) Previously filed (see Post-Effective Amendment No. 29 filed 3/13/01) (f) None (g) Form of Global Custody Agreement (h) Previously filed (see Post-Effective Amendment No. 29 filed 3/13/01) (i) Previously filed (see Post-Effective Amendment No. 29 filed 3/13/01) (j) Consent of Independent Accountants (k) None (l) Previously filed (see Post-Effective Amendment No. 23 filed 10/29/97) (m) Previously filed (see Post-Effective Amendment No. 29 filed 3/13/01) (n) Previously filed (see Post-Effective Amendment No. 29 filed 3/13/01) (o) None (p) Previously filed (see Post-Effective Amendment No. 29 filed 3/13/01) ITEM 24. PERSONS CONTROLLED BY OR UNDER COMMON CONTROL WITH REGISTRANT None ITEM 25. INDEMNIFICATION Registrant is a joint-insured under Investment Advisor/Mutual fund Errors and Omissions Policies written by American International Surplus Lines Insurance Company, Chubb Custom Insurance Company, and ICI Mutual Insurance Company which insures its officers and directors against certain liabilities. However, in no event will Registrant maintain insurance to indemnify any such person for any act for which Registrant itself if not permitted to indemnify the individual. ITEM 25. INDEMNIFICATION (CONTINUED) Subsection (b) of Section 2-418 of the General Corporation Law of Maryland empowers a corporation to indemnify any person who was or is party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or enterprise, against reasonable expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with such action, suit or proceeding unless it is established that: (i) the act or omission of the person was material to the matter giving rise to the proceeding and was committed in bad faith or was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty; (ii) the person actually received an improper personal benefit of money, property or services; or (iii) with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, the person had reasonable cause to believe his act or omission was unlawful. Indemnification under subsection (b) of Section 2-418 may not be made by a corporation unless authorized for a specific proceeding after a determination has been made that indemnification is permissible in the circumstances because the party to be indemnified has met the standard of conduct set forth in subsection (b). This determination shall be made (i) by the Board of Directors by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors not, at the time, parties to the proceeding, or, if such quorum cannot be obtained, then by a majority vote of a committee of the Board consisting solely of two or more directors not, at the time, parties to such proceeding and who were duly designated to act in the matter by a majority vote of the full Board in which the designated directors who are parties may participate; (ii) by special legal counsel selected by the Board of Directors of a committee of the Board by vote as set forth in subparagraph (i), or, if the requisite quorum of the full Board cannot be obtained therefor and the committee cannot be established, by a majority vote of the full Board in which any director who is a party may participate; or (iii) by the stockholders (except that shares held by any party to the specific proceeding may not be voted). A court of appropriate jurisdiction may also order indemnification if the court determines that a person seeking indemnification is entitled to reimbursement under subsection (b). Section 2-418 further provides that indemnification provided for by Section 2-418 shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which the indemnified party may be entitled; that the scope of indemnification extends to directors, officers, employees or agents of a constituent corporation absorbed in a consolidation, or merger and persons serving in that capacity at the request of the constituent corporation for another; and empowers the corporation to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation against any liability asserted against or incurred