485BPOS 2012-09-30 0000071516 2012-12-01 NEW PERSPECTIVE FUND false 2012-11-07 2012-12-01 <tt>The fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities <br />(or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher <br />transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when fund shares are held in a taxable <br />account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in <br />the example, affect the fund's investment results. During the most recent fiscal year, <br />the fund's portfolio turnover rate was 16% of the average value of its portfolio.</tt> <div style="display:none">~ http://www.klgates.com/role/ExpenseExample_S000009613Member column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact * column rr_ProspectusShareClassAxis compact * row primary compact * ~</div> <div style="display:none">~ http://www.klgates.com/role/BarChartData_S000009613Member column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact * column rr_ProspectusShareClassAxis compact * row primary compact * ~</div> <tt>The fund's primary investment objective is to provide you with long-term <br />growth of capital.</tt> <tt>This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the fund <br />with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. <br /><br />The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the fund for the time periods<br />indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The<br />example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that <br />the fund's operating expenses remain the same.</tt> <tt>The fund seeks to take advantage of investment opportunities generated by changes <br />in international trade patterns and economic and political relationships by <br />investing in common stocks of companies located around the world.<br /> <br />In pursuing its primary investment objective, the fund invests primarily in common <br />stocks that the investment adviser believes have the potential for growth. In <br />pursuing its secondary objective, the fund invests in common stocks of companies <br />with the potential to pay dividends in the future.<br /> <br />The investment adviser uses a system of multiple portfolio counselors in managing <br />the fund's assets. Under this approach, the portfolio of the fund is divided into <br />segments managed by individual counselors who decide how their respective segments <br />will be invested.<br /> <br />The fund relies on the professional judgment of its investment adviser to make<br />decisions about the fund's portfolio investments. The basic investment philosophy <br />of the investment adviser is to seek to invest in attractively valued companies <br />that, in its opinion, represent good, long-term investment opportunities. The <br />investment adviser believes that an important way to accomplish this is through <br />fundamental analysis, which may include meeting with company executives and <br />employees, suppliers, customers and competitors. Securities may be sold when the <br />investment adviser believes that they no longer represent relatively attractive <br />investment opportunities.</tt> New Perspective Fund® <tt>Future income is a secondary objective.</tt> You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $25,000 in American Funds. Example After-tax returns are calculated using the highest individual federal income tax rates in effect during each year of the periods shown and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Investment objectives Past investment results (before and after taxes) are not predictive of future investment results. The Lipper Global Funds Index includes the fund and other funds that disclose investment objectives and/or strategies reasonably comparable to the fund's objective and/or strategies. The S&P 500 is a measure of the U.S. portion of the world market. It is included to compare the fund's results to U.S. market results. You may lose money by investing in the fund. Principal risks Shareholder fees (fees paid directly from your investment) Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: 0.16 Your actual after-tax returns depend on your individual tax situation and likely will differ from the results shown above. In addition, after-tax returns are not relevant if you hold your fund shares through a tax-favored arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan, individual retirement account (IRA) or 529 college savings