NEW WORLD FUND INC /CA
N-1A/A, 1999-04-16
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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 16, 1999
 
 
                                                            SEC File Nos.
                                                               811-9105
                                                               333-67455
 
                    SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                          Washington, D. C. 20549
                       
                                 FORM N-1A
           REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                     Pre-Effective Amendment No. 3  (X)
                                    and
        REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940
                           Amendment No. 3   (X)
                                                   
                              NEW WORLD FUND, INC.           
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
            333 South Hope Street, Los Angeles, California 90071
            (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
    Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code:  (213) 486-9200
                       
                              Vincent P. Corti
                 Capital Research and Management Company
                          333 South Hope Street
                      Los Angeles, California 90071
                 (name and address of agent for service)
                       
                                Copies to:
                          Eric A.S. Richards, Esq. 
                           O'Melveny & Myers LLP
                           400 South Hope Street
                        Los Angeles, California  90071
                         (Counsel for the Registrant)
                       
                 Approximate date of proposed public offering:
                              April 19, 1999
 
       CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                      Title of Securities Being Registered
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                  Proposed       Proposed                             
Title of                          Maximum        Maximum                              
Securities       Amount           Offering       Aggregate         Amount of          
Being            Being            Price          Offering          Registration       
Registered       Registered       Per Unit       Price             Fee                
<S>              <C>              <C>            <C>               <C>      
          
Shares of        Indefinite       N/A            Indefinite*       $500**             
Common                                                                                
Stock $0.01                                                                           
par value per                                                                         
share)                                                                                
</TABLE>
 
* An indefinite number of shares of common stock of the Registrant is being
registered by this Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 24f-2 under the
Investment Company Act of 1940.
 
** The $500 fee was paid upon the initial filing of the registration statement
on November 17, 1998.
 
 
The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement under the Securities
Act of 1933 on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective
date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically
states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter be effective in
accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the
Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission,
acting pursuant to Section 8(a), may determine.
 
 
 
The 
American
Funds
Group(R)
 
 
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
                                   New World
                                      Fund
 
                                   Prospectus
 
New World Fund seeks to make your investment grow over time by investing
primarily in stocks of companies with significant exposure to countries with
developing economies and/or markets.
 
American Funds Distributors, as principal underwriter, has entered into
agreements with a selected group of securities dealers to solicit subscriptions
for shares of the fund during an initial offering period that will terminate on
the settlement date, June 17, 1999. Purchases may not be made by exchanging
shares from other funds in The American Funds Group.
 
The fund will reopen on September 15, 1999, and shares of the fund will be
continuously offered thereafter.
 
 
 
THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION HAS NOT APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED OF THESE
SECURITIES. FURTHER, IT HAS NOT DETERMINED THAT THIS PROSPECTUS IS TRUTHFUL OR
COMPLETE. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
 
                                 APRIL 19, 1999
 
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
New World Fund, Inc.
333 South Hope Street
Los Angeles, California 90071
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
Risk/Return Summary                                                         2
 .............................................................................
Fees and Expenses of the Fund                                               3
 .............................................................................
Investment Objective, Strategies and Risks                                  4
 .............................................................................
Year 2000                                                                   6
 .............................................................................
Management and Organization                                                 6
 .............................................................................
Shareholder Information                                                     8
 .............................................................................
Purchase and Exchange of Shares                                             9
 .............................................................................
How to Sell Shares                                                         13
 .............................................................................
Distribution Arrangements                                                  14
 
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                                  New World Fund / Prospectus  1
36-010-0499/RRD
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RISK/RETURN SUMMARY
 
The fund seeks to make your investment grow over time by investing primarily in
stocks of companies with significant exposure to countries with developing
economies and/or markets. The fund may also invest in debt securities of
issuers, including issuers of high-yield, high-risk bonds, in these countries.
 
 
The fund is designed for investors seeking capital appreciation. Investors in
the fund should have a long-term perspective and be able to tolerate
potentially wide price fluctuations. An investment in the fund is subject to
risks, including the possibility that the fund may decline in value in response
to economic, political and social events in the U.S. or abroad. In addition,
the prices of equity securities will be affected by events specifically
involving the companies whose securities are owned by the fund. The value of
debt securities held by the fund may be affected by changing interest rates and
credit ratings. High-yield, high-risk and longer maturity bonds will be subject
to greater credit risk and price fluctuations than higher quality and shorter
maturity bonds.
 
Although all securities in the fund's portfolio, including U.S. securities, may
be adversely affected by currency fluctuations or world political, social and
economic instability, investments outside the U.S., particularly in countries
with developing economies or markets, may be affected to a greater extent.
 
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 government
agency, entity or person.
 
You may lose money by investing in the fund. The likelihood of loss is greater
if you invest for a shorter period of time.
 
 
2    New World Fund / Prospectus
 
 
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE FUND
 
The following describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and
hold shares of the fund.
 
Shareholders Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                       
Maximum sales charge imposed on purchases
(as a percentage of offering price)                                     5.75%/1/
 ................................................................................
Maximum sales charge imposed on reinvested dividends                       0%
 ................................................................................
Maximum deferred sales charge                                              0%/2/
 ................................................................................
Redemption or exchange fees                                                0%
  
 
/1/  Sales charges are reduced or eliminated for larger purchases.
 
/2/  A contingent deferred sales charge of 1% applies to certain redemptions
     made within 12 months following any purchases you made without a sales
     charge.
 
Annual Fund Operating Expenses/1/
(expenses deducted from fund assets)
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Management Fees                                                          .85%
 ................................................................................
Service (12b-1) Fees                                                     .10%/2/
 ................................................................................
Other Expenses                                                           .29%
 ................................................................................
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses                                    1.24%
 
 
/1/  Based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year.
 
/2/  12b-1 expenses may not exceed 0.30% of the fund's average net assets
     annually.
 
Example
 
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the fund
with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.
 
The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the fund for the time periods
indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The
Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that
the fund's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may
be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   
                                                                           
One year                                                                   $694
 ................................................................................
Three years                                                                $946
 ................................................................................
 
                                                  New World Fund / Prospectus  3
    
 
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE, STRATEGIES AND RISKS
 
The fund's investment objective is long-term capital appreciation. The fund may
invest in equity securities of any company, regardless of where it is based, if
the fund's investment adviser determines that a significant portion of a
company's assets or revenues (generally 20% or more) are attributable to 
developing countries. Under normal market conditions, the fund will invest at
least 35% of its assets in equity and debt securities of issuers primarily based
in "qualified" countries that have developing economies and/or markets. In
addition, the fund may invest up to 25% of its assets in debt securities of
issuers, including issuers of high-yield, high-risk and government bonds,
primarily based in qualified countries or that have a significant portion of
their assets or revenues attributable to developing countries.
    
In determining whether a country is qualified, the fund will consider such
factors as the country's per capita gross domestic product, the percentage of
the country's economy that is industrialized, market capital as a percentage of
gross domestic product, the overall regulatory environment, the presence of
government regulation limiting or banning foreign ownership, and restrictions on
repatriation of initial capital, dividends, interest, and/or capital gains. The
fund's investment adviser, Capital Research and Management Company, will
maintain an eligible list of qualified countries and securities in which the
fund may invest. Qualified developing countries in which the fund may invest
currently include, but are not limited to Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Hungary,
India, Indonesia, Israel, Korea, Mexico, Philippines, Poland, Russia, South 
Africa, and Turkey.    
 
The prices of equity securities will decline in response to certain events,
including those directly involving the companies whose securities are owned in
the fund, adverse conditions affecting the general economy, overall market
declines, world political, social and economic instability, and currency
fluctuations. Investments outside the U.S. may be affected by these events to a
greater extent and may also be affected by differing securities regulations,
higher transaction costs, and administrative difficulties such as delays in
clearing and settling portfolio transactions.
 
Investing in countries with developing economies and/or markets generally
involves risks in addition to and greater than those generally associated with
investing in developed countries. For instance, developing countries may have
less developed legal and accounting systems. The governments of these countries
may be more unstable and likely to impose capital controls, nationalize a
company or industry, place restrictions on foreign ownership and on withdrawing
sale proceeds of securities from the country, and/or impose punitive taxes that
 
4  New World Fund / Prospectus
 
 
 
could adversely affect security prices. In addition, the economies of these
countries may be dependent on relatively few industries that are more
susceptible to local and global changes. Securities markets in these countries
are also relatively small and have substantially lower trading volumes. As a
result, securities issued in these countries may be more volatile and
potentially less liquid than securities issued in countries with more developed
economies or markets.
    
The value of debt securities held by the fund may be affected by the risks 
described above, as well as for developing countries, by factors such
as changing interest rates, credit ratings, and effective maturities. For
example, the value of bonds in the fund's portfolio generally will decline when
in terest rates rise and vice versa. In addition, the values of high-yield, 
high-risk and longer maturity bonds will be subject to greater credit risk and
price fluctuations than higher quality and shorter maturity bonds.    
 
The fund may also hold cash or money market instruments of any issuer to any
extent deemed appropriate. The size of the 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 the fund's objective, but it also provides greater liquidity to
meet redemptions or to make additional investments, and it would reduce the
fund's exposure in the event of a market downturn.
 
The fund relies on the professional judgment of Capital Research and Management
Company to make decisions about the fund's portfolio securities. The basic
investment philosophy of Capital Research and Management Company is to seek
undervalued securities that represent good long-term investment opportunities.
Securities may be sold when they are judged to no longer represent good long-
term value.
 
                                                 New World Fund / Prospectus  5
 
 
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
YEAR 2000
 
The date-related computer issue known as the "Year 2000 problem" could have an
adverse impact on the quality of services provided to the fund and its
shareholders. However, the fund understands that its key service providers --
including the investment adviser and its affiliates -- are taking steps to
address the issue. In addition, the Year 2000 problem may adversely affect the
issuers in which the fund invests. For example, issuers may incur substantial
costs to address the problem. They may also suffer losses caused by corporate
and governmental data processing errors. These risks may be particularly acute
in certain developing countries in which the fund may invest and may adversely
affect the fund's net asset value and total return. The fund and its investment
adviser will continue to monitor developments relating to this issue.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION
 
Investment Adviser
 
Capital Research and Management Company, an experienced investment management
organization founded in 1931, serves as investment adviser to the fund and
other funds, including those in The American Funds Group. Capital Research and
Management Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Capital Group Companies,
Inc., is headquartered at 333 South Hope Street, Los Angeles, CA 90071. Capital
Research and Management Company manages the investment portfolio and business
affairs of the fund. The estimated total management fee to be paid by the fund,
as a percentage of average net assets, is discussed earlier under "Fees and
Expenses of the Fund."
 
Capital Research and Management Company and its affiliated companies have
adopted a personal investing policy that is consistent with the recommendations
contained in the May 9, 1994 report issued by the Investment Company
Institute's Advisory Group on Personal Investing. This policy has also been
incorporated into the fund's code of ethics.
 
6  New World Fund / Prospectus
 
 
 
 
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 New World Fund are listed below.
    <TABLE>
 
 
  
                                                                        Approximate
                                                                  Years of Experience as an
                                                                   Investment Professional
                                                                (including the last five years)
                                                                ................................
 
                                                                With Capital
   Portfolio                             Years of Experience    Research and
  Counselors                           as Portfolio Counselor   Management
 for New World                           for New World Fund     Company or
     Fund          Primary Title(s)         (approximate)       Affiliates          Total Years
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                <C>                 <C>                      <C>                 <C>
 Robert W.         President of the    Less than one year        14 years            14 years
 Lovelace          fund. Executive     (since the fund began
                   Vice President      operations)
                   and Director, 
                   Capital Research 
                   Company*
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Mark E. Denning   Senior Vice         Less than one year        17 years            17 years
                   President of the    (since the fund began
                   fund. Director,     operations)
                   Capital Research
                   and Management 
                   Company
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 David C. Barclay  Vice President of   Less than one year        11 years            18 years
                   the fund. Vice      (since the fund began
                   President, Capital  operations)
                   Research and
                   Management Company.
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Alwyn Heong       Vice President of   Less than one year         7 years            11 years
                   the fund. Vice      (since the fund began
                   President, Capital  operations)
                   Research Company*
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Carl M. Kawaja    Vice President of   Less than one year         8 years            12 years
                   the fund. Vice      (since the fund began
                   President, Capital  operations)
                   Research Company*
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>  
 
     The fund will begin operations June 17, 1999.
 *   Company affiliated with Capital Research and Management Company.
     
                                                 New World Fund / Prospectus  7
 
 
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION
 
Shareholder Services
 
American Funds Service Company, the fund's 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 are available only in states
where they may be legally offered and may be terminated or modified at any time
upon 60 days written notice. For your convenience, American Funds Service
Company has four service centers across the country.
 
                              [MAPS APPEARS HERE]
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Call toll-free from anywhere anywhere in the U.S.
                            (8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET):
                                 800/421-0180
 
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 2205      P.O. Box 659522     P.O. Box 6007           P.O. Box 2280
Brea, California   San Antonio, Texas  Indianapolis, Indiana   Norfolk, Virginia
92822-2205         78265-9522          46206-6007              23501-2280
Fax: 714/671-7080  Fax: 210/474-4050   Fax: 317/735-6620       Fax: 757/670-4773
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
A complete description of the services we offer is described in the fund's
statement of additional information. In addition, an easy-to-read guide to
owning a fund in The American Funds Group titled "Welcome to the Family" is
sent to new shareholders and is available by writing or calling American Funds
Service Company.
    
YOU MAY INVEST IN THE FUND THROUGH VARIOUS RETIREMENT PLANS.However, some re-
tirement plans or accounts held by investment dealers may not offer certain
services. If you have any questions, please contact your plan
administrator/trustee or dealer.    
 
8  New World Fund / Prospectus
 
 
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PURCHASE AND EXCHANGE OF SHARES
 
Initial Offering
 
American Funds Distributors will serve as the principal underwriter for the
fund's shares and will enter into agreements with a selected group of 
securities dealers who will use their best efforts to solicit orders to purchase
shares of the fund. Dealers may obtain non-binding indications of interest
prior to actually confirming any orders. The termination date of the offering
is June 17, 1999, the settlement date for subscriptions accepted during the 
offering. Any payments received by a dealer or by American Funds Distributors
prior to the settlement date will be held in a non-interest bearing bank 
account. Shares of the fund may be purchased only through those dealers that are
registered, if required, in the state where the purchase is made.
    
A minimum purchase of 200 shares ($5,000 at the maximum offering price) is 
required to invest in the fund during the offering, except that for retirement
plans, such as IRAs, this minimum is reduced to 60 shares ($1,500 at the 
maximum offering price). For Education IRAs the minimum is further reduced to 20
shares ($500 at the maximum offering price). The shares are offered at a 
maximum offering price of $25.00 per share, which is equal to the net asset
value per share plus a sales charge. The sales charge will be reduced for large
purchases in the amount indicated below, but in all cases, the fund will receive
the net asset value of $23.56 per share.    
 
The table below shows the offering price, total per-share sales charges 
(underwriting discounts) and dealer concessions connected with sales of various
quantities of the fund's shares during the initial offering. Dealer concessions
represent the amounts allowed to securities dealers.
 
   <TABLE>
 
                                         Underwriting Discount         Dealer Concession
                                   --------------------------------- ---------------------
                                              Approx. %   Approx. %             Approx. %
Amount of Purchase       Offering   Dollar   of Offering   of Net     Dollar   of Offering
at the Offering Price      Price    Amount      Price    Asset Value  Amount      Price
- ------------------------ --------- --------- ----------- ----------- --------- -----------
<S>                      <C>        <C>       <C>        <C>          <C>      <C>
Less than $50,000.......    $25.00     $1.44      5.75%       6.10%      $1.44      5.75%
$50,000 but less than
 $100,000...............    $24.61     $1.11      4.50%       4.71%      $1.11      4.50%
$100,000 but less than
 $250,000...............    $24.35     $0.85      3.50%       3.63%      $0.85      3.50%
$250,000 but less than
 $500,000...............    $24.10     $0.60      2.50%       2.56%      $0.60      2.50%
$500,000 but less than
 $1 million.............    $23.98     $0.48      2.00%       2.04%      $0.48      2.00%
$1 million or more......      see       see       see         see        see         see
                            next page  next page  next page   next page  next page  next 
                                                                                     page
 </TABLE>    
                                                  New World Fund / Prospectus  9
 
 
 
Investments of $1 million or more and investments made by employer-sponsored
defined contribution-type plans with 100 or more eligible employees are sold
with no initial sales charge. A 1% contingent deferred sales charge may be im-
posed on certain redemptions by accounts that invest with no initial sales
charge (other than employer-sponsored plans), if redemptions are made within
one year of purchase. Up to 1% may be paid by the fund under its Plan of Dis-
tribution and/or by American Funds Distributors to dealers on investments made
with no initial sales charge.
 
