485BPOS 2012-09-30 0000858744 2012-12-01 SMALLCAP WORLD FUND INC false 2012-11-29 2012-12-01 <tt>The fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells <br />securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may <br />indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when fund shares<br />are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund <br />operating expenses or in the example, affect the fund's investment results. During <br />the most recent fiscal year, the fund's portfolio turnover rate was 35% of the<br />average value of its portfolio.</tt> <div style="display:none">~ http://www.americanfunds.com/role/ExpenseExample_S000009599Member column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact * column rr_ProspectusShareClassAxis compact * row primary compact * ~</div> <div style="display:none">~ http://www.americanfunds.com/role/BarChartData_S000009599Member column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact * column rr_ProspectusShareClassAxis compact * row primary compact * ~</div> <tt>The fund's investment objective is to provide you with long-term growth of<br />capital.</tt> <tt>This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in<br />the fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.<br /> <br />The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the fund for the time periods<br />indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The<br />example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the<br />fund's operating expenses remain the same.</tt> <tt>Normally the fund invests at least 80% of its net assets in growth-oriented<br />common stocks and other equity-type securities (such as preferred stocks,<br />convertible preferred stocks and convertible bonds) of companies with small<br />market capitalizations. The investment adviser currently defines "small market<br />capitalization" companies to be companies with market capitalizations of $4.0<br />billion or less. The investment adviser has periodically re-evaluated and<br />adjusted this definition and may continue to do so in the future. The fund may<br />continue to hold securities of a portfolio company that subsequently appreciates<br />above the small market capitalization threshold. Because of this, the fund may<br />have less than 80% of its net assets in small market capitalization stocks at<br />any given time. Under normal circumstances, the fund will invest a significant<br />portion of its assets outside the United States, including in emerging markets.<br /> <br />The investment adviser uses a system of multiple portfolio counselors in<br />managing the fund's assets. Under this approach, the portfolio of the fund is<br />divided into segments managed by individual counselors who decide how their<br />respective segments will be invested.<br /> <br />The fund relies on the professional judgment of its investment adviser to make<br />decisions about the fund's portfolio investments. The basic investment philosophy <br />of the investment adviser is to seek to invest in attractively 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 <br />the investment adviser believes that they no longer represent relatively <br />attractive investment opportunities.</tt> SMALLCAP World Fund® 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 objective Past investment results (before and after taxes) are not predictive of future investment results. Lipper Global Small-Cap Funds Average includes the fund and other funds that disclose investment objectives and/or strategies reasonably comparable to the fund's objective and/or strategies. The Consumer Price Index provides a comparison of the fund's results to inflation. 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: 0.35 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 broad measures of market results. <tt>Highest/Lowest quarterly results during this period were:<br /><br />Highest 28.08% (quarter ended June 30, 2009)<br /><br />Lowest -27.37% (quarter ended December 31, 2008)<br /><br />The fund's total return for the nine months ended September 30, 2012, was 18.36%.