plan. Calendar year total returns for Class A shares (Results do not include a sales charge; if a sales charge were included, results would be lower.) (Results do not include a sales charge; if a sales charge were included, results would be lower.) Investment results 25000 The following bar chart shows how the fund's investment results have varied from year to year, and the following table shows how the fund's average annual total returns for various periods compare with different broad measures of market results. <tt>Highest/Lowest quaterly results during this period were:<br /><br />Highest 19.99% (quarter ended June 30,2003)<br /><br />Lowest -19.78% (quarter ended December 31, 2008)<br /><br />The fund's total return for the nine months ended<br />September 30, 2012 was 15.98%.</tt> Annual fund operating expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) Average annual total returns For the periods ended December 31, 2011 (with maximum sales charge): <tt>The following bar chart shows how the fund's investment results have <br />varied from year to year, and the following table shows how the fund's <br />average annual total returns for various periods compare with different <br />broad measures of market results.</tt> Portfolio turnover <tt>This section describes the principal risks associated with the fund's principal<br />investment strategies. You may lose money by investing in the fund. The likelihood <br />of loss may be greater if you invest for a shorter period of time. Investors in <br />the fund should have a long-term perspective and be able to tolerate potentially <br />sharp declines in value.<br /> <br />Market conditions -- The prices of, and the income generated by, the securities<br />held by the fund may decline due to market conditions and other factors, including <br />those directly involving the issuers of securities held by the fund.<br /> <br />Investing in growth-oriented stocks -- Growth-oriented stocks may involve larger<br />price swings and greater potential for loss than other types of investments.<br /> <br />Investing outside the United States -- Securities of issuers domiciled outside the <br />United States, or with significant operations outside the United States, may lose <br />value because of adverse political, social, economic or market developments in <br />the countries or regions in which the issuer operates. These securities may also <br />lose value due to changes in foreign currency exchange rates against the U.S. <br />dollar and/or currencies of other countries. Securities markets in certain<br />countries may be more volatile and/or less liquid than those in the United States. <br />Investments outside the United States may also be subject to different settlement <br />and accounting practices and different regulatory, legal and reporting standards, <br />and may be more difficult to value, than those in the United States. The risks <br />of investing outside the United States may be heightened in connection with <br />investments in emerging markets.<br />&#xA0;&#xA0;<br />Management -- The investment adviser to the fund actively manages the fund's<br />investments. Consequently, the fund is subject to the risk that the methods <br />and analyses employed by the investment adviser in this process may not <br />produce the desired results. This could cause the fund to lose value or its <br />investment results to lag relevant benchmarks or other funds with similar <br />objectives.<br /> <br />Your investment in the fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or<br />guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other<br />governmental agency, entity or person. You should consider how this fund <br />fits into your overall investment program.</tt> Fees and expenses of the fund After-tax returns are shown only for Class A shares; after-tax returns for other share classes will vary. Principal investment strategies americanfunds.com <tt>The following bar chart shows how the fund's investment results have varied from<br />year to year, and the following table shows how the fund's average annual total<br />returns for various periods compare with different broad measures of market<br />results. This information provides some indication of the risks of investing in<br />the fund. The Lipper Global Funds Index includes the fund and other funds that<br />disclose investment objectives and/or strategies reasonably comparable to the<br />fund's objective and/or strategies. The S&amp;P 500 is a measure of the U.S. portion<br />of the world market. It is included to compare the fund's results to U.S. market<br />results. Past investment results (before and after taxes) are not predictive of<br />future investment results. Updated information on the fund's investment results<br />can be obtained by visiting americanfunds.com.