The fund currently intends to pay a continuing service fee (not to exceed 0.25%
annually) to dealers in order to promote selling efforts and to compensate them
for providing certain services for their clients. Participating dealers may re-
ceive up to the entire underwriting discount.
 
You may be entitled to a reduced sales charge and offering price on purchases
in the offering as described below under "Reducing Your Sales Charge."
 
Additional Sales and Future Offerings
    
Following the completion of the offering, the fund does not intend to make 
additional sales of its shares (except as described below) until September 15,
1999. During the period prior to September 15, 1999, the fund intends to sell
additional shares pursuant to its registration statement (including this 
prospectus) or amendments thereto, as follows: (i) additional purchases ($50 
minimum) by shareholders that purchased fund shares in the initial offering;
(ii) for reinvestment of dividends and capital gain distributions paid by the
fund (including reinvestment within 30 days of dividends or capital gain
distributions that were paid in cash); (iii) in connection with the exercise of
the reinstatement privilege by shareholders who redeemed fund shares; and (iv)
in connection with retirement plans offered to employees of the investment
adviser and its affiliates. Investments in such retirement plans, as well as
reinvestment and reinstatement, will be at the next determined net asset value.
The other sales will be at the net asset value next determined after receipt of
the order plus a sales charge in accordance with the schedule set forth on the
previous page.    
 
Exchange
 
Shareholders of other funds in The American Funds Group may not exchange their
shares for shares of the fund during the initial offering or in connection with
the additional sales described above. Once the fund begins its continuous 
offering on September 15, 1999, you may exchange your shares into the fund or
other funds in The American Funds Group, subject to the terms of the 
prospectuses of the funds involved, without a sales charge. 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.
 
10  New World Fund / Prospectus
 
 
 
The fund and American Funds Distributors, the fund's principal underwriter, 
reserve the right to reject any purchase order for any reason. Although there is
currently no specific limit on the number of exchanges you can make in a period
of time, the fund and American Funds Distributors reserve the right to reject
any purchase order and may terminate the exchange privilege of any investor
whose pattern of exchange activity they have determined involves actual or 
potential harm to the fund.
 
Share Price
 
The fund calculates its share price, also called net asset value, as of 4:00
p.m. New York time, which is the normal close of trading on the New York Stock
Exchange, every day the Exchange is open. In calculating net asset value, 
market prices are used when available. If a market price for a particular
security is not available, the fund will determine the appropriate price for the
security.
 
Your shares will be purchased at the offering price, or sold at the net asset
value, next determined after American Funds Service Company receives and 
accepts your request. The offering price is the net asset value plus a sales
charge, if applicable.
 
Sales Charge
 
When the fund begins its continuous offering of shares on September 15, 1999,
it likely will adopt the sales charge schedule applicable to the other equity
funds in The American Funds Group as set forth below.
 
   <TABLE>
                                            Sales Charge as a Percentage of                     
                                                    .................                           
                                                                                                
                                                                 Net           Dealer Concession 
                                            Offering            Amount              as % of      
Investment                                    Price            Invested        Offering Price   
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                         <C>                <C>             <C>
Less than $50,000                               5.75%            6.10%             5.00%       
 ................................................................................................
$50,000 but less than $100,000                  4.50%            4.71%             3.75%       
 ................................................................................................
$100,000 but less than $250,000                 3.50%            3.63%             2.75%       
 ................................................................................................
$250,000 but less than $500,000                 2.50%            2.56%             2.00%       
 ................................................................................................
$500,000 but less $1 million                    2.00%            2.04%             1.60%        
 ................................................................................................
$1 million or more and certain 
other investments described on the next page   see next page     see mext page   see next page
</TABLE>    
 
                                                 New World Fund / Prospectus  11
 
 
 
 
Purchases Not Subject to Sales Charge
 
Investments of $1 million or more and investments made by employer-sponsored
defined contribution-type plans with 100 or more eligible employees are sold
with no initial sales charge. A 1% contingent deferred sales charge may be 
imposed on certain redemptions by accounts that invest with no initial sales
charge (other than employer-sponsored plans), if redemptions are made within
one year of purchase. Up to 1% may be paid by the fund under its Plan of 
Distribution and/or by American Funds Distributors to dealers on investments
made with no initial sales charge.
 
Reducing Your Sales Charge
 
You and your immediate family may combine investments to reduce your sales
charge. You must let your investment dealer or American Funds Service Company
know if you qualify for a reduction in your sales charge using one or any 
combination of the methods described in the statement of additional information
and "Welcome to the Family."
 
Plan of Distribution
 
The fund has a Plan of Distribution or "12b-1 Plan" under which it may finance
activities primarily intended to sell shares, provided the categories of 
expenses are approved in advance by the fund's board of directors. Up to 0.25%
of average net assets is paid annually to qualified dealers for providing
certain services pursuant to the fund's Plan of Distribution. The estimated 12b-
1 fee, as a percentage of average net assets, to be paid by the fund is
indicated earlier under "Fees and Expenses of the Fund." Since these fees are
paid out of the fund's assets on an ongoing basis, over time they will increase
the cost of an investment and may cost you more than paying higher initial sales
charges.
 
Other Compensation to Dealers
 
American Funds Distributors may provide additional compensation to, or sponsor
informational meetings for, dealers as described in the statement of additional
information.
 
 
12  New World Fund / Prospectus
 
 
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 (certain charges may apply)
 
     .    Shares held for you in your dealer's 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
 
     .    Additional documentation may be required for sales of shares held in
          corporate, partnership or fiduciary accounts.
 
 Telephoning or Faxing American Funds Service Company, or by 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
 
     .    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 American 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 the fund, American Funds Service Company, any
 
                                                 New World Fund / Prospectus  13
 
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
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) that may be
incurred in connection with the exercise of these privileges, provided American
Funds Service Company employs reasonable procedures to confirm that the in-
structions received from any person with appropriate account information are
genuine. If reasonable procedures are not employed, the fund may be liable for
losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent instructions.
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DISTRIBUTION ARRANGEMENTS
 
Dividends and Distributions
 
The fund intends to distribute dividends to you once each year, usually in 
December. Capital gains, if any, are usually distributed in December.
 
You may elect to reinvest dividends and/or capital gain distributions to 
purchase additional shares of this fund or any other fund in The American Funds
Group or you may elect to receive them in cash.
 
TAX CONSEQUENCES
    
As with any investment, your investment in the fund could have tax consequences.
If you are not investing through a tax-advantaged retirement account you 
should consider these tax consequences.    
 
   TAXES ON DISTRIBUTIONS
 
Distributions you receive from the fund are subject to income tax and may also 
be subject to state or local taxes.For federal tax purposes, the fund's 
dividends and distributions of short-term capital gains are taxable to you as
ordinary income.  The fund's distributions of long-term capital gains are 
taxable to you as capital gains.  Any taxable distributions you receive from 
the fund will normally be taxable to you when you receive them, regardless 
of whether you reinvest dividends 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 in the 
fund is the difference between the cost of your shares, including any sales 
charges, and the price you receive when you sell them.    
 
Please see the statement of additional information, "Welcome to the Family,"
and your tax adviser for further information.
 
14  New World Fund / Prospectus
 
 
 
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOTES
 
                                                 New World Fund / Prospectus  15
 
 
 
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOTES
 
16   New World Fund / Prospectus
 
 
 
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOTES
 
                                                 New World Fund / Prospectus  17
 
 
 
  For Shareholder            For Retirement Plan           For Dealer
  Services                   Services                      Services
 
  American Funds             Call your employer or         American Funds
  Service Company            plan administrator            Distributors
  800/421-0180                                             800/421-9900 ext. 11
 
                            For 24-hour Information
 
          American                               American
          FundsLine(R)                           FundsLine OnLine(R)
          800/325-3590                           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. In the event of any
 inconsistency or ambiguity as to the meaning of any word or phrase in a
 translation, the English text will prevail.
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 OTHER FUND INFORMATION
 
 Annual/Semi-Annual Report to Shareholders
 
 Contains additional information about the fund including financial statements,
 investment results, portfolio holdings, a statement from portfolio management
 discussing market conditions and the fund's investment strategies, and the
 independent accountants' report (in the annual report).
 
 Statement of Additional Information (SAI)
 
 Contains more detailed information on all aspects of the fund, including the
 fund's financial statements.
 
 A current SAI has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and is
 incorporated by reference into this prospectus. The SAI and other related
 materials about the fund are available for review or to be copied at the
 Securities and Exchange Commission's Public Reference Room (1-800-SEC-0330) in
 Washington, D.C. or on its Internet Web site at http://www.sec.gov.
 
 Code of Ethics
 
 Includes a description of the fund's personal investing policy.
 
 To request a free copy of any of the documents above:
 
     Call American Funds     or        Write to the Secretary of the fund
     Service Company                   333 South Hope Street
     800/421-0180 ext. 1               Los Angeles, CA 90071
 
                                                  [LOGO]
 Investment Company File No. 811-9105                 Printed on recycled paper
 
 
 
 
 
                              NEW WORLD FUND, INC.
                                   Part B
                      Statement of Additional Information
                                 APRIL 19, 1999
 
 
This document is not a prospectus but should be read in conjunction with the
current prospectus of New World Fund, Inc. (the fund or NWF) dated  April 19,
1999.  The prospectus may be obtained from your investment dealer or financial
planner or by writing to the fund at the following address:
 
                              New World Fund, Inc.
                             Attention:  Secretary
                             333 South Hope Street
                             Los Angeles, CA  90071
                                  (213) 486-9200
 
 
Shareholders who purchase shares at net asset value through eligible retirement
plans should note that not all of the services or features described below may
be available to them, and they should contact their employer for details.
 
   
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
    Item                                                 Page No.
 
CERTAIN INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS AND GUIDELINES                2
DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN SECURITIES AND INVESTMENT TECHNIQUES  2
INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS                                      7
FUND ORGANIZATION                                            9
FUND DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS                                  10
MANAGEMENT                                                   15
DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES                           17
PURCHASE OF SHARES                                           22
SELLING SHARES                                               28
SHAREHOLDER ACCOUNT SERVICES AND PRIVILEGES                  30
EXECUTION OF PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS                          32
GENERAL INFORMATION                                          33
INVESTMENT RESULTS AND RELATED STATISTICS                    34
DESCRIPTION OF BOND RATINGS                                  36
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS                                         38
    
 
                 CERTAIN INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS AND GUIDELINES
 
The following limitations and guidelines are considered at the time of
purchase, under normal market conditions, and are based on a percentage of the
fund's net assets unless otherwise  noted.  This summary is not intended to
reflect all of the fund's investment limitations.
 
GENERAL
 
- - The fund will invest at least 35% of its assets in equity and debt securities
of companies based primarily in qualified countries with developing economies
and/or markets.
 
EQUITY SECURITIES
 
   
- - The fund may invest its assets in equity securities of any company,
regardless of where it is based, if the fund's investment adviser determines
that a significant portion of its assets or revenues (generally 20% or more)
are attributable to developing countries.    
 
DEBT SECURITIES
 
- - The fund may invest up to 25% of its assets in debt securities of issuers,
including government issuers, primarily based in qualified countries with
developing economies and/or markets, or issuers that the fund's investment
adviser determines have a significant portion of their assets or revenues
(generally 20% or more) attributable to developing countries.  The fund will
generally purchase debt securities considered consistent with its objective of
long-term capital appreciation.
 
- - The fund may invest up to 25% of its assets in debt securities rated Ba and
BB or below by Moody's Investors Services, Inc. or Standard & Poor's
Corporation or unrated but determined to be of equivalent quality.
 
 
          DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN SECURITIES AND INVESTMENT TECHNIQUES
 
The descriptions below are intended to supplement the material in the
prospectus under  the "Risk/Return Summary" and "Investment Objective,
Strategies and Risks."
 
EQUITY SECURITIES -- Equity securities represent an ownership position in a
company. The prices of equity securities fluctuate based on changes in the
financial condition of their issuers and on market and economic conditions. The
fund's results will be related to the overall market for these securities. The
growth-oriented, equity-type securities generally purchased by the fund may
involve large price swings and potential for loss, particularly in the case of
smaller capitalization stocks.  (See "Certain Risk Factors Related to
Developing Countries" below.)
 
INVESTING IN VARIOUS COUNTRIES -- Investing outside the U.S. involves special
risks, caused by, among other things:  currency controls; fluctuating currency
values; different accounting, auditing and financial reporting regulations and
practices in some countries; changing local and regional economic, political
and social conditions; greater market volatility; differing securities market
structures; and various administrative difficulties such as delays in clearing
and settling portfolio transactions or in receiving payment of dividends.  
 
The risks described above are potentially heightened in connection with
investments in developing countries.  Although there is no universally accepted
definition, a developing country is generally considered to be a country in the
initial stages of its industrialization cycle with a low per capita gross
national product.  Political and/or economic structures in these countries may
be in their infancy and developing rapidly.  Historically, the markets of
developing countries have been more volatile than the markets of developed
countries.
 
   In determining where an issuer of a security is based, the Investment
Adviser may consider such factors as where the country is legally organized,
maintains its principal corporate offices, and/or conducts its principal
operations.    
 
Additional costs could be incurred in connection with the fund's investment
activities outside the U.S.  The fund may purchase and sell currencies to
facilitate transactions in securities denominated in currencies other than the
US. dollar.  Brokerage commissions may be higher outside the U.S. and the fund
will bear certain expenses in connection with its currency transactions. 
Furthermore, increased custodian costs may be associated with the maintenance
of assets in certain jurisdictions.
 
CERTAIN RISK FACTORS RELATED TO DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
 
CURRENCY FLUCTUATIONS -- The fund's investments may be valued in currencies
other than the U.S. dollar. Certain developing countries' currencies have
experienced and may in the future experience significant declines against the
U.S. dollar.  For example, if the U.S. dollar appreciates against foreign
currencies, the value of the fund's securities holdings would generally
depreciate and vice versa.  Consistent with its investment objective, the fund
can  engage in certain currency transactions to hedge against currency
fluctuations.  SEE "Currency Transactions" below.
 
GOVERNMENT REGULATION -- The political, economic and social structures of
certain developing countries may be more volatile and less developed than those
in the U.S.  Certain developing countries lack uniform accounting, auditing and
financial reporting standards, have less governmental supervision of financial
markets than in the U.S., and do not honor legal rights enjoyed in the U.S. 
Certain governments may be more unstable and present greater risks of
nationalization or restrictions on foreign ownership of local companies.
 
Repatriation of investment income, capital and the proceeds of sales by foreign
investors may require governmental registration and/or approval in some
developing market countries.  While the fund will only invest in markets where
these restrictions are considered acceptable, a country could impose new or
additional repatriation restrictions after the fund's investment.  If this
happened, the fund's response might include, among other things, applying to
the appropriate authorities for a waiver of the restrictions or engaging in
transactions in other markets designed to offset the risks of decline in that
country.  Such restrictions will be considered in relation to the fund's
liquidity needs and all other positive and negative factors.  Further, some
attractive equity securities may not be available to the fund because foreign
shareholders hold the maximum amount legally permissible.
 
While government involvement in the private sector varies in degree among
developing countries, such involvement may in some cases include government
ownership of companies in certain sectors, wage and price controls or
imposition of trade barriers and other protectionist measures.  With respect to
any developing country, there is no guarantee that some future economic or
political crisis will not lead to price controls, forced mergers of companies,
expropriation, or creation of government monopolies to the possible detriment
of the fund's investments.
 
LESS DEVELOPED SECURITIES MARKETS -- Developing countries may have less
well-developed securities markets and exchanges.  They have lower trading
volumes than the securities markets of more developed countries.  These markets
may be unable to respond effectively to increases in trading volume. 
Consequently, these markets may be substantially less liquid than those of more
developed countries, and the securities of issuers located in these markets may
have limited marketability.  These factors may make prompt liquidation of
substantial portfolio holdings difficult or impossible at times.
 