by such person in any such capacity or arising out of such person's status as such whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such liabilities under Section 2-418. Article VI of the Articles of Incorporation of the Fund provides that "Nothing in these Articles of Incorporation or in the By-Laws shall be deemed to protect any director or officer of the Corporation against any liability to the Corporation or to its security holders to which he would otherwise be subject by reason of willful malfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his office." ITEM 26. BUSINESS AND OTHER CONNECTIONS OF INVESTMENT ADVISER None ITEM 27. PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITERS (a) American Funds Distributors, Inc. is also the Principal Underwriter of shares of: AMCAP Fund, Inc., American Balanced Fund, Inc., The American Funds Income Series, The American Funds Tax-Exempt Series I, The American Funds Tax-Exempt Series II, American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund, Inc., American High-Income Trust, American Mutual Fund, Inc., The Bond Fund of America, Inc., Capital Income Builder, Inc., Capital World Bond Fund, Inc., Capital World Growth and Income Fund, Inc., The Cash Management Trust of America, EuroPacific Growth Fund, Fundamental Investors, Inc., The Growth Fund of America, Inc., The Income Fund of America, Inc., The Investment Company of America, Intermediate Bond Fund of America, Limited Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America, The New Economy Fund, New Perspective Fund, Inc., New World Fund, Inc., SMALLCAP World Fund, Inc., The Tax-Exempt Money Fund of America, U.S. Treasury Money Fund of America and Washington Mutual Investors Fund, Inc. [Enlarge/Download Table] (B) (1) (2) (3) NAME AND PRINCIPAL POSITIONS AND OFFICES POSITIONS AND OFFICES BUSINESS ADDRESS WITH UNDERWRITER WITH REGISTRANT David L. Abzug Vice President None P.O. Box 2248 Agoura Hills, CA 91376 John A. Agar Vice President None 1501 N. University, Suite 227A Little Rock, AR 72207 Robert B. Aprison Vice President None 2983 Bryn Wood Drive Madison, WI 53711 L William W. Bagnard Vice President None Steven L. Barnes Senior Vice President None 5400 Mount Meeker Road Suite 1 Boulder, CO 80301-3508 B Carl R. Bauer Vice President None Michelle A. Bergeron Senior Vice President None 4160 Gateswalk Drive Smyrna, GA 30080 J. Walter Best, Jr. Regional Vice President None 9013 Brentmeade Blvd. Brentwood, TN 37027 Joseph T. Blair Senior Vice President None 148 E. Shore Ave. Groton Long Point, CT 06340 John A. Blanchard Vice President None 6421 Aberdeen Road Mission Hills, KS 66208 Ian B. Bodell Senior Vice President None P.O. Box 1665 Brentwood, TN 37024-1665 Mick L. Brethower Senior Vice President None 601 E. Whitestone Blvd. Building 6, Suite 115 Cedar Park, TX 78613 Alan Brown Vice President None 4129 Laclede Avenue St. Louis, MO 63108 B J. Peter Burns Vice President None Cody Callaway Regional Vice President None 803 South Desert Palm Place Broken Arrow, OK 74012 Matthew Carlisle Regional Vice President None 4500 Fairvista Drive Charlotte, NC 28269 Damian Carroll Regional Vice President None 40 Ten Acre Road New Britain, CT 06052 Brian C. Casey Vice President None 8002 Greentree Road Bethesda, MD 20817 Victor C. Cassato Senior Vice President None 609 W. Littleton Blvd., Suite 310 Littleton, CO 80120 Christopher J. Cassin Senior Vice President None 19 North Grant Street Hinsdale, IL 60521 Denise M. Cassin Vice President None 1301 Stoney Creek Drive San Ramon, CA 94583 L David Charlton Senior Vice President None L Larry P. Clemmensen Director None L Kevin G. Clifford Director, President and Co-Chief None Executive Officer H Cheri Coleman Assistant Vice President None Ruth M. Collier Senior Vice President None 29 Landsdowne Drive Larchmont, NY 10538 S David Coolbaugh Vice President None Carlo O. Cordasco Assistant Vice President None 101 Five Forks Lane Hampton, VA 23669 Thomas E. Cournoyer Vice President None 2333 Granada Boulevard