</tt> <tt>This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold<br />shares of the fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your<br />family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $25,000 in American<br />Funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your<br />financial professional and in the "Sales charge reductions and waivers" section<br />on page 26 of the prospectus and on page 60 of the fund's statement of additional <br />information.</tt> <div style="display:none">~ http://www.klgates.com/role/OperatingExpensesData_S000009613Member column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact * column rr_ProspectusShareClassAxis compact * row primary compact * ~</div> For the share classes listed below, you would pay the following if you did not redeem your shares: <div style="display:none">~ http://www.klgates.com/role/PerformanceTableData_S000009613Member column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact * column rr_PerformanceMeasureAxis compact * column rr_ProspectusShareClassAxis compact * row primary compact * ~</div> <tt>After-tax returns are shown only for Class A shares; after-tax returns for <br />other share classes will vary. After-tax returns are calculated using the <br />highest individual federal income tax rates in effect during each year of <br />the periods shown and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. <br />Your actual after-tax returns depend on your individual tax situation and <br />likely will differ from the results shown above. In addition, after-tax <br />returns are not relevant if you hold your fund shares through a tax-favored <br />arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan, individual retirement account (IRA) or <br />529 college savings plan.</tt> Your investment in the fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency, entity or person. <div style="display:none">~ http://www.klgates.com/role/ExpenseExampleNoRedemption_S000009613Member column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact * column rr_ProspectusShareClassAxis compact * row primary compact * ~</div> <div style="display:none">~ http://www.klgates.com/role/ShareholderFeesData_S000009613Member column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact * column rr_ProspectusShareClassAxis compact * row primary compact * ~</div> Lipper Global Funds Index (reflects no deductions for sales charges, account fees or taxes) -0.0996 -0.0219 0.0391 1973-03-13 S&P 500 (reflects no deductions for sales charges, account fees, expenses or taxes) 0.0209 -0.0025 0.0292 0.0973 1973-03-13 MSCI® All Country World Index (reflects no deductions for sales charges, account fees, expenses or taxes) -0.0735 -0.0193 0.0424 1973-03-13 Share class A - After taxes on distributions and sale of fund shares -0.0811 -0.0036 0.0485 1973-03-13 Share class A - After taxes on distributions -0.1296 -0.0103 0.0497 1973-03-13 RNPGX 0 0.0000 Share class R-6 - Before taxes 47 148 579 258 -0.0733 0.0007 0.0039 0.00 0.0000 0.0046 0.1387 2009-05-01 0.0000 ANWFX 0 0.0000 Share class F-2 - Before taxes 55 173 677 302 -0.0739 0.0015 0.0039 0.00 0.0000 0.0054 0.0078 2008-08-01 0.0000 CNPFX 0 0.0000 Share class 529-F-1 - Before taxes 88 254 940 432 -0.0749 0.0028 0.0039 0.0079 0.00 0.0000 0.0067 10 0.0903 2002-09-17 0.0000 CNPEX 0 0.0000 Share class 529-E - Before taxes 136 401 1488 685 -0.0792 0.0025 0.0039 0.0029 0.00 0.0050 0.0114 10 0.0591 2002-03-01 0.0000 CNPCX 0 0.0000 Share class 529-C - Before taxes 290 190 565 2075 964 -0.0932 0.0029 0.0039 2075 -0.0022 565 964 0.00 0.0099 0.0167 10 0.0556 2002-02-15 0.0100 CNPBX 0 0.0000 Share class 529-B - Before taxes 691 191 968 1875 1169 -0.1301 0.0030 0.0039 1875 -0.0056 568 969 0.00 0.0099 0.0168 10 0.0570 2002-02-15 0.0500 CNPAX 0 0.0575 Share class 529-A - Before taxes 680 879 1701 1093 -0.1297 0.0028 0.0039 -0.0061 0.00 0.0021 0.0088 10 0.0579 2002-02-15 0.0100 NPFFX 0 0.0000 Share class F-1 - Before taxes 84 262 1014 455 -0.0765 0.0018 0.0039 0.0063 0.00 