   SETTLEMENT RISKS -- Settlement systems in developing countries are generally
less well organized than developed markets.  Supervisory authorities may also
be unable to apply standards comparable with those in developed markets.  Thus,
there may be risks that settlement may be delayed and that cash or securities
belonging to the fund may be in jeopardy because of failures of or defects in
the systems.  In particular, market practice may require that payment be made
before receipt of the security being purchased or that delivery of a security
be made before payment is received.  In such cases, default by a broker or bank
(the "counterparty") through whom the transaction is effected might cause the
fund to suffer a loss.  The fund will seek, where possible, to use
counterparties whose financial status is such that this risk is reduced. 
However, there can be no certainty that the fund will be successful in
eliminating this risk, particularly as counterparties operating in developing
countries frequently lack the substance or financial resources of those in
developed countries.  There may also be a danger that, because of uncertainties
in the operation of settlement systems in individual markets, competing claims
may arise with respect to securities held by or to be transferred to the
fund.    
 
INVESTOR INFORMATION -- The fund may encounter problems assessing investment
opportunities in certain developing securities markets in light of limitations
on available information and different accounting, auditing and financial
reporting standards.  In such circumstances, the fund's investment adviser will
seek alternative sources of information, and to the extent the investment
adviser may not be satisfied with the sufficiency of the information obtained
with respect to a particular market or security, the fund will not invest in
such market or security.
 
TAXATION -- Taxation of dividends and capital gains received by non-residents
varies among developing countries and, in some cases, is comparatively high. 
In addition, developing countries typically have less well-defined tax laws and
procedures and such laws may permit retroactive taxation so that the fund could
in the future become subject to local tax liability that it had not reasonably
anticipated in conducting its investment activities or valuing its assets.
 
LITIGATION -- The fund and its shareholders may encounter substantial
difficulties in obtaining and enforcing judgments against non-U.S. resident
individuals and companies.
 
FRAUDULENT SECURITIES -- Securities purchased by the fund may subsequently be
found to be fraudulent or counterfeit resulting in a loss to the fund.
 
LOAN PARTICIPATIONS -- The fund may invest, subject to its overall limitation
on debt securities, in loan participations, typically made by a syndicate of
banks to governmental or corporate borrowers for a variety of purposes.  The
underlying loans to developing market governmental borrowers may be in default
and may be subject to restructuring under the Brady Plan.  The underlying loans
may be secured or unsecured, and will vary in term and legal structure.  When
purchasing such instruments, the fund may assume the credit risks associated
with the original bank lender as well as the credit risks associated with the
borrower.  Investment in loan participations presents the possibility that in
the U.S., the fund could be held liable as a co-lender under emerging legal
theories of lender liability.  In addition, if the loan is foreclosed, the fund
could be part owner of any collateral, and could bear the costs and liabilities
of owning and disposing of the collateral.  Loan participations are generally
not rated by major rating agencies, may not be protected by securities laws and
are often considered to be illiquid.
 
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.
 
INVESTMENTS IN LOWER RATED BONDS --  The fund may invest up to 25% of it's
assets in lower rated straight debt securities (securities rated Ba or below by
Moody's and BB or below by S&P and commonly referred to as "high-yield,
high-risk bonds" or "junk bonds") or in unrated securities that are determined
to be of equivalent quality. High-yield, high-risk bonds carry a higher degree
of investment risk and are considered speculative. 
 
CERTAIN RISK FACTORS RELATING TO HIGH-YIELD, HIGH-RISK BONDS
 
SENSITIVITY TO INTEREST RATE AND ECONOMIC CHANGES -- High-yield, high-risk
bonds can be  sensitive to adverse economic changes and political and corporate
developments and may be less sensitive to interest rate changes. During an
economic downturn or substantial period of rising interest rates, highly
leveraged issuers may experience 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 high-yield, high-risk
bonds.
 
PAYMENT EXPECTATIONS -- High-yield, high-risk bonds may contain redemption or
call provisions. If an issuer exercised 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.  In addition,
if the issuer of a bond defaulted on its obligations to pay interest or
principal or entered 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
values and liquidity of high-yield, high-risk bonds, especially in a thin
market.
 
Capital Research and Management Company 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.
 
OTHER SECURITIES -- The fund may also invest in securities that have equity and
debt characteristics. These securities may at times resemble equity more than
debt and vice versa. Non-convertible preferred stocks are similar to debt in
that they have a stated dividend rate akin to the coupon of a bond or note even
though they are often classified as equity securities. The prices and yields of
non- convertible preferred stocks generally move with changes in interest rates
and the issuer's credit quality, similar to the factors affecting debt
securities.
 
Bonds, preferred stocks and other securities may sometimes be converted into
common stock or other securities at a stated exchange ratio. These securities
prior to conversion pay a fixed rate of interest or a dividend. Because
convertible securities have both debt and equity characteristics, their value
varies in response to many factors, including the value of the underlying
equity, general market and economic conditions, convertible market valuations,
as well as changes in interest rates, credit spreads and the issuer's credit
quality.
 
U.S. GOVERNMENT SECURITIES -- Securities guaranteed by the U.S. Government
include:  (1) direct obligations of the U.S. Treasury (such as Treasury bills,
notes and bonds) and (2) federal agency obligations guaranteed as to principal
and interest by the U.S. Treasury.  In these securities, the payment of
principal and interest is unconditionally guaranteed by the U.S. Government,
and thus they are of the highest possible credit quality.  Such securities are
subject to variations in market value due to fluctuations in interest rates,
but, if held to maturity, will be paid in full.
 
Certain securities issued by U.S. Government instrumentalities and certain
federal agencies are neither direct obligations of, nor guaranteed by, the U.S.
Treasury.  However, they generally involve federal sponsorship in one way or
another; some are backed by specific types of collateral; some are supported by
the issuer's right to borrow from the U.S. Treasury; some are supported by the
discretionary authority of the U.S. Treasury to purchase certain obligations of
the issuer; others are supported only by the credit of the issuing government
agency or instrumentality.  These agencies and instrumentalities include, but
are not limited to, Federal Land Banks, Farmers Home Administration, Central
Bank Cooperatives, and Federal Intermediate Credit Banks.
 
   CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS -- These securities include (i) commercial paper
(short-term notes up to 9 months in maturity issued by corporations or
governmental bodies), (ii) commercial bank obligations (E.G., certificates of
deposit, bankers' acceptances (time drafts on a commercial bank where the bank
accepts an irrevocable obligation to pay at maturity)), (iii) savings
association and saving bank obligations (E.G., certificates of deposit issued
by savings banks or savings associations), (iv) securities of the U.S.
Government, its agencies or instrumentalities that mature, or may be redeemed,
in one year or less, and (v) corporate bonds and notes that mature, or that may
be redeemed, in one year or less.    
 
   INVESTMENT COMPANIES -- The fund has the ability to invest up to 5% of its
total assets in shares of closed-end investment companies, but will not acquire
more than 3% of the outstanding voting securities of any one closed-end
investment company.  (If the fund invests in another investment company, it
would pay an investment advisory fee in addition to the fee paid to the
Investment Adviser.)    
 
CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS -- The fund has the ability to enter into forward
currency contracts to protect against changes in currency exchange rates.  A
forward currency contract is an obligation to purchase or sell a specific
currency at a future date, which may be any fixed number of days from the date
of the contract agreed upon by the parties, at a price set on the date of the
contract.  Forward currency contracts entered into by the fund will involve the
purchase or sale of a currency against the U.S. dollar.  The fund will
segregate liquid assets, which will be marked to market daily, to meet its
forward contract commitments to the extent required by the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
 
Certain provisions of the Internal Revenue Code may affect the extent to which
the fund may enter into forward contracts.  Such transactions may also affect,
for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the character and timing of income, gain
or loss recognized by the fund.  
 
RESTRICTED SECURITIES AND LIQUIDITY -- The fund may purchase securities subject
to restrictions on resale. All such securities not actively traded outside the
U.S. will be considered illiquid unless they have been specifically determined
to be liquid under procedures that may be adopted by the fund's Board of
Directors, 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 fund may
incur certain additional costs in disposing of illiquid securities.
 
                            INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS
 
The fund has adopted the following fundamental policies and investment
restrictions which may not be changed without a majority vote of its
outstanding shares.  Such majority is defined by the Investment Company Act of
1940 (the 1940 Act) as the vote of the lesser of (i) 67% or more of the
outstanding voting securities present at a meeting, if the holders of more than
50% of the outstanding voting securities are present in person or by proxy or
(ii) more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities.  Investment
limitations expressed in the following restrictions are considered at the time
securities are purchased and are based on the fund's net assets unless
otherwise indicated.  These restrictions provide that:
 
1. The fund may not borrow money or securities, except for temporary or
emergency purposes in an amount not exceeding 33$% of its total assets.
 
   
2. The fund may not make loans, if, as a result, more than 33$% of its total
assets would be lent to other parties (this limitation does not apply to
purchases of debt securities, repurchase agreements or loans of portfolio
securities).    
 
3. The fund may not invest 25% or more of its assets in securities of issuers
in any one industry (other than securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S.
government, its agencies or instrumentalities).
 
4. The fund may not purchase or sell real estate unless acquired as a result of
ownership of securities or other instruments (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, such as real
estate investment trusts).
 
5. The fund may not purchase or sell physical commodities unless acquired as a
result of ownership of securities or other instruments (this shall not prevent
the fund from purchasing or selling options and futures contracts or from
investing in securities or other instruments backed by physical commodities).
 
   
6. The fund may not 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.    
 
7. The fund may not issue senior securities, except as permitted under the
Investment Company Act of 1940.
 
In addition, the fund will not change its subclassification from a diversified
to non-diversified company except as permitted under the Investment Company Act
of 1940.
 
The fund has also adopted the following investment restrictions which may be
changed without shareholder approval:
 
1. The fund may not with respect to 75% of its total assets, invest more than
5% of its assets in securities of any one issuer or acquire more than 10% of
the voting securities of any one issuer.  These limitations do not apply to
securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or
instrumentalities.
 
2. The fund may not invest more than 15% of its net assets in securities which
are not readily marketable.
 
3. The fund may not purchase securities on margin, except for such short-term
credits as are necessary for the clearance of transactions, and provided that
the fund may make margin payments in connection with purchases or sales of
futures contracts or of options on futures contracts.
 
4. The fund may not engage in short sales except to the extent it owns or has
the right to obtain securities equivalent in kind and amount to those sold
short.
 
5. The fund may not invest in other companies for the purpose of exercising
control or management.
 
6. The fund may not invest more than 5% of its total assets in the securities
of other managed investment companies; such investments shall be limited to 3%
of the voting stock of any investment company, provided, however, that
investment in the open market of a closed-end investment company where no more
than customary brokers' commissions are involved and investment in connection
with a merger, consolidation, acquisition or reorganization shall not be
prohibited by this restriction.
 
 
                             Fund Organization
 
The fund is an open-end, diversified management investment company.  It was
organized as a Maryland corporation on November 13, 1998.    
 
All fund operations are supervised by the fund's Board of Directors.  The board
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 and Director Compensation" 
below.  They may elect to defer all or a portion of these fees through a
deferred compensation plan in effect for the fund.  
 
                            FUND DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
                      DIRECTORS AND DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME, ADDRESS       POSITION         PRINCIPAL                 TOTAL COMPENSATION        TOTAL NUMBER OF         
AND AGE             WITH             OCCUPATION(S)             (INCLUDING                FUND BOARDS             
                    REGISTRANT       DURING PAST 5             VOLUNTARILY               ON WHICH                
                                     YEARS                     DEFERRED                  DIRECTOR                
                                                               COMPENSATION/1/)          SERVES/3/               
                                                               FROM ALL FUNDS                                    
                                                               MANAGED BY CAPITAL                                
                                                               RESEARCH AND                                      
                                                               MANAGEMENT COMPANY                                
                                                               OR ITS                                            
                                                               AFFILIATES/2/ FOR                                 
                                                               THE YEAR ENDED                                    
                                                               10/31/98                                          
 
<S>                 <C>              <C>                       <C>                       <C>                     
Elizabeth           Director         Administrative            $42,600                   3                       
Allison                              Director, ANZI,                                                             
ANZI, Ltd.                           Ltd. (financial                                                             
1770                                 publishing and                                                              
Massachusetts                        consulting);                                                                
Ave.                                 Publishing                                                                  
Cambridge, MA                        Consultant,                                                                 
02140                                Harvard Medical                                                             
Age:  52                             School; former                                                              
                                     Senior Vice                                                                 
                                     President,                                                                  
                                     Planning and                                                                
                                     Development,                                                                
                                     McGraw Hill, Inc.                                                           
 
Michael R.          Director         Chairman of the           $39,800                   3                       
Bonsignore                           Board and Chief                                                             
Honeywell                            Executive Officer,                                                          
Plaza                                Honeywell Inc.                                                              
P.O. Box 524                                                                                                     
Minneapolis,                                                                                                     
MN  55440                                                                                                        
Age:  58                                                                                                         
 
+Gina H.            Vice             Senior Vice               None/4/                   2                       
Depres              Chairman         President, Capital                                                          
3000 K.             and              Research and                                                                
Street, N.W.        Director         Management Company                                                          
Suite 230                                                                                                        
Washington,                                                                                                      
D.C.  20007                                                                                                      
Age:  57                                                                                                         
 
Robert A. Fox       Director         President and             $105,417                  7                       
P.O. Box 457                         Chief Executive                                                             
Livingston,                          Officer, Foster                                                             
CA  95334                            Farms, Inc.                                                                 
Age:  61                                                                                                         
 
Alan Greenway       Director         President,                $75,500                   5                       
7413 Fairway                         Greenway                                                                    
Road                                 Associates, Inc.                                                            
La Jolla, CA                         (management                                                                 
92037                                consulting                                                                  
                                     services)                                                                   
 
+William R.         Chairman         Senior Vice               None/4/                   5                       
Grimsley            of the           President and                                                               
One Market          Board            Director, Capital                                                           
Steuart                              Research and                                                                
Tower, Suite                         Management Company                                                          
1800                                                                                                             
San                                                                                                              
Francisco, CA                                                                                                    
94105                                                                                                            
Age:  60                                                                                                         
 
Koichi Itoh         Director         Group Vice                $43,900                   3                       
Autosplice                           President,                                                                  
Inc.                                 Autosplice, Inc.,                                                           
3-7-39                               former President                                                            
Minami-cho                           and Chief                                                                   
Higashi-Kurume City                    Executive Officer,                                                          
Tokyo, Japan                         IMPAC (management                                                           
203-0031                             consulting                                                                  
Age:  58                             services); former                                                           
                                     Managing Partner,                                                           
                                     VENCA Management                                                            
                                     (venture capital)                                                           
 
William H.          Director         President,                $79,000                   6                       
Kling                                Minnesota Public                                                            
45 East                              Radio; President,                                                           
Seventh                              Greenspring Co.;                                                            
Street                               former President,                                                           
St. Paul, MN                         American Public                                                             
55101                                Radio (now Public                                                           
Age:  56                             Radio                                                                       
                                     International)                                                              
 
John G.             Director         The IBJ Professor         $189,100                  8                       
McDonald                             of Finance,                                                                 
Graduate                             Graduate School of                                                          
School of                            Business, Stanford                                                          
Business                             University                                                                  
Stanford                                                                                                         
University                                                                                                       
Stanford, CA                                                                                                     
94305                                                                                                            
Age:  61                                                                                                         
 
++William I.        Director         Chairman of the           $43,900                   3                       
Miller                               Board, Irwin                                                                
500                                  Financial                                                                   
Washington                           Corporation                                                                 
Street                                                                                                           
Box 929                                                                                                          
Columbus, IN                                                                                                     
47202                                                                                                            
Age:  42                                                                                                         
 
Kirk P.             Director         Chairman/Chief            $102,434                  6                       
Pendleton                            Executive Officer,                                                          
Cairnwood,                           Cairnwood, Inc.                                                             
Inc.                                 (venture capital                                                            
75 James Way                         investment)                                                                 
Southhampton,                                                                                                    
PA  18966                                                                                                        
Age:  59                                                                                                         
 
Donald E.           Director         Former Chairman of        $75,000                   5                       
Petersen                             the Board and                                                               
222 East                             Chief Executive                                                             
Brown, Suite                         Officer, Ford                                                               
460                                  Motor Company                                                               
Birmingham,                                                                                                      
MI  48009                                                                                                        
Age:  72                                                                                                         
 
</TABLE>
 
    
   
+ Directors who are considered "interested persons" of the fund as defined in
the 1940 Act on the basis of their affiliation with the fund's Investment
Adviser, Capital Research and Management Company.    
 