</tt> Annual fund operating expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) Average annual total returns For the periods ended December 31, 2011 (with maximum sales charge): <tt>The following bar chart shows how the fund's investment results have varied from<br />year to year, and the following table shows how the fund's average annual total<br />returns for various periods compare with 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<br />likelihood of loss may be greater if you invest for a shorter period of time.<br />Investors in the fund should have a long-term perspective and be able to<br />tolerate potentially 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,<br />including 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 />These risks may be even greater in the case of smaller capitalization stocks.<br /> <br />Investing in small companies - Investing in smaller companies may pose<br />additional risks. For example, it is often more difficult to value or dispose <br />of small company stocks and more difficult to obtain information about smaller<br />companies than about larger companies. In addition, the prices of these stocks<br />may be more volatile than stocks of larger, more established companies.<br /> <br />Investing outside the United States - Securities of issuers domiciled outside<br />the United States, or with significant operations outside the United States, may<br />lose value because of adverse political, social, economic or market developments<br />in the countries or regions in which the issuer operates. These securities may<br />also lose value due to changes in foreign currency exchange rates against the<br />U.S. dollar and/or currencies of other countries.&#xA0;&#xA0;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 /> <br />Investing in emerging markets - Investing in emerging markets may involve risks<br />in addition to and greater than those generally associated with investing in<br />developed countries. For instance, developing countries may have less developed<br />legal and accounting systems than those in developed countries. The governments<br />of these countries may be less stable and more likely to impose capital<br />controls, nationalize a company or industry, place restrictions on foreign<br />ownership and on withdrawing sale proceeds of securities from the country,<br />and/or impose punitive taxes that could adversely affect the prices of<br />securities. In addition, the economies of these countries may be dependent on<br />relatively few industries that are more susceptible to local and global changes.<br />Securities markets in these countries can also be relatively small and have<br />substantially lower trading volumes. As a result, securities issued in these<br />countries may be more volatile and less liquid, and may be more difficult to<br />value, than securities issued in countries with more developed economies and/or<br />markets. Additionally, there may be increased settlement risks for transactions<br />in local securities.<br /> <br />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 and<br />analyses employed by the investment adviser in this process may not produce the<br />desired results. This could cause the fund to lose value or its investment<br />results to lag relevant benchmarks or other funds with similar objectives.<br /> <br />Your investment in the fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or<br />guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other<br />governmental agency, entity or person. You should consider how this fund <br />fits into your overall investment program.