Coral Gables, FL 33134 Douglas A. Critchell Senior Vice President None 3521 Rittenhouse Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20015 William F. Daugherty Regional Vice President None 1216 Highlander Way Mechanicsburg, PA 17055 Guy E. Decker Regional Vice President None 2990 Topaz Lane Carmel, IN 46032 Daniel J. Delianedis Vice President None Edina Executive Plaza 5200 Willson Road, Suite 150 Edina, MN 55424 James A. DePerno, Jr. Regional Vice President None 91 Church Street East Aurora, NY 14052 L Bruce DePriester Senior Vice President None Tom Dickson Regional Vice President None 108 Wilmington Court Southlake, TX 76092 Michael A. DiLella Vice President None P. O. Box 661 Ramsey, NJ 07446 G. Michael Dill Senior Vice President None 505 E. Main Street Jenks, OK 74037 Kirk D. Dodge Senior Vice President None 2627 Mission Street San Marino, CA 91108 Peter J. Doran Director, Executive Vice None President 100 Merrick Road, Suite 216W Rockville Centre, NY 11570 L Michael J. Downer Secretary Vice President Michael J. Dullaghan Regional Vice President None 5040 Plantation Grove Lane Roanoke, VA 24012 S J. Steven Duncan Senior Vice President None Robert W. Durbin Vice President None 74 Sunny Lane Tiffin, OH 44883 I Lloyd G. Edwards Senior Vice President None Timothy L. Ellis Regional Vice President None 1441 Canton Mart Road, Suite 9 Jackson, MS 39211 John R. Fodor Senior Vice President None 15 Latisquama Road Southborough, MA 01772 Daniel B. Frick Regional Vice President None 845 Western Avenue Glen Ellyn, IL 60137 Clyde E. Gardner Senior Vice President None Route 2, Box 3162 Osage Beach, MO 65065 L Linda Gardner Assistant Vice President None B Evelyn K. Glassford Vice President None Jeffrey J. Greiner Vice President None 12210 Taylor Road Plain City, OH 43064 L Paul G. Haaga, Jr. Director Chairman and Director B Mariellen Hamann Vice President None Derek S. Hansen Regional Vice President None 13033 Ridgedale Drive, PMB 147 Minnetonka, MN 55305 David E. Harper Senior Vice President None 150 Old Franklin School Road Pittstown, NJ 08867 H Mary Pat Harris Vice President None Steve Hipsley Regional Vice President None 100 Kaydeross Park Road Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 Ronald R. Hulsey Senior Vice President None 6744 Avalon Dallas, TX 75214 Robert S. Irish Vice President None 1225 Vista Del Mar Drive Delray Beach, FL 33483 Michael J. Johnston Director None 630 Fifth Avenue, 36th Floor New York, NY 10111 B Damien M. Jordan Senior Vice President None John P. Keating Regional Vice President None 2285 Eagle Harbor Parkway Orange Park, FL 32003 Dorothy Klock Vice President None 555 Madison Avenue, 29th Floor New York, NY 10022 H Dianne L. Koske Assistant Vice President Andrew R. LeBlanc Regional Vice President None 78 Eton Road Garden City, NY 11530 B Karl A. Lewis Vice President None T. Blake Liberty Vice President None 5506 East Mineral Lane Littleton, CO 80122 Mark J. Lien Regional Vice President None 1103 Tulip Tree Lane West Des Moines, IA 50266 L Lorin E. Liesy Vice President None I Kelle Lindenberg Assistant Vice President None Louis K. Linquata Regional Vice President None 5214 Cass Street Omaha, NE 68132 LW Robert W. Lovelace Director None Stephen A. Malbasa Director, Senior Vice None President 13405 Lake Shore Blvd. Cleveland, OH 44110 Steven M. Markel Senior Vice President None 5241 South Race Street Greenwood Village, CO 80121 L J. Clifton Massar Director, Senior Vice None President L E. Lee McClennahan Senior Vice President None James R. McCrary Regional Vice President None 963 1st Street, #1 Hermosa Beach, CA 90254 S John V. McLaughlin Senior Vice President None Terry W. McNabb Vice President None 2002 Barrett Station Road St. Louis, MO 63131 Scott Meade Regional Vice President None 41 South Road Rye Beach, NH 03871 Monty Moncrief Regional Vice President None 55 Chandler Creek The Woodlands, TX 77381 William E. Noe Vice President None 304 River Oaks Road Brentwood, TN 37027 Peter A. Nyhus Vice President None 3084 Wilds