++ Directors who may be deemed "interested persons" of the fund as defined in
the 1940 Act due to membership on the board of directors of the parent company
of a registered broker-dealer.
 
1 Amounts may be deferred by eligible Directors under a non-qualified deferred
compensation plan adopted by the fund in 1999.  Deferred amounts accumulate at
an earnings rate determined by the total return of one or more of the funds in
The American Funds Group as designated by the director.
 
2 Capital Research and Management Company manages The American Funds Group
consisting of 29 funds: AMCAP Fund, American Balanced Fund, Inc., American
High-Income Municipal Bond Fund, Inc., American High-Income Trust, American
Mutual Fund, Inc., The Bond Fund of America, Inc., The Cash Management Trust of
America, Capital Income Builder, Inc., Capital World Growth and Income Fund,
Inc., Capital World Bond Fund, Inc., EuroPacific Growth Fund, Fundamental
Investors, Inc., The Growth Fund of America, Inc., The Income Fund of America.
Inc., Intermediate Bond Fund of America, The Investment Company of America,
Limited Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America, The New Economy Fund, New
Perspective Fund, Inc., 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 Variable Insurance Series and
Anchor Pathway Fund which serve as the underlying investment vehicles 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.
 
3 Includes funds managed by Capital Research and Management Company and
affiliates.
 
4 Gina H. Despres and William R.  Grimsley are affiliated with the Investment
Adviser and, accordingly, receive no compensation from the fund.
 
 
                                    OFFICERS
   
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME AND ADDRESS         AGE      POSITION(S)       PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION(S)          
                                  HELD WITH         DURING PAST 5 YEARS              
                                  REGISTRANT                                         
<S>                      <C>      <C>               <C>                              
 
Robert W. Lovelace       36       President         Executive Vice President         
11100 Santa Monica                                  and Director, Capital            
Blvd.                                               Research Company; Vice           
Los Angeles, CA                                     President, Capital               
90025                                               Research and Management          
                                                    Company                          
 
Mark E. Denning          41       Senior Vice       Senior Vice President and        
25 Bedford Street                 President         Director, Capital                
London, England                                     Research Company;                
                                                    Director, Capital                
                                                    Research and Management          
                                                    Company                          
 
David C. Barclay         42       Vice              Senior Vice President,           
11100 Santa Monica                President         Capital Research Company         
Blvd.                                                                                
Los Angeles, CA                                                                      
90025                                                                                
 
Alwyn Heong              39       Vice              Vice President, Capital          
630 Fifth Avenue                  President         Research Company                 
New York, NY                                                                         
10111                                                                                
 
Joseph R. Higdon         57       Vice              Director and Senior Vice         
3000 K. Street,                   President         President, Capital               
N.W.                                                Strategy Research, Inc.          
Suite 230                                                                            
Washington, D.C.                                                                     
20007                                                                                
 
Carl M. Kawaja           34       Vice              Vice President, Capital          
One Market                        President         Research Company                 
Steuart Tower,                                                                       
Suite 1800                                                                           
San Francisco, CA                                                                    
94105                                                                                
 
Vincent P. Corti         42       Secretary         Vice President - Fund            
333 South Hope                                      Business Management              
Street                                              Group, Capital Research          
Los Angeles, CA                                     and Management Company           
90071                                                                                
 
R. Marcia Gould          44       Treasurer         Vice President - Fund            
135 South State                                     Business Management              
College Blvd.                                       Group, Capital Research          
Brea, CA  92821                                     and Management Company           
 
Dayna Yamabe             32       Assistant         Assistant Vice President         
135 South State                   Treasurer         - Fund Business                  
College Blvd.                                       Management Group, Capital        
Brea, CA  92821                                     Research and Management Company   
 
</TABLE>
 
    
 
   
All of the officers listed are officers or employees of the Investment Adviser
or affiliated companies.  No compensation is paid by the fund to any director
or officer who is a director, officer or employee of the Investment Adviser or
affiliated companies.  The fund expects to pay an annual fee to Directors who
are not affiliated with the Investment Adviser, plus a fee for each Board of
Directors meeting attended, plus a fee for each meeting attended as a member of
a committee of the Board of Directors.  No pension or retirement benefits are
accrued as part of fund expenses.  The Directors may elect, on a voluntary
basis, to defer all or a portion of these fees through a deferred compensation
plan in effect for the fund.    
 
                                   MANAGEMENT
 
INVESTMENT ADVISER -- The Investment Adviser, founded in 1931, maintains
research facilities in the U.S. and abroad (Los Angeles, San Francisco, New
York, Washington D.C., London, Geneva, 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  professionals travel several million miles a year,
making more than 5,000 research visits in more than 50 countries around the
world.  The Investment Adviser believes that it is able to attract and retain
quality personnel.  The Investment Adviser is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The
Capital Group Companies, Inc.
 
An affiliate of the Investment Adviser compiles indices for major stock markets
around the world and compiles and edits the Morgan Stanley Capital
International Perspective, providing financial and market information about
more than 2,400 companies around the world.
 
The Investment Adviser is responsible for managing more than $200 billion of
stocks, bonds and money market instruments and serves over eight million
investors of all types.  These investors include individuals, various
retirement benefit plans, 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 Agreement (the Agreement) between the fund and the Investment Adviser
is dated April 16, 1999.  The Agreement will continue in effect until December
31, 2000, 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 of the fund, 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 who are not parties to
the 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 Agreement provides that the Investment Adviser has no liability
to the fund for its acts or omissions in the performance of its obligations to
the fund not involving willful misconduct, bad faith, gross negligence or
reckless disregard of its obligations under the Agreement.  The Agreement also
provides that either party has the right to terminate it, without penalty, upon
60 days' written notice to the other party, and that the Agreement
automatically terminates in the event of its assignment (as defined in the 1940
Act).    
 
The Investment Adviser, in addition to providing investment advisory services,
furnishes the services and pays the compensation and travel expenses of persons
who perform the executive, administrative, clerical and bookkeeping functions
of the fund, provides suitable office space and utilities, necessary office
equipment and general purpose forms and supplies used at the office of the
fund, and will pay the travel expenses of Directors incurred in connection with
attendance at meetings of those Boards.  The fund will pay all expenses not
expressly assumed by the Investment Adviser, including, but not limited to,
fees and expenses of the transfer agent, dividend disbursing agent, legal
counsel and independent public accountants and custodian, including charges of
such custodian for the preparation and maintenance of the books of account and
records of the fund, cost of designing, printing and mailing reports,
prospectuses, proxy statements and notices to shareholders; fees and expenses
of registration, qualification and issuance of fund shares; expenses pursuant
to the fund's Plan of Distribution (described below); association dues;
interest; taxes; and compensation of Directors who are not affiliated persons
of the Investment Adviser.
 
The Investment Adviser has agreed that in the event the expenses of the fund
(with the exclusion of interest, taxes, brokerage costs, distribution expenses
pursuant to a plan under Rule 12b-1 and extraordinary expenses such as
litigation and acquisitions) 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 regulations, will reimburse the fund in the amount of such
excess.
 
   As compensation for its services, the Investment Adviser receives a monthly
fee which is accrued daily, calculated at the annual rate of 0.85% of average
net assets.     
 
PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER -- American Funds Distributors, Inc. (the Principal
Underwriter) is the principal underwriter of the fund's shares.  The Principal
Underwriter is located at 333 South Hope Street, Los Angeles, CA 90071, 135
South State College Boulevard, Brea, CA 92821, 3500 Wiseman Boulevard, San
Antonio, TX 78251, 8332 Woodfield Crossing Boulevard, Indianapolis, IN 46240
and 5300 Robin Hood Road, Norfolk, VA 23513.  The fund has adopted a Plan of
Distribution (the Plan), pursuant to rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act.  The
Principal Underwriter receives amounts payable pursuant to the Plan (see below)
and commissions consisting of that portion of the sales charge remaining after
the discounts which it allows to investment dealers.  
 
As required by rule 12b-1 and the 1940 Act, the Plan (together with the
Principal Underwriting Agreement) has been approved by the full Board of
Directors, and separately by a majority of the Directors who are not interested
persons of the fund and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in
the operation of the Plan or the Principal Underwriting Agreement, and the Plan
has been approved by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting
securities of the fund.  The officers and Directors who are interested persons
of the fund may be considered to have a direct or indirect financial interest
in the operation of the Plan due to present or past affiliations with the
Investment Adviser and related companies.  Potential benefits of the Plan to
the fund include improved shareholder services, savings to the fund in transfer
agency costs, savings to the fund in advisory fees and other expenses, benefits
to the investment process from growth or stability of assets and maintenance of
a financially healthy management organization.  The selection and nomination of
Directors who are not interested persons of the fund are committed to the
discretion of the Directors who are not interested persons during the existence
of the Plan.  The Plan is reviewed quarterly and must be renewed annually by
the Board of Directors.
 
Under the Plan the fund may expend up to 0.30% of its average net assets
annually to finance any activity primarily intended to result in the sale of
fund shares, provided the fund's Board of Directors has approved the category
of expenses for which payment is being made.  These include service fees for
qualified dealers and dealer commissions and wholesaler compensation on sales
of shares exceeding $1 million (including purchases by any employer-sponsored
403(b) plan, any defined contribution plan qualified under Section 401(a) of
the Internal Revenue Code including a "401(k)" plan with 100 or more eligible
employees or a community foundation).  
 
Commissions on sales of shares exceeding $1 million (including purchases by any
employer-sponsored 403(b) plan or purchases by any defined contribution plan
qualified under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code, including any
"401(k)" plan with 100 or more eligible employees) in excess of the Plan
limitation not reimbursed 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, commissions are not recoverable.
 
The Glass-Steagall Act and other applicable laws, among other things, generally
prohibit commercial banks from engaging in the business of underwriting,
selling or distributing securities, but permit banks to make shares of mutual
funds available to their customers and to perform administrative and
shareholder servicing functions.  However, judicial or administrative decisions
or interpretations of such laws, as well as changes in either federal or state
statutes or regulations relating to the permissible activities of banks or
their subsidiaries of affiliates, could prevent a bank from continuing to
perform all or a part of its servicing activities.  If a bank were prohibited
from so acting, shareholder clients of such bank would be permitted to remain
shareholders of the fund and alternate means for continuing the servicing of
such shareholders would be sought.  In such event, changes in the operation of
the fund might occur, and shareholders serviced by such bank might no longer be
able to avail themselves of any automatic investment or other services then
being provided by such bank.  It is not expected that shareholders would suffer
adverse financial consequences as a result of any of these occurrences.
 
In addition, state securities laws on this issue may differ from the
interpretations of federal law expressed herein, and certain banks and
financial institutions may be required to be registered as dealers pursuant to
state law.
 
 
                       DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES
 
   
DIVIDENDS -- The fund intends to follow the practice of distributing
substantially all of its investment company taxable income which includes any
excess of net realized short-term gains over net realized long-term capital
losses.  The fund may follow the practice of distributing the entire excess of
net realized long-term capital gains over net realized short-term capital
losses.  However, the fund may retain all or part of such gain for
reinvestment, after paying the related federal taxes for which shareholders may
then be able to claim a credit against their federal tax liability.  If the
fund does not distribute the amount of capital gain and/or net investment
income required to be distributed by an excise tax provision of the Code, the
fund may be subject to that excise tax.  In certain circumstances, the fund may
determine that it is in the interest of shareholders to distribute less than
the required amount.  In this case, the fund will pay any income or excise
taxes due.    
 
   The fund intends to distribute annually in December its investment company
taxable income, including any net short-term capital gains in excess of net
long-term capital losses, and any net capital gains realized during each fiscal
year.  Additional distributions may be made, if necessary.    
 
   Dividends will be reinvested in shares of the fund unless shareholders
indicate in writing that they wish to receive them in cash or in shares of
other American Funds, as provided in the prospectus.    
 
   TAXES -- The fund intends to elect to be treated as a regulated investment
company under Subchapter M of the Code.  A regulated investment company
qualifying under Subchapter M of the Code is required to distribute to its
shareholders at least 90% of its investment company taxable income (including
net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital losses) and generally is
not subject to federal income tax to the extent that it distributes annually
its investment company taxable income and net realized capital gains in the
manner required under the Code.  The fund intends to distribute annually all of
its investment company taxable income and net realized capital gains and
therefore does not expect to pay federal income tax, although in certain
circumstances the fund may determine that it is in the interest of shareholders
to distribute less than that amount.    
 
   The fund will be subject to a 4% nondeductible excise tax on amounts
required to be but not distributed under a prescribed formula.  The formula
requires the fund to distribute to shareholders for a calendar year an amount
equal to at least 98% of the fund's ordinary income for that calendar year, at
least 98% of the excess of its capital gains over capital losses realized
during the one-year period ending October 31 during such year, and all ordinary
income and capital gains for prior years that were not previously
distributed.    
 
   Investment company taxable income generally includes dividends, interest,
net short-term capital gains in excess of net long-term capital losses, and
certain foreign currency gains, if any, less expenses and certain foreign
currency losses, if any.  Net realized capital gains for a fiscal year are
computed by taking into account any capital loss carry-forward of the fund.    
 
   If any net realized long-term capital gains in excess of net realized
short-term capital losses are retained by a fund for reinvestment, requiring
federal income taxes to be paid thereon by the fund, the fund intends to elect
to treat such capital gains as having been distributed to shareholders.  As a
result, each shareholder will report such capital gains as long-term capital
gains taxable to individual shareholders at a maximum 20%  capital gains rate,
will be able to claim a pro rata share of federal income taxes paid by the fund
on such gains as a credit against personal federal income tax liability, and
will  be entitled to increase the adjusted tax basis on fund shares by the
difference between a pro rata share of such gains owned and the individual tax
credit.    
 
   Distributions of investment company taxable income are taxable to
shareholders as ordinary income.    
 
   Dividends from domestic corporations are expected to comprise some portion
of the fund's gross income.  To the extent that such dividends constitute any
of the fund's gross income, a portion of the income distributions of the fund
will be eligible for the deduction for dividends received by corporations. 
Shareholders will be informed of the portion of dividends which so qualify. 
The dividends-received deduction is reduced to the extent that either the fund
shares, or the underlying shares of stock held by the fund, with respect to
which dividends are received, are treated as debt-financed under federal income
tax law and is eliminated if the shares are deemed to have been held by the
shareholder or the fund, as the case may be, for less than 46 days.    
 
   Distributions of the excess of net long-term capital gains over net
short-term capital losses which the fund properly designates as "capital gain
dividends" generally will be taxable to individual shareholders at a maximum
20% capital gains rate, regardless of the length of time the shares of the fund
have been held by such shareholders.  Such distributions are not eligible for
the dividends-received deduction.  Any loss realized upon the redemption of
shares held at the time of redemption for six months or less from the date of
their purchase will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any
amounts treated as distributions of long-term capital gain during such
six-month period.    
 
   Distributions of investment company taxable income and net realized capital
gains will be taxable as described above, whether received in shares or in
cash.  Shareholders electing to receive distributions in the form of additional
shares will have a cost basis for federal income tax purposes in each share so
received equal to the net asset value of a share on the reinvestment date.    
 
   All distributions of investment company taxable income and net realized
capital gain, whether received in shares or in cash, must be reported by each
shareholder subject to tax on his or her federal income tax return.  Dividends
and capital gains distributions declared in October, November or December and
payable to shareholders of record in such a month will be deemed to have been
received by shareholders on December 31 if paid during January of the following
year.  Redemptions of shares, including exchanges for shares of another
American Fund, may result in tax consequences (gain or loss) to the shareholder
and must also be reported on the shareholder's  federal income tax return.    
 
   Distributions by the fund result in a reduction in the net asset value of
the fund's shares.  Should a distribution reduce the net asset value below a
shareholder's cost basis, such distribution would nevertheless be taxable to
the shareholder as ordinary income or capital gain as described above, even
though, from an investment standpoint, it may constitute a partial return of
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
capital upon the distribution, which will nevertheless be taxable to them.    
 
   Dividend and interest income received by the fund from sources outside the
U.S. may be subject to withholding and other taxes imposed by such foreign
jurisdictions.  Tax conventions between certain countries and the U.S. may
reduce or eliminate these foreign taxes, however, and foreign countries
generally do not impose taxes on capital gains in respect of investments by
foreign investors.    
 