0.0025 0.0606 0.0082 0.0536 2001-03-15 0.0000 NPFCX 0 0.0000 Share class C - Before taxes 263 163 505 1900 871 -0.0925 0.0021 0.0039 1900 -0.0015 505 871 0.00 0.0100 0.0524 0.0160 0.0459 2001-03-15 0.0100 NPFBX 0 0.0000 Share class B - Before taxes 659 159 893 1652 1050 -0.1288 0.0017 0.0039 1652 -0.0045 493 850 0.00 0.0100 0.0545 0.0156 0.0298 2000-03-15 0.0500 RNPFX 0 0.0000 Share class R-5 - Before taxes 51 160 628 280 -0.0735 0.0011 0.0039 0.0092 0.00 0.0000 0.0050 0.0651 2002-05-15 0.0000 RNPEX 0 0.0000 Share class R-4 - Before taxes 83 259 1002 450 -0.0764 0.0017 0.0039 0.0062 0.00 0.0025 0.0081 0.0624 2002-05-28 0.0000 RNPCX 0 0.0000 Share class R-3 - Before taxes 114 356 1363 617 -0.0793 0.0023 0.0039 0.0031 0.00 0.0050 0.0112 0.0619 2002-06-04 0.0000 RNPBX 0 0.0000 Share class R-2 - Before taxes 161 499 1878 860 -0.0834 0.0045 0.0039 -0.0018 0.00 0.0074 0.0158 0.0535 2002-05-21 0.0000 RNPAX 0 0.0000 Share class R-1 - Before taxes 160 496 1867 855 -0.0834 0.0018 0.0039 -0.0014 0.00 0.0100 0.0157 0.0604 2002-06-17 0.0000 ANWPX -0.1605 0 Lowest Highest 0.0575 2012-09-30 Share class A - Before taxes 652 2003-06-30 816 -0.1978 0.1427 0.1276 1508 994 0.1603 0.1999 -0.1293 0.0018 -0.3783 0.0039 2008-12-31 0.3743 -0.0054 0.1128 The fund's total return for the nine months -0.0760 0.00 0.3676 0.0023 0.0547 0.0080 0.1987 0.1192 1973-03-13 0.1598 0.0100 0000071516 ck0000071516:SummaryS000009613Memberck0000071516:S000009613Memberck0000071516:C000026302Member 2012-12-01 2012-12-01 0000071516 ck0000071516:SummaryS000009613Memberck0000071516:S000009613Memberck0000071516:C000026303Member 2012-12-01 2012-12-01 0000071516 ck0000071516:SummaryS000009613Memberck0000071516:S000009613Memberck0000071516:C000026304Member 2012-12-01 2012-12-01 0000071516 ck0000071516:SummaryS000009613Memberck0000071516:S000009613Memberck0000071516:C000026305Member 2012-12-01 2012-12-01 0000071516 ck0000071516:SummaryS000009613Memberck0000071516:S000009613Memberck0000071516:C000026306Member 2012-12-01 2012-12-01 0000071516 ck0000071516:SummaryS000009613Memberck0000071516:S000009613Memberck0000071516:C000026307Member 2012-12-01 2012-12-01 0000071516 ck0000071516:SummaryS000009613Memberck0000071516:S000009613Memberck0000071516:C000026308Member 2012-12-01 2012-12-01 0000071516 ck0000071516:SummaryS000009613Memberck0000071516:S000009613Memberck0000071516:C000026309Member 2012-12-01 2012-12-01 0000071516 ck0000071516:SummaryS000009613Memberck0000071516:S000009613Memberck0000071516:C000026310Member 2012-12-01 2012-12-01 0000071516 ck0000071516:SummaryS000009613Memberck0000071516:S000009613Memberck0000071516:C000026311Member 2012-12-01 2012-12-01 0000071516 ck0000071516:SummaryS000009613Memberck0000071516:S000009613Memberck0000071516:C000026312Member 2012-12-01 2012-12-01 0000071516 ck0000071516:SummaryS000009613Memberck0000071516:S000009613Memberck0000071516:C000026313Member 2012-12-01 2012-12-01 0000071516 ck0000071516:SummaryS000009613Memberck0000071516:S000009613Memberck0000071516:C000026314Member 2012-12-01 2012-12-01 0000071516 ck0000071516:SummaryS000009613Memberck0000071516:S000009613Memberck0000071516:C000026315Member 2012-12-01 2012-12-01 0000071516 ck0000071516:SummaryS000009613Memberck0000071516:S000009613Memberck0000071516:C000068573Member 2012-12-01 2012-12-01 0000071516 ck0000071516:SummaryS000009613Memberck0000071516:S000009613Memberck0000071516:C000077905Member 2012-12-01 2012-12-01 0000071516 ck0000071516:SummaryS000009613Memberck0000071516:S000009613Memberrr:AfterTaxesOnDistributionsMemberck0000071516:C000026302Member 2012-12-01 2012-12-01 0000071516 ck0000071516:SummaryS000009613Memberck0000071516:S000009613Memberrr:AfterTaxesOnDistributionsAndSalesMemberck0000071516:C000026302Member 2012-12-01 2012-12-01 0000071516 ck0000071516:SummaryS000009613Memberck0000071516:S000009613Memberck0000071516:RRINDEX00001Member 2012-12-01 2012-12-01 0000071516 ck0000071516:SummaryS000009613Memberck0000071516:S000009613Memberck0000071516:RRINDEX00002Member 2012-12-01 2012-12-01 0000071516 ck0000071516:SummaryS000009613Memberck0000071516:S000009613Memberck0000071516:RRINDEX00003Member 2012-12-01 2012-12-01 0000071516 ck0000071516:SummaryS000009613Memberck0000071516:S000009613Member 2012-12-01 2012-12-01 0000071516 2012-12-01 2012-12-01 pure iso4217:USD A contingent deferred sales charge of 1.00% applies on certain redemptions within one year following purchases of $1 million or more made without an initial sales charge.