Ridge Court Prior Lake, MN 55372 Eric P. Olson Vice President None 62 Park Drive Glenview, IL 60025 Jeffrey A. Olson Regional Vice President None 930 S. Cowley Street, #305 Spokane, WA 99202 Gary A. Peace Regional Vice President None 291 Kaanapali Drive Napa, CA 94558 Samuel W. Perry Regional Vice President None 4730 East Indian School Road Suite 120 Phoenix, AZ 85018 David K. Petzke Regional Vice President None 4016 Saint Lucia Street Boulder, CO 80301 Fredric Phillips Senior Vice President None 175 Highland Avenue, 4th Floor Needham, MA 02494 B Candance D. Pilgrim Assistant Vice President None Carl S. Platou Vice President None 7455 80th Place, S.E. Mercer Island, WA 98040 S Richard P. Prior Vice President None Steven J. Reitman Senior Vice President None 212 The Lane Hinsdale, IL 60521 Brian A. Roberts Vice President None 425 South Pitt Street Alexandria, VA 22314 L Julie D. Roth Vice President None L James F. Rothenberg Director None Douglas F. Rowe Vice President None 414 Logan Ranch Road Georgetown, TX 78628 Christopher S. Rowey Vice President None 10538 Cheviot Drive Los Angeles, CA 90064 H Steve Rubin Assistant Vice President None Dean B. Rydquist Senior Vice President None 1080 Bay Pointe Crossing Alpharetta, GA 30005 Richard R. Samson Senior Vice President None 4604 Glencoe Avenue, #4 Marina del Rey, CA 90292 Joseph D. Scarpitti Vice President None 31465 St. Andrews Westlake, OH 44145 Shannon D. Schofield Regional Vice President None 201 McIver Street Greenville, SC 29601 L R. Michael Shanahan Director None Brad W. Short Regional Vice President None 1601 Seal Way Seal Beach, CA 90740 David W. Short Chairman of the Board and None 1000 RIDC Plaza, Suite 212 Co-Chief Executive Officer Pittsburgh, PA 15238 William P. Simon Senior Vice President None 912 Castlehill Lane Devon, PA 19333 Jerry L. Slater Regional Vice President None 4152 42nd Avenue, NE Seattle, WA 98105 Rodney G. Smith Senior Vice President None 100 N. Central Expressway Suite 1214 Richardson, TX 75080 S Sherrie L. Snyder-Senft Vice President None Anthony L. Soave Regional Vice President None 8831 Morning Mist Drive Clarkston, MI 48348 L Therese L. Soullier Assistant Vice President None Nicholas D. Spadaccini Vice President None 855 Markley Woods Way Cincinnati, OH 45230 L Kristen J. Spazafumo Assistant Vice President None Daniel S. Spradling Senior Vice President None 181 Second Avenue Suite 228 San Mateo, CA 94401 B Raymond Stein Assistant Vice President None LW Eric H. Stern Director None Brad Stillwagon Regional Vice President None 2438 Broadmeade Road Louisville, KY 40205 B Max D. Stites Vice President None Thomas A. Stout Vice President None 1004 Ditchley Road Virginia Beach, VA 23451 Craig R. Strauser Vice President None 3 Dover Way Lake Oswego, OR 97034 Francis N. Strazzeri Senior Vice President None 3021 Kensington Trace Tarpon Springs, FL 34689 L Drew W. Taylor Assistant Vice President None Gary J. Thoma Regional Vice President None 21 White Cloud HCR 1 Box 172-A Keshena, WI 54135 Cindy Thompson Regional Vice President None 8555 W. Russell Road, #1022 Las Vegas, NV 89113 L James P. Toomey Vice President None I Christopher E. Trede Vice President None George F. Truesdail Senior Vice President None 400 Abbotsford Court Charlotte, NC 28270 Scott W. Ursin-Smith Vice President None 60 Reedland Woods Way Tiburon, CA 94920 J. David Viale Regional Vice President None 39 Old Course Drive Newport Beach, CA 92660 Thomas E. Warren Vice President None 119 Faubel Street Sarasota, FL 34242 L J. Kelly Webb Senior Vice President, None Treasurer and Controller Gregory J. Weimer Vice President None 206 Hardwood Drive Venetia, PA 15367 B Timothy W. Weiss Director None SF Greg Wendt Director None George J. Wenzel Regional Vice President None 251 Barden Road Bloomfield, MI 48304 H J. D. Wiedmaier Assistant Vice President None SF N. Dexter Williams, Jr. Senior Vice President None Timothy J. Wilson Vice President None 113 Farmview Place Venetia, PA 15367 B Laura L. Wimberly Vice President None H