   The fund may make the election permitted under Section 853 of the Code so
that shareholders may (subject to limitations) be able to claim a credit or
deduction on their federal income tax returns for, and will be required to
treat as part of the amounts distributed to them, their pro rata portion of
qualified taxes paid by the Fund to foreign countries (which taxes relate
primarily to investment income).  The fund may make an election under Section
853 of the Code, provided that more than 50% of the value of the total assets
of the fund at the close of the taxable year consists of securities in foreign
corporations.  The foreign tax credit available to shareholders is subject to
certain limitations imposed by the Code.    
 
   Under the Code, gains or losses attributable to fluctuations in exchange
rates which occur between the time the fund accrues receivables or liabilities
denominated in a foreign currency and the time the fund actually collects such
receivables, or pays such liabilities, generally are treated as ordinary income
or ordinary loss.  Similarly, on disposition of debt securities denominated in
a foreign currency and on disposition of certain futures contracts, forward
contracts and options, gains or losses attributable to fluctuations in the
value of foreign currency between the date of acquisition of the security or
contract and the date of disposition are also treated as ordinary gain or loss. 
These gains or losses, referred to under the Code as "Section 988" gains or
losses, may increase or decrease the amount of the fund's investment company
taxable income to be distributed to its shareholders as ordinary income.    
 
   A portion of the difference between the issue price of zero coupon
securities and their face value ("original issue discount") is considered to be
income to the Fund each year, even though the fund will not receive cash
interest payments from these securities.     
 
   This original issue discount (imputed income) will comprise a part of the
investment company taxable income of the fund which must be distributed to
shareholders in order to maintain the qualification of the fund as a regulated
investment company and to avoid federal income tax at the level of the fund. 
Shareholders will be subject to income tax on such original issue discount,
whether or not they elect to receive their distributions in cash.    
 
   If the fund invests in stock of certain passive foreign investment
companies, the fund may be subject to U.S. federal income taxation on a portion
of any "excess distribution" with respect to, or gain from the disposition of,
such stock.  The tax would be determined by allocating such distribution or
gain ratably to each day of the fund's holding period for the stock.  The
distribution or gain so allocated to any taxable year of the fund, other than
the taxable year of the excess distribution or disposition, would be taxed to
the fund at the highest ordinary income rate in effect for such year, and the
tax would be further increased by an interest charge to reflect the value of
the tax deferral deemed to have resulted from the ownership of the foreign
company's stock.  Any amount of distribution or gain allocated to the taxable
year of the distribution or disposition would be included in the fund's
investment company taxable income and, accordingly, would not be taxable to the
fund to the extent distributed by the fund as a dividend to its
shareholders.    
 
   To avoid such tax and interest, the fund intends to elect to treat these
securities as sold on the last day of its fiscal year and recognize any gains
for tax purposes at that time. Deductions for losses are allowable only to the
extent of any prior recognized gains, and both gains and losses will be treated
as ordinary income or loss.  The fund will be required to distribute any
resulting income even though it has not sold the security and received cash to
pay such distributions.    
 
   The 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 the shares 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 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.    
 
   Shareholders of the fund may be subject to state and local taxes on
distributions received from the fund and on redemptions of the fund's
shares.    
 
   Each distribution is accompanied by a brief explanation of the form and
character of the distribution.  In January of each year fund shareholders will
receive a statement of the federal income tax status of all distributions.    
 
   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 the fund, including the possibility that such a
shareholder may be subject to a U.S. withholding tax at a rate of 30% (or at a
lower rate under an applicable income tax treaty) on dividend income received
by him or her.    
 
   Shareholders should consult their tax advisers about the application of the
provisions of tax law described in this statement of additional information in
light of their particular tax situations.     
 
 
                               PURCHASE OF SHARES
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
METHOD          INITIAL INVESTMENT           ADDITIONAL INVESTMENTS               
 
<S>             <C>                          <C>                                  
                See "Investment              $50 minimum (except where a          
                Minimums and Fund            lower minimum is noted under         
                Numbers" for initial         "Investment Minimums and Fund        
                investment minimums.         Numbers").                           
 
By              Visit any investment         Mail directly to your                
contacting      dealer who is                investment dealer's address          
your            registered in the            printed on your account              
investment      state where the              statement.                           
dealer          purchase is made and                                              
                who has a sales                                                   
                agreement with                                                    
                American Funds                                                    
                Distributors.                                                     
 
By mail         Make your check              Fill out the account                 
                payable to the fund          additions form at the bottom         
                and mail to the              of a recent account                  
                address indicated on         statement, make your check           
                the account                  payable to the fund, write           
                application.  Please         your account number on your          
                indicate an                  check, and mail the check and        
                investment dealer on         form in the envelope provided        
                the account                  with your account statement.         
                application.                                                      
 
By              Please contact your          Complete the "Investments by         
telephone       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 "Telephone Purchases,             
                                             Redemptions and Exchanges"           
                                             below).                              
 
By              Please contact your          Complete the American                
computer        investment dealer to         FundsLink Authorization Form.        
                open account, then           Once you establish the               
                follow the procedures        privilege, you, your                 
                for additional               financial advisor or any             
                investments.                 person with your account             
                                             information may access               
                                             American FundsLine OnLine(r)         
                                             on the Internet and make             
                                             investments by computer              
                                             (subject to conditions noted         
                                             in "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             
                necessary.  Please           under "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 AMERICAN FUNDS DISTRIBUTORS RESERVE THE RIGHT TO                                                                     
REJECT ANY PURCHASE ORDER.                                                                     
 
</TABLE>
 
INVESTMENT MINIMUMS AND FUND NUMBERS -- Here are the minimum initial
investments required by the funds in The American Funds Group along with fund
numbers for use with our automated phone line, American FundsLine(r) (see
description below):
   
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FUND                                         MINIMUM                 FUND        
                                             INITIAL                 NUMBER      
                                             INVESTMENT                          
 
<S>                                          <C>                     <C>         
STOCK AND STOCK/BOND FUNDS                                                       
 
AMCAP Fund(r)                                $1,000                  02          
 
American Balanced Fund(r)                    500                     11          
 
American Mutual Fund(r)                      250                     03          
 
Capital Income Builder(r)                    1,000                   12          
 
Capital World Growth and Income              1,000                   33          
Fund(sm)                                                                         
 
EuroPacific Growth Fund(r)                   250                     16          
 
Fundamental Investors(sm)                    250                     10          
 
The Growth Fund of America(r)                1,000                   05          
 
The Income Fund of America(r)                1,000                   06          
 
The Investment Company of America(r)         250                     04          
 
The New Economy Fund(r)                      1,000                   14          
 
New Perspective Fund(r)                      250                     07          
 
New World Fund(sm)                           1,000                   36          
 
SMALLCAP World Fund(r)                       1,000                   35          
 
Washington Mutual Investors Fund(sm)         250                     01          
 
BOND FUNDS                                                                       
 
American High-Income Municipal Bond          1,000                   40          
Fund(r)                                                                          
 
American High-Income Trust(sm)               1,000                   21          
 
The Bond Fund of America(sm)                 1,000                   08          
 
Capital World Bond Fund(r)                   1,000                   31          
 
Intermediate Bond Fund of                    1,000                   23          
America(sm)                                                                      
 
Limited Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of         1,000                   43          
America(sm)                                                                      
 
The Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of                  1,000                   19          
America(r)                                                                       
 
The Tax-Exempt Fund of                       1,000                   20          
California(r)*                                                                   
 
The Tax-Exempt Fund of Maryland(r)*          1,000                   24          
 
The Tax-Exempt Fund of Virginia(r)*          1,000                   25          
 
U.S. Government Securities Fund(sm)          1,000                   22          
 
MONEY MARKET FUNDS                                                               
 
The Cash Management Trust of                 2,500                   09          
America(r)                                                                       
 
The Tax-Exempt Money Fund of                 2,500                   39          
America(sm)                                                                      
 
The U.S. Treasury Money Fund of              2,500                   49          
America(sm)                                                                      
 
___________                                                                      
*Available only in certain states.                                               
 
</TABLE>
 
     
For retirement plan investments, the minimum is $250, except that the money
market funds have a minimum of $1,000 for individual retirement accounts
(IRAs).  Minimums are reduced to $50 for purchases through "Automatic
Investment Plans" (except for the money market funds) or to $25 for purchases
by retirement plans through payroll deductions and may be reduced or waived for
shareholders of other funds in The American Funds Group.  TAX-EXEMPT FUNDS
SHOULD NOT SERVE AS RETIREMENT PLAN INVESTMENTS.  The minimum is $50 for
additional investments (except as noted above).
 
SALES CHARGES -- The sales charges you pay when purchasing the stock,
stock/bond and bond funds of The American Funds Group are set forth below.  The
money market funds of The American Funds Group are offered at net asset value. 
(See "Investment Minimums and Fund Numbers" for a listing of the funds.)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                              <C>              <C>              <C>              
AMOUNT OF PURCHASE               SALES CHARGE AS                    DEALER           
AT THE OFFERING PRICE            PERCENTAGE OF THE:                    CONCESSION       
                                                                   AS PERCENTAGE    
                                                                   OF THE           
                                                                   OFFERING         
                                                                   PRICE            
 
                                 NET AMOUNT       OFFERING                          
                                 INVESTED         PRICE                             
 
STOCK AND STOCK/BOND                                                                
FUNDS                                                                               
 
Less than $50,000                6.10%            5.75%            5.00%            
 
$50,000 but less than            4.71             4.50             3.75             
$100,000                                                                            
 
BOND FUNDS                                                                          
 
Less than $25,000                4.99             4.75             4.00             
 
$25,000 but less than            4.71             4.50             3.75             
$50,000                                                                             
 
$50,000 but less than            4.17             4.00             3.25             
$100,000                                                                            
 
STOCK, STOCK/BOND AND                                                               
BOND FUNDS                                                                          
 
$100,000 but less than           3.63             3.50             2.75             
$250,000                                                                            
 
$250,000 but less than           2.56             2.50             2.00             
$500,000                                                                            
 
$500,000 but less than           2.04             2.00             1.60             
$1,000,000                                                                          
 
$1,000,000 or more               none             none             (see below)      
 
</TABLE>
 
   PURCHASES NOT SUBJECT TO SALES CHARGES -- Investments of $1 million or more
and investments made by employer-sponsored defined contribution-type plans with
100 or more eligible employees are sold with no initial sales charge.  A
contingent deferred sales charge may be imposed on certain redemptions by these
accounts made within one year of purchase.  Investments by retirement plans,
foundations or endowments with $50 million or more in assets, and
employer-sponsored defined contribution-type plans with 100 or more eligible
employees made with no sales charge and are not subject to a contingent
deferred sales charge.    
 
In addition, the stock, stock/bond and bond funds may sell shares at net asset
value to: 
 
(1) current or retired directors, trustees, officers and advisory board members
of the funds managed by Capital Research and Management Company, employees of
Washington Management Corporation, employees and partners of The Capital Group
Companies, Inc. and its affiliated companies, certain family members of the
above persons and trusts or plans primarily for such persons; 
 
(2) current registered representatives, retired registered representatives with
respect to accounts established while active, or full-time employees (and their
spouses, parents and children) of dealers who have sales agreements with
American Funds Distributors (or who clear transactions through such dealers)
and plans for such persons or the dealers; 
 
(3) companies exchanging securities with the fund through a merger, acquisition
or exchange offer; 
 
(4) trustees or other fiduciaries purchasing shares for certain retirement
plans of organizations with retirement plan assets of $50 million or more; 
 
(5) insurance company separate accounts; 
 
(6) accounts managed by subsidiaries of The Capital Group Companies, Inc.; and 
 
(7) The Capital Group Companies, Inc., its affiliated companies and Washington
Management Corporation. Shares are offered at net asset value to these persons
and organizations due to anticipated economies in sales effort and expense. 
 
   DEALER COMMISSIONS -- Commissions of up to 1% will be paid to dealers who
initiate and are responsible for purchases of $1 million or more, for purchases
by any employer-sponsored 403(b) plan or purchases by any defined contribution
plan qualified under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code including a
"401(k)" plan with 100 or more eligible employees, and for purchases  made at
net asset value by certain retirement plans of organizations with collective
retirement plan assets of $50 million or more: 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.    
 
OTHER COMPENSATION TO DEALERS -- American Funds Distributors, 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. American Funds Distributors will, on an annual
basis, determine the advisability of continuing these payments.
 
Qualified dealers currently are paid a continuing service fee not to exceed
0.25% of average net assets (0.15% in the case of the money market funds)
annually in order to promote selling efforts and to compensate them for
providing certain services.  These services include processing purchase and
redemption transactions, establishing shareholder accounts and providing
certain information and assistance with respect to the fund.
 
REDUCING YOUR SALES CHARGE -- You and your immediate family may combine
investments to reduce your costs.  You must let your investment dealer or
American Funds Service Company know if you qualify for a reduction in your
sales charge using one or any combination of the methods described below.
 
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 appreciation of your
investment or reinvested distributions.  The reduced sales charges and offering
prices set forth in the Prospectus apply to purchases of $50,000 or more made
within a 13-month period subject to the following statement of intention (the
"Statement").  The Statement is not a binding obligation to purchase the
indicated amount.  When a shareholder elects to utilize a Statement in order to
qualify for a reduced sales charge, shares equal to 5% of the dollar amount
specified in the Statement will be held in escrow in the shareholder's account
out of the initial purchase (or subsequent purchases, if necessary) by American
Funds Service Company.  All dividends and any capital gain distributions on
shares held in escrow will be credited to the shareholder's account in shares
(or paid in cash, if requested).  If the intended investment is not completed
within the specified 13-month period, the purchaser will remit to the Principal
Underwriter the difference between the sales charge actually paid and the sales
charge which would have been paid if the total of such purchases had been made
at a single time.  If the difference is not paid within 45  days after written
request by the Principal Underwriter or the securities dealer, the appropriate
number of shares held in escrow will be redeemed to pay such difference.  If
the proceeds from this redemption are inadequate, the purchaser will be liable
to the Principal Underwriter for the balance still outstanding.  The Statement
may be revised upward at any time during the 13-month period, and such a
revision will be treated as a new Statement, except that the 13-month period
during which the purchase must be made will remain unchanged and there will be
no retroactive reduction of the sales charges paid on prior purchases. 
Existing holdings eligible for rights of accumulation (see the account
application) may be credited toward satisfying the Statement.  During the
Statement period, reinvested dividends and capital gain distributions,
investments in money market funds and investments made under a right of
reinstatement will not be credited toward satisfying the Statement.
 
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 previously made during the 13-month
period.
 
Shareholders purchasing shares at a reduced sales charge under a Statement
indicate their acceptance of these terms with their first purchase.
 
AGGREGATION -- Sales charge discounts are available for certain aggregated
investments. Qualifying investments include those by you, your spouse and your
children under the age of 21, if all parties are purchasing shares for their
own account(s), which may include purchases through employee benefit plan(s)
such as an IRA, individual-type 403(b) plan or single-participant Keogh-type
plan or by a business solely controlled by these individuals (for example, the
individuals own the entire business) or by a trust (or other fiduciary
arrangement) solely for the benefit of these individuals. Individual purchases
by a trustee(s) or other fiduciary(ies) may also be aggregated if the
investments are (i) for a single trust estate or fiduciary account, including
an employee benefit plan other than those described above or (ii) made for two
or more employee benefit plans of a single employer or of affiliated employers
as defined in the 1940 Act, again excluding employee benefit plans described
above, or (iii) for a diversified common trust fund or other diversified pooled
account not specifically formed for the purpose of accumulating fund shares.
Purchases made for nominee or street name accounts (securities held in the name
of an investment dealer or another nominee such as a bank trust department
instead of the customer) may not be aggregated with those made for other
accounts and may not be aggregated with other nominee or street name accounts
unless otherwise qualified as described above.
 
CONCURRENT PURCHASES -- You may combine purchases of two or more funds in The
American Funds Group, except direct purchases of the money market funds. 
Shares of money market funds purchased through an exchange, reinvestment or
cross-reinvestment from a fund having a sales charge do qualify.
 
RIGHT OF ACCUMULATION -- You may take into account the current value of your
existing holdings in 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.  Direct
purchases of the money market funds are excluded.
 