</tt> Fees and expenses of the fund After-tax returns are shown only for Class A shares, after-tax returns for other share classes will vary. Principal investment strategies americanfunds.com <tt>The following bar chart shows how the fund's investment results have varied from<br />year to year, and the following table shows how the fund's average annual total<br />returns for various periods compare with broad measures of market results. This<br />information provides some indication of the risks of investing in the fund. The<br />Lipper Global Small-Cap Funds Average 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 Consumer Price Index provides a<br />comparison of the fund's results to inflation. Past investment results (before<br />and after taxes) are not predictive of future investment results. Updated<br />information on the fund's investment results can be obtained by visiting<br />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 61 of the fund's statement of<br />additional information.</tt> <div style="display:none">~ http://www.americanfunds.com/role/OperatingExpensesData_S000009599Member column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact * column rr_ProspectusShareClassAxis compact * row primary compact * ~</div> For the share classes listed below, you would pay the following if you did not redeem your shares: <div style="display:none">~ http://www.americanfunds.com/role/PerformanceTableData_S000009599Member 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 other<br />share classes will vary. After-tax returns are calculated using the highest<br />individual federal income tax rates in effect during each year of the periods <br />shown and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual <br />after-tax returns depend on your individual tax situation and likely will differ <br />from the results shown above. In addition, after-tax returns are not relevant if <br />you hold your fund shares through a tax-favored arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan,<br />individual retirement account (IRA) or 529 college savings plan.</tt> Your investment in the fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency, entity or person. <div style="display:none">~ http://www.americanfunds.com/role/ExpenseExampleNoRedemption_S000009599Member column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact * column rr_ProspectusShareClassAxis compact * row primary compact * ~</div> <div style="display:none">~ http://www.americanfunds.com/role/ShareholderFeesData_S000009599Member column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact * column rr_ProspectusShareClassAxis compact * row primary compact * ~</div> Consumer Price Index 0.0296 0.0226 0.0248 0.0262 1990-04-30 Lipper Global Small-Cap Funds Average (reflects no deductions for sales charges, account fees or taxes) -0.1263 -0.0142 0.0633 0.0867 1990-04-30 MSCI All Country World Small Cap Index (reflects no deductions for sales charges, account fees, expenses or taxes) -0.1130 0.0031 0.0886 1990-04-30 Share class A - After taxes on distributions and sale of fund shares -0.1243 -0.0136 0.0539 1990-04-30 Share class A - After taxes on distributions -0.1926 -0.0207 0.0567 1990-04-30 RLLGX 0 0.0000 Share class R-6 - Before taxes 74 232 902 404 -0.1403 0.0009 0.0064 0.00 0.0000 0.0073 0.1744 2009-05-01 0.0000 SMCFX 0 0.0000 Share class F-2 - Before taxes 84 264 1022 459 -0.1411 0.0019 0.0064 0.00 0.0000 0.0083 0.0057 2008-08-01 0.0000 CSPFX 0 0.0000 Share class 529-F-1 - Before taxes 121 354 1313 604 -0.1422 0.0035 0.0064 -0.0037 0.00 0.0000 0.0099 10 0.1004 2002-09-17 0.0000 CSPEX 0 0.0000 Share class 529-E - Before taxes 167 497 1833 848 -0.1461 0.0031 0.0064 -0.0086 0.00 0.0050 0.0145 10 0.0639 2002-03-15 0.0000 CSPCX 0 0.0000 Share class 529-C - Before taxes 322 222 665 2420 1132 -0.1591 0.0037 0.0064 2420 -0.0137 665 1132 0.00 0.0099 0.0200 10 0.0645 2002-02-20 0.0100 CSPBX 0 0.0000 Share class 529-B - Before taxes 723 223 1068 2223 1338 -0.1934 0.0038 0.0064 2223 -0.0173 668 1138 0.00 0.0099 0.0201 10 0.0660 2002-02-20 0.0500 CSPAX 0 0.0575 Share class 529-A - Before taxes 709 970 2038 1250 -0.1932 0.0035 0.0064 -0.0174 0.00 0.0020 0.0119 10 0.0678 2002-02-19 0.0100 SCWFX 0 0.0000 Share class F-1 - Before taxes 114 356 1364 617 -0.1435 0.0023 0.0064 -0.0051 0.00 0.0025 0.0675 0.0112 0.0609 2001-03-15 0.0000 SCWCX 0 0.0000 Share class C - Before taxes 296 196 605 2250 1040 -0.1585 0.0029 0.0064 2250 -0.0129 605 1040 0.00 0.0100 0.0592 0.0193 0.0532 2001-03-15 