Marshall D. Wingo Director, Senior Vice None President L Robert L. Winston Director, Senior Vice None President William R. Yost Senior Vice President None 9320 Overlook Trail Eden Prairie, MN 55347 Jonathan A. Young Regional Vice President None 329 Downing Drive Chesapeake, VA 23322 Scott D. Zambon Regional Vice President None 2887 Player Lane Tustin Ranch, CA 92782 __________ L Business Address, 333 South Hope Street, Los Angeles, CA 90071 LW Business Address, 11100 Santa Monica Boulevard, 15th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90025 B Business Address, 135 South State College Boulevard, Brea, CA 92821 S Business Address, 3500 Wiseman Boulevard, San Antonio, TX 78251 SF Business Address, One Market, Steuart Tower, Suite 1800, San Francisco, CA 94105-1016 H Business Address, 5300 Robin Hood Road, Norfolk, VA 23513 I Business Address, 8332 Woodfield Crossing Blvd., Indianapolis, IN 46240 (c) None ITEM 28. LOCATION OF ACCOUNTS AND RECORDS Accounts, books and other records required by Rules 31a-1 and 31a-2 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, are maintained and held in the offices of its investment adviser, Capital Research and Management Company, 333 South Hope Street, Los Angeles, California 90071, and/or 135 South State College Boulevard, Brea, California 92821. Registrant's records covering shareholder accounts are maintained and kept by its transfer agent, American Funds Service Company, 135 South State College Boulevard, Brea, California 92821, 8332 Woodfield Crossing Boulevard, Indianapolis, IN 46240, 3500 Wiseman Boulevard, San Antonio, Texas 78251 and 5300 Robin Hood Road, Norfolk, VA 23513. Registrant's records covering portfolio transactions are maintained and kept by its custodian, The Chase Manhattan Bank, 270 Park AVenue, New York, New York 10017-2070. ITEM 29. MANAGEMENT SERVICES None ITEM 30. UNDERTAKINGS n/a SIGNATURE OF REGISTRANT Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant certifies that it meets all of the requirements for effectiveness of this Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 485(b) under the Securities Act of 1933 and has duly caused this amended Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Los Angeles, and State of California, on the 24/TH/ day of October, 2001. THE TAX-EXEMPT BOND FUND OF AMERICA, INC. By /s/ Paul G. Haaga, Jr. (Paul G. Haaga, Jr., Chairman of the Board) Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this amendment to registration statement has been signed below on October 24, 2001, by the following persons in the capacities indicated. [Download Table] SIGNATURE TITLE (1) Principal Executive Officer: /s/ Neil L. Langberg President and Director (Neil L. Langberg) (2) Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer: /s/ Anthony W. Hynes, Jr. Treasurer (Anthony W. Hynes, Jr.) (3) Directors: Richard G. Capen, Jr.* Director H. Frederick Christie* Director Diane C. Creel* Director Martin Fenton* Director Leonard R. Fuller* Director /s/ Abner D. Goldstine Vice Chairman and Director (Abner D. Goldstine) /s/ Paul G. Haaga, Jr. Chairman and Director (Paul G. Haaga, Jr.) /s/ Neil L. Langberg President and Director (Neil L. Langberg) Richard G. Newman* Director Frank M. Sanchez* Director *By /s/ Julie F. Williams Julie F. Williams, Attorney-in-Fact Counsel represents that this amendment does not contain disclosures that would make the amendment ineligible for effectiveness under the provisions of rule 485(b). /s/ Kristine M. Nishiyama (Kristine M. Nishiyama)

Dates Referenced Herein   and   Documents Incorporated by Reference

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5/31/025356
Effective on:11/1/01134
Filed on:10/29/01NSAR-B
10/24/0185
10/1/0153
9/30/0157
9/28/0185
9/1/0185
8/31/01788524F-2NT,  N-30D,  NSAR-B
7/31/015880
3/15/01485485BPOS
12/31/00513
8/31/008524F-2NT,  N-30D,  NSAR-B
3/15/00485
12/31/996
11/1/9985
3/31/9557
9/26/9479
6/14/9446
3/31/9457
10/6/9380
7/12/9346
4/30/9359
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