PRICE OF SHARES -- Shares are purchased at the offering price next determined
after the purchase order is received and accepted by the fund or American Funds
Service Company; this offering price is effective for orders received prior to
the time of determination of the net asset value and, in the case of orders
placed with dealers, accepted by the Principal Underwriter prior to its close
of business.  In the case of orders sent directly to the fund or American Funds
Service Company, an investment dealer must be indicated.  The dealer is
responsible for promptly transmitting purchase orders to the Principal
Underwriter.  Orders received by the investment dealer, American Funds Service
Company, or the fund after the time of the determination of the net asset value
will be entered at the next calculated offering price.  Prices which appear in
the newspaper do not always indicated prices at which you will be purchasing
and redeeming shares of the fund, since such prices generally reflect the
previous day's closing price whereas purchases and redemptions are made at the
next calculated price.
 
The price you pay for shares, the offering price, is based on the net asset
value per share which is calculated once daily at the normal close of trading
(currently 4:00 p.m., New York time) each day the New York Stock Exchange is
open.  For example, if the Exchange closes at 1:00 p.m. on one day and at 4:00
p.m. on the next, the fund's share price would be determined as of 4:00 p.m.
New York time on both days.  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.  Debt 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. 
 
Securities with original maturities of one year or less having 60 days or less
to maturity are amortized to maturity based on their cost if acquired within 60
days of maturity or, if already held on the 60th day, based on the value
determined on the 61st day.  Forward currency contracts are valued at the mean
of representative quoted bid and asked prices.
 
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 fund's Board.  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 the fund. 
The Principal Underwriter  will not knowingly sell shares of the 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 the fund without the consent of a majority of the fund's
Directors.
 
                                 SELLING SHARES
 
Shares are sold at the net asset value next determined after your request is
received in good order by American Funds Service Company.  You may sell
(redeem) 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 that is an eligible guarantor institution.
- - 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 BY USING AMERICAN
FUNDSLINE(R) OR AMERICAN FUNDSLINE ONLINE(R)
- - Redemptions by telephone or fax (including American FundsLine(r) and American
FundsLine OnLine(R)) 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 or
registered shareholders exactly as indicated on your checking account signature
card.
 
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 (any contingent deferred sales charge paid
will be credited to your account) in any fund in The American Funds Group
within 90 days after the date of the redemption or distribution.  Redemption
proceeds of shares representing direct purchases in the money market funds are
excluded.  Proceeds will be reinvested at the next calculated net asset value
after your request is received and accepted by American Funds Service Company.
 
CONTINGENT DEFERRED SALES CHARGE -- A contingent deferred sales charge of 1%
applies to certain redemptions from funds other than the money market funds
made within twelve months of purchase on investments of $1 million or more
(other than redemptions by employer-sponsored retirement plans). The charge is
1% of the lesser of the value of the shares redeemed (exclusive of reinvested
dividends and capital gain distributions) or the total cost of such shares. 
Shares held for the longest period are assumed to be redeemed first for
purposes of calculating this charge.  The charge is waived for exchanges
(except if shares acquired by exchange were then redeemed within 12 months of
the initial purchase); for distributions from 403(b) plans or IRAs due to
death, disability or attainment of age 591/2; for tax-free returns of excess
contributions to IRAs; and for redemptions through certain automatic
withdrawals not exceeding 10% of the amount that would otherwise be subject to
the charge.
 
                  SHAREHOLDER ACCOUNT SERVICES AND PRIVILEGES
 
AUTOMATIC INVESTMENT PLAN -- The automatic investment plan enables shareholders
to make regular monthly or quarterly investments in shares through automatic
charges to their bank accounts.  With shareholder authorization and bank
approval, American Funds Service Company will automatically charge the bank
account for the amount specified ($50 minimum), which will be automatically
invested in shares at the offering price on or about the dates you select. 
Bank accounts will be charged on the day or a few days before investments are
credited, depending on the bank's capabilities, and shareholders will receive a
confirmation statement at least quarterly.  Participation in the plan will
begin within 30 days after receipt of the account application.  If the
shareholder's bank account cannot be charged due to insufficient funds, a
stop-payment order or the closing of the account, the plan may be terminated
and the related investment reversed.  The shareholder may change the amount of
the investment or discontinue the plan at any time by writing to American Funds
Service Company.
 
AUTOMATIC REINVESTMENT -- Dividends and capital gain distributions are
reinvested in additional shares at no sales charge unless you indicate
otherwise on the account application.  You also may elect to have dividends
and/or capital gain distributions paid in cash by informing the fund, American
Funds Service Company or your investment dealer.
 
CROSS-REINVESTMENT OF DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS -- A shareholder in one fund
may elect to cross-reinvest dividends or dividends and capital gain
distributions paid by that fund (the paying fund) into any other fund in The
American Funds Group (the receiving fund) subject to the following conditions:
(i) the aggregate value of the shareholder's account(s) in the paying fund(s)
must equal or exceed $5,000 (this condition is waived if the value of the
account in the receiving fund equals or exceeds that fund's minimum initial
investment requirement), (ii) as long as the value of the account in the
receiving fund is below that fund's minimum initial investment requirement,
dividends and capital gain distributions paid by the receiving fund must be
automatically reinvested in the receiving fund, and (iii) if this privilege is
discontinued with respect to a particular receiving fund, the value of the
account in that fund must equal or exceed the fund's minimum initial investment
requirement or the fund shall have the right, if the shareholder fails to
increase the value of the account to such minimum within 90 days after being
notified of the deficiency, to automatically redeem the account and send the
proceeds to the shareholder.  These cross-reinvestments of dividends and
capital gain distributions will be at net asset value (without sales charge).
 
EXCHANGE PRIVILEGE -- You may exchange shares into other funds in The American
Funds Group. Exchange purchases are subject to the minimum investment
requirements of the fund purchased and no sales charge generally applies.
However, exchanges of shares from the money market funds are subject to
applicable sales charges on the fund being purchased, unless the money market
fund shares were acquired by an exchange from a fund having a sales charge, or
by reinvestment or cross-reinvestment of dividends or capital gain
distributions.
 
You may exchange shares by writing to American Funds Service Company (see
"Redeeming Shares"), by contacting your investment dealer, by using American
FundsLine(r) or American  FundsLine OnLine(r) (see "American FundsLine(r) and
American  FundsLine OnLine(r)" below), or by telephoning 800/421-0180
toll-free, faxing (see "Principal Underwriter and Transfer Agent"  in the
prospectus for the appropriate fax numbers) or telegraphing American Funds
Service Company. (See "Telephone and Computer Purchases, Redemptions and
Exchanges" below.) Shares held in corporate-type retirement plans for which
Capital Guardian Trust Company serves as trustee may not be exchanged by
telephone, 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 (in amounts of $50
or more) among any of the funds in The American Funds Group on any day (or
preceding business day if the day falls on a non-business day) of each month
you designate.  You must either meet the minimum initial investment requirement
for the receiving fund OR the originating fund's balance must be at least
$5,000 and the receiving fund's minimum must be met within one year.
 
AUTOMATIC WITHDRAWALS -- Withdrawal payments are not to be considered as
dividends, yield or income.  Automatic investments may not be made into a
shareholder account from which there are automatic withdrawals.  Withdrawals of
amounts exceeding reinvested dividends and distributions and increases in share
value would reduce the aggregate value of the shareholder's account.  American
Funds Service Company arranges for the redemption by the fund of sufficient
shares, deposited by the shareholder with American Funds Service Company, to
provide the withdrawal payment specified.
 
ACCOUNT STATEMENTS -- Your account is opened in accordance with your
registration instructions. Transactions in the account, such as additional
investments and dividend reinvestments, will be reflected on regular
confirmation statements from American Funds Service Company.  Purchases through
automatic investment plans and certain retirement plans will be confirmed at
least quarterly.
 
AMERICAN FUNDSLINE(R) AND AMERICAN  FUNDSLINE ONLINE(r) -- You may check your
share balance, the price of your shares, or your most recent account
transaction, redeem shares (up to $50,000 per shareholder each day), or
exchange shares around the clock with American FundsLine(r) or American 
FundsLine OnLine(r).  To use this service, 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(r) and American  FundsLine OnLine(r) are subject to the conditions
noted above and in "Shareholder Account Services and Privileges -- 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 -- Investment Minimums and Fund Numbers"), personal identification
number (the last four digits of your Social Security number or other tax
identification number associated with your account) and account number.
 
TELEPHONE AND COMPUTER REDEMPTIONS AND EXCHANGES -- By using the telephone or
computer (including American FundsLine(r) or  American  FundsLine OnLine(r)),
fax or telegraph redemption and/or exchange options, you agree to hold the
fund, American Funds Service Company, any of its affiliates or mutual funds
managed by such affiliates, and each of their respective directors, trustees,
officers, employees and agents harmless from any losses, expenses, costs or
liability (including attorney fees) which may be incurred in connection with
the exercise of these privileges.  Generally, all shareholders are
automatically eligible to use these options.  However, you may elect to opt out
of these options by writing American Funds Service Company (you may also
reinstate them at any time by writing American Funds Service Company).  If
American Funds Service Company does not employ reasonable procedures to confirm
that the instructions received from any person with appropriate account
information are genuine, the fund may be liable for losses due to unauthorized
or fraudulent instructions.  In the event that shareholders are unable to reach
the fund by telephone because of technical difficulties, market conditions, or
a natural disaster, redemption and exchange requests may be made in writing
only.
 
SHARE CERTIFICATES -- Shares are credited to your account and certificates are
not issued unless you request them by writing to American Funds Service
Company.
 
REDEMPTION OF SHARES -- The fund's Articles of Incorporation permit the fund to
direct American Funds Service Company to redeem your shares for their then
current net asset value per share if at such time you own of record, 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 of the fund may from time to time
adopt.  Prior notice of at least 60 days will be given to a shareholder before
the involuntary redemption provision is made effective with respect to the
shareholder's account.  The shareholder will have not less than 30 days from
the date of such notice within which to bring the account up to the minimum
determined as set forth above.
 
                      EXECUTION OF PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS
 
Orders for the fund's portfolio securities transactions are placed by the
Investment Adviser.  The Investment Adviser strives to obtain the best
available prices in its portfolio transactions taking into account the costs
and promptness of executions. Fixed-income securities are generally traded on a
"net" basis with a dealer acting as principal for its own account without a
stated commission, although the price of the security usually includes a profit
to the dealer. In underwritten offerings, securities are usually purchased at a
fixed price which includes an amount of compensation to the dealer, generally
referred to as a concession or discount.  On occasion, securities may be
purchased directly from an issuer, in which case no commissions or discounts
are paid.  In the over-the-counter market, purchases and sales are transacted
directly with principal market-makers except in those circumstances where it
appears better prices and executions are available elsewhere.
 
When circumstances relating to a proposed transaction indicate that a
particular broker (either directly or through their correspondent clearing
agents) is in a position to obtain the best price and execution, the order is
placed with that broker.  This may or may not be a broker who has provided
investment research, statistical, or other related services to the Investment
Adviser or has sold shares of the funds or other funds served by the Investment
Adviser.  The fund does not consider that they have an obligation to obtain the
lowest available commission rate to the exclusion of price, service and
qualitative considerations.
 
Subject to the above policy, when two or more brokers (either directly or
through their correspondent clearing agents) are in a position to offer
comparable prices and executions, preference may be given to brokers who have
sold shares of the funds or have provided investment research, statistical, and
other related services for the funds and or other funds served by the
Investment Adviser.
 
There are occasions on which portfolio transactions for the fund may be
executed as part of concurrent authorizations to purchase or sell the same
security for other funds served by the Investment Adviser, or for trusts or
other accounts served by affiliated companies of the Investment Adviser. 
Although such concurrent authorizations potentially could be either
advantageous or disadvantageous to the fund, they are effected only when the
Investment Adviser believes that to do so is in the interest of the fund.  When
such concurrent authorizations occur, the objective is to allocate the
executions in an equitable manner.  The fund will not pay a mark-up for
research in principal transactions.
 
                              GENERAL INFORMATION
 
CUSTODIAN OF ASSETS -- Securities and cash owned by the fund, including
proceeds from the sale of shares of the fund and of securities in the fund's
portfolio, are held by The Chase Manhattan Bank,  One Chase Manhattan Plaza,
New York, NY 10081, as Custodian.  Non-U.S. securities may be held by the
Custodian pursuant to subcustodial arrangements in non-U.S. banks or foreign
branches of U.S. banks.
 
TRANSFER AGENT -- American Funds Service Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of
the Investment Adviser, maintains the records of each shareholder's account,
processes purchases and redemptions of the fund's shares, acts as dividend and
capital gain distribution disbursing agent and performs other related
shareholder service functions.  
 
   INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS --  Deloitte & Touche LLP, 1000 Wilshire Boulevard,
15th floor, Los Angeles, California  90017, has served as the fund's
independent accountants since the fund's inception, and will provide audit
services, prepare tax returns and review certain documents to be filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.  The financial statements included in this
Statement of Additional Information have been so included in reliance on the
report of the independent auditors given on the authority of that firm as
experts in auditing and accounting.    
 
SHAREHOLDER VOTING RIGHTS -- The fund does not hold annual meetings of
shareholders.  However, significant matters that 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.  At any meeting of shareholders, duly called and at which a
quorum is present, the shareholders may, by the affirmative vote of the holders
of a majority of the votes entitled to be cast thereon, remove any director or
directors from office and may elect a successor or successors to fill any
resulting vacancies for the unexpired terms of removed directors.  Accordingly,
the Directors of the fund will promptly call a meeting of shareholders for the
purpose of voting upon the  removal of any director when requested in writing
to do so by the record holders of at least 10% of the outstanding shares. 
Shareholders have one vote per share owned.
 
   REPORTS TO SHAREHOLDERS -- The fund's fiscal year ends on October 31. 
Shareholders will be provided at least semi-annually with reports showing the
investment portfolio, financial statements and other information.  The fund's
annual financial statements will be audited by the fund's independent
accountants, Deloitte & Touche LLP, whose selection will be determined annually
by the Board of Directors.  In an effort to reduce the volume of mail
shareholders receive from the fund when a household owns more than one account,
American Funds Service Company has taken steps to eliminate duplicate mailings
of shareholder reports.  To receive additional copies of a report, shareholders
should contact American Funds Service Company.    
 
YEAR 2000 -- The fund and its shareholders depend on the proper functioning of
computer systems maintained by the Investment Adviser and its affiliates and
other key service providers.  Many computer systems in use today will require
reprogramming or replacement prior to the year 2000 because of the way they
store dates and make date-related calculations.  The fund understands that
these service providers are taking steps to address the "Year 2000 problem". 
However, there can be no assurance that these steps will be sufficient to avoid
any adverse impact on the fund.  In addition, the fund's investments could be
adversely affected by the Year 2000 problem.  For example, the markets for
securities in which the fund invests could experience settlement problems and
liquidity issues. Corporate and governmental data processing errors may cause
losses for individual companies and overall economic uncertainties. Earnings of
individual issuers are likely to be affected by the costs of addressing the
problem, which may be substantial and may be reported inconsistently.
 
PERSONAL INVESTING POLICY -- Capital Research and Management Company and its
affiliated companies  have adopted a personal investing policy consistent with
Investment Company Institute guidelines.  This policy includes:  a ban on
acquisitions of securities pursuant to an initial public offering; restrictions
on acquisitions of private placement securities; pre-clearance and reporting
requirements; review of duplicate confirmation statements; annual
recertification of compliance with codes of ethics; disclosure of personal
holdings by certain investment personnel prior to recommendation for purchase
for the fund; blackout periods on personal investing for certain investment
personnel; ban on short-term trading profits for investment personnel;
limitations on service as a director of publicly traded companies; and
disclosure of personal securities transactions.
       
 
                   INVESTMENT RESULTS AND RELATED STATISTICS
 
   The fund's yield will be 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 average annual total return (T) will be computed by using the value at
the end of the period (ERV) of 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, the fund will assume: (1)
deduction of the maximum sales load of 5.75% from the $1,000 initial
investment; (2) reinvestment of dividends and distributions at net asset value
on the reinvestment date determined by the Board; and (3) a complete redemption
at the end of any period illustrated.    
 
   The fund may also, at times, calculate total return based on net asset value
per share (rather than the offering price), in which case the figure would not
reflect the effect of any sales charges which would have been paid if shares
were purchased during the period reflected in the computation.  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
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 fund may also calculate a distribution rate on a taxable and tax
equivalent basis.  The distribution rate will be computed by dividing the
dividends paid by the fund over the last 12 months by the sum of the month-end
net asset value or maximum offering price and the capital gains paid over the
last 12 months.  The distribution rate may differ from the yield.    
 