0.0100 SCWBX 0 0.0000 Share class B - Before taxes 693 193 998 2028 1228 -0.1925 0.0026 0.0064 2028 -0.0165 598 1028 0.00 0.0100 0.0609 0.0190 0.0039 2000-03-15 0.0500 RSLFX 0 0.0000 Share class R-5 - Before taxes 79 248 960 431 -0.1408 0.0014 0.0064 -0.0020 0.00 0.0000 0.0078 0.0715 2002-05-15 0.0000 RSLEX 0 0.0000 Share class R-4 - Before taxes 110 343 1314 594 -0.1433 0.0019 0.0064 -0.0050 0.00 0.0025 0.0108 0.0960 2002-07-24 0.0000 RSLCX 0 0.0000 Share class R-3 - Before taxes 145 451 1706 778 -0.1461 0.0028 0.0064 -0.0085 0.00 0.0050 0.0142 0.0747 2002-06-20 0.0000 RSLBX 0 0.0000 Share class R-2 - Before taxes 192 595 2214 1022 -0.1501 0.0051 0.0064 -0.0136 0.00 0.0074 0.0189 0.0635 2002-05-31 0.0000 RSLAX 0 0.0000 Share class R-1 - Before taxes 189 586 2183 1007 -0.1499 0.0023 0.0064 -0.0128 0.00 0.0099 0.0186 0.0693 2002-06-19 0.0000 SMCWX -0.2225 0 Lowest Highest 0.0575 2012-09-30 Share class A - Before taxes 685 2009-06-30 917 -0.2737 0.1776 0.2492 1885 1168 0.1715 0.2808 -0.1927 0.0027 -0.4940 0.0064 2008-12-31 0.5349 -0.0171 0.1653 The Fund's total return for the nine months ended -0.1435 0.00 0.5040 0.0023 0.0611 0.0114 0.2296 0.0846 1990-04-30 0.1836 0.0100 0000858744 ck0000858744:SummaryS000009599Memberck0000858744:S000009599Memberck0000858744:C000026249Member 2012-12-01 2012-12-01 0000858744 ck0000858744:SummaryS000009599Memberck0000858744:S000009599Memberck0000858744:C000026250Member 2012-12-01 2012-12-01 0000858744 ck0000858744:SummaryS000009599Memberck0000858744:S000009599Memberck0000858744:C000026251Member 2012-12-01 2012-12-01 0000858744 ck0000858744:SummaryS000009599Memberck0000858744:S000009599Memberck0000858744:C000026252Member 2012-12-01 2012-12-01 0000858744 ck0000858744:SummaryS000009599Memberck0000858744:S000009599Memberck0000858744:C000026253Member 2012-12-01 2012-12-01 0000858744 ck0000858744:SummaryS000009599Memberck0000858744:S000009599Memberck0000858744:C000026254Member 2012-12-01 2012-12-01 0000858744 ck0000858744:SummaryS000009599Memberck0000858744:S000009599Memberck0000858744:C000026255Member 2012-12-01 2012-12-01 0000858744 ck0000858744:SummaryS000009599Memberck0000858744:S000009599Memberck0000858744:C000026256Member 2012-12-01 2012-12-01 0000858744 ck0000858744:SummaryS000009599Memberck0000858744:S000009599Memberck0000858744:C000026257Member 2012-12-01 2012-12-01 0000858744 ck0000858744:SummaryS000009599Memberck0000858744:S000009599Memberck0000858744:C000026258Member 2012-12-01 2012-12-01 0000858744 ck0000858744:SummaryS000009599Memberck0000858744:S000009599Memberck0000858744:C000026259Member 2012-12-01 2012-12-01 0000858744 ck0000858744:SummaryS000009599Memberck0000858744:S000009599Memberck0000858744:C000026260Member 2012-12-01 2012-12-01 0000858744 ck0000858744:SummaryS000009599Memberck0000858744:S000009599Memberck0000858744:C000026261Member 2012-12-01 2012-12-01 0000858744 ck0000858744:SummaryS000009599Memberck0000858744:S000009599Memberck0000858744:C000026262Member 2012-12-01 2012-12-01 0000858744 ck0000858744:SummaryS000009599Memberck0000858744:S000009599Memberck0000858744:C000068590Member 2012-12-01 2012-12-01 0000858744 ck0000858744:SummaryS000009599Memberck0000858744:S000009599Memberck0000858744:C000077882Member 2012-12-01 2012-12-01 0000858744 ck0000858744:SummaryS000009599Memberck0000858744:S000009599Memberrr:AfterTaxesOnDistributionsMemberck0000858744:C000026249Member 2012-12-01 2012-12-01 0000858744 ck0000858744:SummaryS000009599Memberck0000858744:S000009599Memberrr:AfterTaxesOnDistributionsAndSalesMemberck0000858744:C000026249Member 2012-12-01 2012-12-01 0000858744 ck0000858744:SummaryS000009599Memberck0000858744:S000009599Memberck0000858744:RRINDEX00001Member 2012-12-01 2012-12-01 0000858744 ck0000858744:SummaryS000009599Memberck0000858744:S000009599Memberck0000858744:RRINDEX00002Member 2012-12-01 2012-12-01 0000858744 ck0000858744:SummaryS000009599Memberck0000858744:S000009599Memberck0000858744:RRINDEX00003Member 2012-12-01 2012-12-01 0000858744 ck0000858744:SummaryS000009599Memberck0000858744:S000009599Member 2012-12-01 2012-12-01 0000858744 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.