   The fund may include, in advertisements or in reports furnished to present
or prospective shareholders, information on its investment results and/or
comparisons of its investment results to various unmanaged indices (such as the
Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) World Free Index, MSCI Emerging
Markets Free Index, and the Salomon Smith Barney New World Index) or results of
other mutual funds or investment or savings vehicles.  The fund may also, from
time to time, combine its results with those of other funds in The American
Funds Group for purposes of illustrating investment strategies involving
multiple funds.  For educational purposes, fund literature may contain
discussions and/or illustrations of volatility, risk tolerance, asset
allocation and investment strategies.    
 
   The fund may refer to results and surveys compiled by organizations such as
CDA Investment Technologies, Ibbottson Associates, Lipper Analytical Services,
Morningstar, Inc. and Wiesenberger Investment Companies Services and by the
U.S. Department of Commerce.  Additionally, the fund may refer to results
published in various newspapers or periodicals, including BARRONS, FORBES,
FORTUNE, INSTITUTIONAL INVESTOR, KIPLINGER'S PERSONAL FINANCE MAGAZINE, MONEY,
U.S. NEWS AND WORLD REPORT and THE WALL STREET JOURNAL.    
 
   The fund may illustrate the benefits of tax-deferral by comparing taxable
investments to investments made through tax-deferred retirement plans.    
 
   The fund may compare its 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, fuels, transportation, and
other goods and services that people buy for day-to-day living).    
 
EXPERIENCE OF INVESTMENT ADVISER - The Investment Adviser manages nine growth
and growth-income funds that are at least 10 years old.  In the rolling 10-year
periods since January 1, 1969 (138 in all), those funds have had better total
returns than their comparable Lipper indexes in 128 of 138 periods.
 
   Note that past results are not an indication of future investment results. 
Also, the fund has different investment policies than the funds mentioned
above.  These results are included solely for the purpose of informing
investors about the experience and history of the Investment Adviser.    
 
   
                          DESCRIPTION OF BOND RATINGS
                           Corporate Debt Securities
 
MOODY'S INVESTORS SERVICE, INC. rates the long-term debt securities issued by
various entities in categories ranging from "Aaa" to "C" according to
quality.    
 
"AAA -- Best quality.  These securities 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."
 
"AA -- High quality by all standards.  They are rated lower than the best bonds
because margins of protection may not be as large as in Aaa securities,
fluctuation of protective elements may be of greater amplitude, or there may be
other elements present which make the long-term risks appear somewhat greater."
 
"A -- Upper medium grade obligations.  These bonds possess many favorable
investment attributes.  Factors giving security to principal and interest are
considered adequate, but elements may be present which suggest a susceptibility
to impairment sometime in the future."
 
"BAA -- Medium grade obligations.  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."
 
"BA -- Have speculative elements; future cannot be considered as well assured. 
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. 
Bonds in this class are characterized by uncertainty of position."
 
"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."
 
"CAA -- Of poor standing.  Issues may be in default or there may be present
elements of danger with respect to principal or interest."
 
"CA -- Speculative in a high degree; often in default or have other marked
shortcomings."
 
"C -- Lowest rated class of bonds; can be regarded as having extremely poor
prospects of ever attaining any real investment standing."
STANDARD & POOR'S CORPORATION rates the long-term securities debt of various
entities in categories ranging from "AAA" to "D" according to quality.
 
"AAA -- Highest rating.  Capacity to pay interest and repay principal is
extremely strong."
 
"AA -- High grade.  Very strong capacity to pay interest and repay principal
and differs from the higher rated issues only in small degree."
 
"A -- Have a strong capacity to pay interest and repay principal, although they
are somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of change in circumstances
and economic conditions, than debt in higher rated categories."
 
"BBB -- Regarded as having adequate capacity to pay interest and repay
principal.  These bonds normally exhibit adequate protection parameters, but
adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead
to a weakened capacity to pay interest and repay principal than for debt in
higher rated categories."
 
"BB, B, CCC, CC, C -- Regarded, on balance, as predominantly speculative with
respect to capacity to pay interest and repay principal in accordance with the
terms of the obligation.  BB indicates the lowest degree of speculation and C
the highest degree of speculation.  While such debt will likely have some
quality and protective characteristics, these are outweighed by large
uncertainties or major risk exposures to adverse conditions."
 
"C-1 -- Reserved for income bonds on which no interest is being paid."
 
"D -- In default and payment of interest and/or repayment of principal is in
arrears."
 
 
                           Financial Statements
                          New World Fund, Inc.
                  Statement of Assets and Liabilities
                             April 16, 1999
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>      <C>                                                    <C>              
ASSETS:                                                                           
 
         Cash                                                   $175,000         
 
         Prepaid Offering Expenses                              59,100           
 
          Total Assets                                          234,100          
 
LIABILITIES:                                                                           
 
         Payable to CRMC (Note 4)                               70,100           
 
NET ASSETS:  Equivalent to $22.08 per share on                                                          $164,000         
7,427.8438 shares of $0.01 par value capital stock                                                                           
issued and outstanding (authorized capital stock -                                                                           
200,000,000 shares)(Note 1)                                                                           
 
NET ASSETS CONSIST OF:                                                                           
 
Paid-in-capital - Equivalent to $23.56 per share                                                          $175,000         
 
Net Loss                                                           (11,000)         
 
NET ASSETS                                                          $164,000         
 
</TABLE>
 
    
 
 
 
                              New World Fund, Inc.
                           Statement of Operations
For the period from November 13, 1998 (inception) through April 16, 1999
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                                        <C>                
Expenses (Note 4)                                          $11,000            
 
 Net Loss                                                  ($11,000)          
 
</TABLE>
 
                          NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
 1. New World Fund, Inc. (the "fund") was organized on November 13, 1998 as a
Maryland corporation.  To date, the fund has had no transactions other than
those relating to organization matters and the sale of 7,427.8438 shares of
capital stock for $175,000 to Capital Research and Management Company ("CRMC"),
the Investment Adviser.  The fund's fiscal year ends on October 31.   The fund
will upon declaration of effectiveness by the Securities and Exchange
Commission ("SEC"), be registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
an open-end, diversified management investment company.
 
 2. The fund has entered into an Investment Advisory and Service Agreement with
CRMC and a Principal Underwriting Agreement with American Funds Distributors,
Inc. ("AFD").  Pursuant to the Investment Advisory and Service Agreement with
CRMC, the fund will pay a monthly fee, accrued daily, at an annual rate of
0.85% of the average net assets.
 
 3. It is the fund's policy to comply in its initial year and thereafter with
the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated
investment companies and to distribute all of its net taxable income, including
any net realized gain on investments to its shareholders.
 
 4. Organizational expenses are expensed as incurred.  The fund has accrued a
payable to CRMC representing expenses paid on behalf of the fund.  The fund
intends to repay CRMC upon commencement of operations.  Organizational expenses
are primarily audit, legal, accounting and printing fees.
 
 5. The fund recorded prepaid offering expenses relating to state and SEC
registration fees which will be amortized over the initial 60 day offering
period of the fund's shares.
 
 
Independent Auditors' Report         
 
To the Board of Directors of New World Fund, Inc.:
 
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of New
World Fund, Inc. (the "Fund"), as of April 16, 1999, and the related statement
of operations for the period from November 13, 1998 (inception) through April
16, 1999.  These financial statements are the responsibility of the Fund's
management.  Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial
statements based on our audit.
 
We conducted our audit in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards.  Those standards 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.  An audit
also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant
estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial
statement presentation.  We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis
for our opinion.
 
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in
all material respects, the financial position of New World Fund, Inc. at April
16, 1999, and the results of its operations for the period from November 13,
1998 (inception) through April 16, 1999, in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles.
 
DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
 
Los Angeles, California
April 16, 1999
    
 
 
 
 
                               OTHER INFORMATION
 
Item 23. Exhibits.
 
  a. On file (see SEC file nos. 811-9105 and 333-67455)
  b. On file (see SEC file nos. 811-9105 and 333-67455)
  c. Form of Share Certificate
  d. Form of Investment Advisory and Service Agreement between the Registrant
and Capital Research and Management Company
  e. Form of Principal Underwriting Agreement
  f. None
  g. Form of Custodian Agreement
  h. Form of Shareholder Services Agreement between the Registrant and American
Funds Service Company
  i. Legal Opinion
  j. Consent of Independent Auditors
  k. None
  l. Investment letter from the Investment Adviser relating to initial shares
  m. Form of Plan of Distribution adopted by the Registrant pursuant to rule
12b-1 under the 1940 Act
  n. None
  o. None
 
Item 24. Persons Controlled by or under Common Control with the Fund
 
 None.
 
Item 25. Indemnification.
 
  Registrant, upon the effective date of this Registration Statement, will
become a joint-insured under Investment Adviser/Mutual Fund Errors and
Omissions Policies written by American International Surplus Lines Insurance
Company, Chubb Custom Insurance Company, and ICI Mutual Insurance Company which
will insure 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 is not permitted to indemnify the
individual. 
 
  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, penalties,
fines and amounts paid in settlement actually 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 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 VIII (h) of the Articles of Incorporation of New World Fund, Inc.
(the "Fund" or the "Corporation") provides that "The Corporation shall
indemnify (1) its directors and officers, whether serving the Corporation or at
its request any other entity, to the full extent required or permitted by the
General Laws of the State of Maryland now or hereafter in force, including the
advance of expenses under the procedures and to the full extent permitted by
law, and (2) its other employees and agents to such extent as shall be
authorized by the Board of Directors or the Corporation's By-Laws and be
permitted by law.  The foregoing rights of indemnification shall not be
exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification may be
entitled.  The Board of Directors may take such action as is necessary to carry
out these indemnification provisions and is expressly empowered to adopt,
approve and amend from time to time such by-laws, resolutions or contracts
implementing such provisions or such further indemnification arrangements as
may be permitted by law.  No amendment of this Charter of the Corporation shall
limit or eliminate the right to indemnification provided hereunder with respect
to acts or omissions occurring prior to such amendment or repeal.  Nothing
contained herein shall be construed to authorize the Corporation to indemnify
any director or officer of the Corporation against any liability to the
Corporation or to any holders of securities of the Corporation to which he is
subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or
reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his office.  Any
indemnification by the Corporation shall be consistent with the requirements of
law, including the Investment Company Act of 1940."
 
  Registrant will comply with the indemnification requirements contained in the
Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "1940 Act") Releases No. 7221 (June 9,
1972) and No. 11330 (September 4, 1980).  In addition, indemnification by the
Registrant shall be consistent with the requirements of rule 484 under the
Securities Act of 1933.  Furthermore, Registrant undertakes to the staff of the
Securities and Exchange Commission that the Fund's indemnification provisions
quoted above prohibit indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act of 1933 and the 1940 Act.
 
Item 26. Business and Other Connections of the 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., 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, Capital World Bond Fund, 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.,
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 Money Fund of America, The U.S.
Treasury Money Fund of America and Washington Mutual Investors Fund, Inc.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(B)    (1)                                  (2)                                        (3)                   
 
      NAME AND PRINCIPAL                   POSITIONS AND OFFICES          POSITIONS AND OFFICES              
      BUSINESS ADDRESS                     WITH UNDERWRITER               WITH REGISTRANT                    
 
                                                                                                             
 
<S>   <C>                                  <C>                            <C>                                
      David L. Abzug                       Regional Vice President        None                               
 
      27304 Park Vista Road                                                                                  
      Agoura Hills, CA 91301                                                                                 
 
                                                                                                             
 
      John A. Agar                         Vice President                 None                               
      1501 N. University Drive,                                                                              
      Suite 227A                                                                                             
      Little Rock, AR 72207                                                                                  
 
                                                                                                             
 
      Robert B. Aprison                    Regional Vice President        None                               
      2983 Bryn Wood Drive                                                                                   
      Madison, WI  53711                                                                                     
 
                                                                                                             
 
L     William W. Bagnard                   Vice President                 None                               
 
                                                                                                             
 
      Steven L. Barnes                     Vice President                 None                               
 
      5400 Mt. Meeker Road, Suite 1                                                                          
      Minneapolis, MN 55438                                                                                  
 
                                                                                                             
 
                                                                                                             
 
B     Carl R. Bauer                        Assistant Vice President       None                               
 
                                                                                                             
 
      Michelle A. Bergeron                 Senior Vice President          None                               
      4160 Gateswalk Drive                                                                                   
      Smyrna, GA  30080                                                                                      
 
                                                                                                             
 
      Joseph T. Blair                      Senior Vice President          None                               
      27 Drumlin Road                                                                                        
      West Simsbury, CT  06092                                                                               
 
                                                                                                             
 
      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                                                                              
 
                                                                                                             
 
      Michael L. Brethower                 Senior Vice President          None                               
 
      2320 North Austin Avenue                                                                               
      Georgetown, TX  78626                                                                                  
 
                                                                                                             
 
      C. Alan Brown                        Regional Vice President        None                               
 
      4129 Laclede Avenue                                                                                    
      St. Louis, MO  63108                                                                                   
 
                                                                                                             
 
B     J. Peter Burns                       Vice President                 None                               
 
                                                                                                             
 
      Brian C. Casey                       Regional Vice President        None                               
 
      9508 Cable Drive                                                                                       
      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                               
      111 W. Chicago Avenue,                                                                                 
      Suite G3                                                                                               
      Hinsdale, IL 60521                                                                                     
 
                                                                                                             
 
      Denise M. Cassin                     Vice President                 None                               
      1301 Stoney Creek Drive                                                                                
      San Ramon CA 94538                                                                                     
 
                                                                                                             
 
L     Larry P. Clemmensen                  Director                       None                               
 
                                                                                                             
 
L     Kevin G. Clifford                    Director, President and         None                              
                                           Co-Chief Executive                                                
                                           Officer                                                           
 
                                                                                                             
 
      Ruth M. Collier                      Senior Vice President          None                               
      145 West 67th St. Ste. 12K                                                                             
      New York, NY  10023                                                                                    
 
                                                                                                             
 
S     David Coolbaugh                      Assistant Vice President       None                               
 
                                                                                                             
 
      Thomas E. Cournoyer                  Vice President                 None                               
      2333 Granada Boulevard                                                                                 
      Coral Gables, FL  33134                                                                                
 
                                                                                                             
 
      Douglas A. Critchell                 Senior Vice President          None                               
 
      4116 Woodbine St.                                                                                      
      Chevy Chase, MD 20815                                                                                  
 
                                                                                                             
 
L     Carl D. Cutting                      Vice President                 None                               
 
                                                                                                             
 
      Daniel J. Delianedis                 Regional Vice President        None                               
      8689 Braxton Drive                                                                                     
      Eden Prairie, MN 55347                                                                                 
 
                                                                                                             
 
      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                               
 
      633 Menlo Avenue, Suite 210                                                                            
 
      Menlo Park, CA 94025                                                                                   
 
                                                                                                             
 
      Peter J. Doran                       Senior Vice President          None                               
      1205 Franklin Avenue                                                                                   
      Garden City, NY  11530                                                                                 
 
                                                                                                             
 
L     Michael J. Downer                    Secretary                      None                               
 
                                                                                                             
 
      Robert W. Durbin                     Vice President                 None                               
      74 Sunny Lane                                                                                          
      Tiffin, OH  44883                                                                                      
 
                                                                                                             
 
I     Lloyd G. Edwards                     Senior Vice President          None                               
 
                                                                                                             
 
L     Paul H. Fieberg                      Senior Vice President          None                               
 
                                                                                                             
 
      John Fodor                           Vice President                 None                               
      15 Latisquama Road                                                                                     
      Southborough, MA 01772                                                                                 
 
                                                                                                             
 
      Clyde E. Gardner                     Senior Vice President          None                               
      Route 2, Box 3162                                                                                      
      Osage Beach, MO  65065                                                                                 
 
                                                                                                             
 
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                       None                               
 
                                                                                                             
 
B     Mariellen Hamann                     Assistant Vice President       None                               
 
                                                                                                             
 
      David E. Harper                      Senior Vice President          None                               
      R.D. 1, Box 210, Rte 519                                                                               
      Frenchtown, NJ  08825                                                                                  
 
                                                                                                             
 
      Ronald R. Hulsey                     Vice President                 None                               
      6744 Avalon                                                                                            
      Dallas, TX  75214                                                                                      
 
                                                                                                             
 
      Robert S. Irish                      Regional Vice President        None                               
      1225 Vista Del Mar Drive                                                                               
      Delray Beach, FL 33843                                                                                 
 
                                                                                                             
 
      Michael J. Johnston                  Director                       None                               
      630 Fifth Ave., 36th Floor                                                                             
      New York, NY 10111-0121                                                                                
 
                                                                                                             
 
B     Damien M. Jordan                     Vice President                 None                               
 
                                                                                                             
 
      Arthur J. Levine                     Vice President                 None                               
      12558 Highlands Place                                                                                  
      Fishers, IN  46038                                                                                     
 
                                                                                                             
 
B     Karl A. Lewis                        Assistant Vice President       None                               
 
                                                                                                             
 
      T. Blake Liberty                     Regional Vice President        None                               
      5506 East Mineral Lane                                                                                 
      Littleton, CO 80122                                                                                    
 
                                                                                                             
 
      Mark J. Lien                         Regional Vice President        None                               
      5570 Beechwood Terrace                                                                                 
      West Des Moines, IA 50266                                                                              
 
                                                                                                             
 
L     Lorin E. Liesy                       Assistant Vice President       None                               
 
                                                                                                             
 
L     Susan G. Lindgren                    Vice President -               None                               
                                           Institutional Investment                                          
                                           Services Division                                                 
 
                                                                                                             
 
LW    Robert W. Lovelace                   Director                       None                               
 
                                                                                                             
 
      Stephen A. Malbasa                   Vice President                 None                               
      13405 Lake Shore Blvd.                                                                                 
      Cleveland, OH  44110                                                                                   
 
                                                                                                             
 
      Steven M. Markel                     Senior Vice President          None                               
      5241 South Race Street                                                                                 
      Littleton, CO  90121                                                                                   
 
                                                                                                             
 
L     John C. Massar                       Senior Vice President          None                               
 
                                                                                                             
 
L     E. Lee McClennahan                   Senior Vice President          None                               
 
                                                                                                             
 
L     Jamie R. McCrary                     Assistant Vice President       None                               
 
                                                                                                             
 
S     John V. McLaughlin                   Senior Vice President          None                               
 
                                                                                                             
 
      Terry W. McNabb                      Vice President                 None                               
      2002 Barrett Station Road                                                                              
      St. Louis, MO  63131                                                                                   
 
                                                                                                             
 
L     R. William Melinat                   Vice President -               None                               
                                           Institutional                                                     
                                           Investment Services                                               
                                           Division                                                          
 
                                                                                                             
 
      David R. Murray                      Regional Vice President        None                               
 
      60 Briant Drive                                                                                        
      Sudbury, MA 01776                                                                                      
 
                                                                                                             
 
      Stephen S. Nelson                    Vice President                 None                               
      P.O. Box 470528                                                                                        
      Charlotte, NC  28247-0528                                                                              
 
                                                                                                             
 
      William E. Noe                       Regional 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                                                                                     
 
                                                                                                             
 
      Fredric Phillips                     Senior Vice President          None                               
 
      175 Highland Avenue,                                                                                   
      4th Floor                                                                                              
      Needham, MA 02194                                                                                      
 
                                                                                                             
 
B     Candance Pilgram                     Assistant Vice President       None                               
 
                                                                                                             
 
      Carl S. Platou                       Vice President                 None                               
      4021 96th Avenue, SE                                                                                   
      Mercer Island, WA 98040                                                                                
 
                                                                                                             
 
L     John O. Post, Jr.                    Vice President                 None                               
 
                                                                                                             
 
S     Richard P. Prior                     Assistant Vice President       None                               
 
                                                                                                             
 
      Steven J. Reitman                    Senior Vice President          None                               
      212 The Lane                                                                                           
      Hinsdale, IL 60521                                                                                     
 
                                                                                                             
 
      Brian A. Roberts                     Vice President                 None                               
 
      11404 Foxhaven Drive                                                                                   
      Charlotte, NC  28277                                                                                   
 
                                                                                                             
 
      George S. Ross                       Senior Vice President          None                               
      55 Madison Avenue                                                                                      
      Morristown, NJ  07962                                                                                  
 
                                                                                                             
 
L     Julie D. Roth                        Vice President                 None                               
 
                                                                                                             
 
L     James F. Rothenberg                  Director                       None                               
 
                                                                                                             
 
      Douglas F. Rowe                      Vice President                 None                               
 
      30008 Oakland Hills Drive                                                                              
      Georgetown, TX 78628                                                                                   
 
                                                                                                             
 
      Christopher Rowey                    Regional Vice President        None                               
      9417 Beverlywood Street                                                                                
      Los Angeles, CA 90034                                                                                  
 
                                                                                                             
 
      Dean B. Rydquist                     Senior Vice President          None                               
      1080 Bay Pointe Crossing                                                                               
      Alpharetta, GA 30005                                                                                   
 
                                                                                                             
 
      Richard R. Samson                    Senior Vice President          None                               
      4604 Glencoe Avenue, No. 4                                                                             
      Marina del Rey, CA  90292                                                                              
 
                                                                                                             
 
      Joe D. Scarpitti                     Vice President                 None                               
      31465 St. Andrews                                                                                      
      Westlake, OH 44145                                                                                     
 
                                                                                                             
 
L     R. Michael Shanahan                  Director                       None                               
 
                                                                                                             
 
      David W. Short                       Director, Chairman of the      None                               
      1000 RIDC Plaza, Ste 212             Board                                                             
      Pittsburgh, PA  15238                and Co-Chief Executive                                            
                                           Officer                                                           
 
                                                                                                             
 
      William P. Simon, Jr.                Senior Vice President          None                               
 
      912 Castlehill Lane                                                                                    
      Devon, PA 91333                                                                                        
 
                                                                                                             
 
L     John C. Smith                        Vice President -               None                               
                                           Institutional Investment                                          
                                           Services Division                                                 
 
                                                                                                             
 
L     Mary E. Smith                        Vice President -               None                               
                                           Institutional Investment                                          
                                           Services Division                                                 
 
                                                                                                             
 
      Rodney G. Smith                      Vice President                 None                               
 
      100 N. Central Expressway,                                                                             
      Suite 1214                                                                                             
      Richardson, TX  75080                                                                                  
 
                                                                                                             
 
      Anthony L. Soave                     Regional Vice President        None                               
      8831 Morning Mist Drive                                                                                
      Clarkston, MI 48348                                                                                    
 
                                                                                                             
 
      Nicholas D. Spadaccini               Regional 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                               
 
      1400 Southdown Road                                                                                    
      Hillsborough, CA 94010                                                                                 
 
                                                                                                             
 
B     Max D. Stites                        Vice President                 None                               
 
                                                                                                             
 
      Thomas A. Stout                      Regional Vice President        None                               
 
      3919 Whooping Crane Circle                                                                             
      Virginia Beach, VA  23455                                                                              
 
                                                                                                             
 
      Craig R. Strauser                    Vice President                 None                               
      3 Dover Way                                                                                            
      Lake Oswego, OR 97034                                                                                  
 
                                                                                                             
 
      Francis N. Strazzeri                 Senior Vice President          None                               
      31641 Saddletree Drive                                                                                 
      Westlake Village, CA 91361                                                                             
 
                                                                                                             
 
L     Drey W. Taylor                       Assistant Vice President       None                               
 
                                                                                                             
 
S     James P. Toomey                      Vice President                 None                               
 
                                                                                                             
 
I     Christopher E. Trede                 Vice President                 None                               
 
                                                                                                             
 
      George F. Truesdail                  Vice President                 None                               
      400 Abbotsford Court                                                                                   
      Charlotte, NC  28270                                                                                   
 
                                                                                                             
 
      Scott W. Ursin-Smith                 Vice President                 None                               
      60 Reedland Woods Way                                                                                  
      Tiburon, CA 94920                                                                                      
 
                                                                                                             
 
      John David Viale                     Regional Vice President        None                               
 
                                                                                                             
 
      Thomas E. Warren                     Regional Vice President        None                               
 
      119 Faubel Street                                                                                      
      Sarasota, FL 34242                                                                                     
 
                                                                                                             
 
L     J. Kelly Webb                        Sr. Vice President,            None                               
                                           Treasurer                                                         
 
                                                                                                             
 
      Gregory J. Weimer                    Regional Vice President        None                               
 
      206 Hardwood Drive                                                                                     
      Venetia, PA  15367                                                                                     
 
                                                                                                             
 
B     Timothy W. Weiss                     Director                        None                              
 
                                                                                                             
 
      George J. Wenzel                     Regional Vice President        None                               
      3406 Shakespeare Drive                                                                                 
      Troy, MI 48084                                                                                         
 
                                                                                                             
 
B     Laura L. Wimberly                    Vice President                 None                               
 
                                                                                                             
 
H     Marshall D. Wingo                    Senior Vice President          None                               
 
                                                                                                             
 
L     Robert L. Winston                    Director, Senior Vice          None                               
                                           President                                                         
 
                                                                                                             
 
      William Yost                         Vice President                 None                               
      9320 Overlook Trail                                                                                    
      Eden Prairie, MN  55347                                                                                
 
                                                                                                             
 
      Janet M. Young                       Regional Vice President        None                               
      1616 Vermont                                                                                           
      Houston, TX  77006                                                                                     
 
                                                                                                             
 
      Scott D. Zambon                      Regional Vice President        None                               
 
      2887 Player Lane                                                                                       
      Tustin Ranch, CA 92782                                                                                 
 
</TABLE>
 
_______________________
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  928621
S Business Address, 3500 Wiseman Boulevard, San Antonio, TX  78230
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
1940 Act, 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, One Chase Manhattan Plaza, New
York, New York 10081.
 
Item 29. Management Services.
 
  None.
 
Item 30. Undertakings.
 
  None.
 
 
                            SIGNATURE OF REGISTRANT
 
 Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment
Company Act of 1940 the Registrant has duly caused this amended Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City and County of Los Angeles, and State of California on
the 16th day of April, 1999.
 
        NEW WORLD FUND, INC.
        /s/ William R. Grimsley
        William R. Grimsley, 
        Chairman of the Board
 
 Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this amendment to
Registration Statement has been signed below on April 16, 1999 by the following
persons in the capacities indicated.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
       SIGNATURE                              TITLE                             
 
<S>    <C>                                    <C>                               
(1)    Principal Executive Officer:                                             
 
       /s/ William R. Grimsley                Chairman of the Board             
 
       (William R. Grimsley)                                                    
 
(2)    Principal Financial Officer and                                          
 
       Principal Accounting Officer:                                            
 
       /s/ R. Marcia Gould                    Treasurer                         
 
       (R. Marcia Gould)                                                        
 
(3)    Directors:                                                               
 
       Elisabeth Allison*                     Director                          
 
       Michael R. Bonsignore*                 Director
                          
       /s/ Gina H. Despres
       Gina H. Despres                        Vice Chairman and Director        
 
       Robert A. Fox*                         Director                          
 
       Alan Greenway*                         Director                          
 
       Koichi Itoh*                           Director                          
 
       William H. Kling*                      Director                          
 
       John G. McDonald*                      Director                          
 
       William I. Miller*                     Director                          
 
       Kirk P. Pendleton*                     Director                          
 
       Donald E. Petersen*                    Director                          
 
</TABLE>
 
*By /s/ Vincent P. Corti
 (Vincent P. Corti, Attorney-in-Fact)
 
 
 
                              POWER  OF  ATTORNEY
 
 I, Elisabeth Allison, the undersigned Director of New World Fund, Inc., a
Maryland corporation, do hereby constitute and appoint Vincent P. Corti, R.
Marcia Gould and Robert W. Lovelace, or any of them, to act as
attorneys-in-fact for and in my name, place and stead (1) to sign my name as a
Director of said Fund to any and all amendments to the Registration Statement
of New World Fund, Inc., File No. 333-67455 under the Securities Act of 1933 as
amended, said amendments to be filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, and to any and all reports, applications or renewal of applications
required by any State in the United States of America in which this Fund is
registered to sell shares, and (2) to deliver any and all such amendments to
such Registration Statement, so signed, for filing with the Securities and
Exchange Commission under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933 as
amended, granting to said attorneys-in-fact, and each of them, full power and
authority to do and perform every act and thing whatsoever requisite and
necessary to be done in and about the premises as fully to all intents and
purposes as the undersigned might or could do if personally present, hereby
ratifying and approving the acts of said attorneys-in-fact.
 
 EXECUTED at Sydney, Australia, this 16th day of April, 1999.
  /s/ Elisabeth Allison                                         
  Elisabeth Allison
 
 
                              POWER  OF  ATTORNEY
 
 I, Michael R. Bonsignore, the undersigned Director of New World Fund, Inc., a
Maryland corporation, do hereby constitute and appoint Vincent P. Corti, R.
Marcia Gould and Robert W. Lovelace, or any of them, to act as
attorneys-in-fact for and in my name, place and stead (1) to sign my name as a
Director of said Fund to any and all amendments to the Registration Statement
of New World Fund, Inc., File No. 333-67455 under the Securities Act of 1933 as
amended, said amendments to be filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, and to any and all reports, applications or renewal of applications
required by any State in the United States of America in which this Fund is
registered to sell shares, and (2) to deliver any and all such amendments to
such Registration Statement, so signed, for filing with the Securities and
Exchange Commission under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933 as
amended, granting to said attorneys-in-fact, and each of them, full power and
authority to do and perform every act and thing whatsoever requisite and
necessary to be done in and about the premises as fully to all intents and
purposes as the undersigned might or could do if personally present, hereby
ratifying and approving the acts of said attorneys-in-fact.
 
 EXECUTED at Sydney, Australia, this 16th day of April, 1999.
  /s/ Michael R. Bonsignore                     
  Michael R. Bonsignore
 
 
                              POWER  OF  ATTORNEY
 
 I, Gina H. Despres, the undersigned Director of New World Fund, Inc., a
Maryland corporation, do hereby constitute and appoint Vincent P. Corti, R.
Marcia Gould and Robert W. Lovelace, or any of them, to act as
attorneys-in-fact for and in my name, place and stead (1) to sign my name as a
Director of said Fund to any and all amendments to the Registration Statement
of New World Fund, Inc., File No. 333-67455 under the Securities Act of 1933 as
amended, said amendments to be filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, and to any and all reports, applications or renewal of applications
required by any State in the United States of America in which this Fund is
registered to sell shares, and (2) to deliver any and all such amendments to
such Registration Statement, so signed, for filing with the Securities and
Exchange Commission under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933 as
amended, granting to said attorneys-in-fact, and each of them, full power and
authority to do and perform every act and thing whatsoever requisite and
necessary to be done in and about the premises as fully to all intents and
purposes as the undersigned might or could do if personally present, hereby
ratifying and approving the acts of said attorneys-in-fact.
 
 EXECUTED at Sydney, Australia, this 16th day of April, 1999.
  /s/ Gina H. Despres                           
  Gina H. Despres
 
 
                              POWER  OF  ATTORNEY
 
 I, Robert A. Fox, the undersigned Director of New World Fund, Inc., a Maryland
corporation, do hereby constitute and appoint Vincent P. Corti, R. Marcia Gould
and Robert W. Lovelace, or any of them, to act as attorneys-in-fact for and in
my name, place and stead (1) to sign my name as a Director of said Fund to any
and all amendments to the Registration Statement of New World Fund, Inc., File
No. 333-67455 under the Securities Act of 1933 as amended, said amendments to
be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and to any and all
reports, applications or renewal of applications required by any State in the
United States of America in which this Fund is registered to sell shares, and
(2) to deliver any and all such amendments to such Registration Statement, so
signed, for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the
provisions of the Securities Act of 1933 as amended, granting to said
attorneys-in-fact, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform
every act and thing whatsoever requisite and necessary to be done in and about
the premises as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or
could do if personally present, hereby ratifying and approving the acts of said
attorneys-in-fact.
 
 EXECUTED at Sydney, Australia, this 16th day of April, 1999.
  /s/ Robert A. Fox                            
  Robert A. Fox
 
 
                              POWER  OF  ATTORNEY
 
 I, William R. Grimsley, the undersigned Director of New World Fund, Inc., a
Maryland corporation, do hereby constitute and appoint Vincent P. Corti, R.
Marcia Gould and Robert W. Lovelace, or any of them, to act as
attorneys-in-fact for and in my name, place and stead (1) to sign my name as a
Director of said Fund to any and all amendments to the Registration Statement
of New World Fund, Inc., File No. 333-67455 under the Securities Act of 1933 as
amended, said amendments to be filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, and to any and all reports, applications or renewal of applications
required by any State in the United States of America in which this Fund is
registered to sell shares, and (2) to deliver any and all such amendments to
such Registration Statement, so signed, for filing with the Securities and
Exchange Commission under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933 as
amended, granting to said attorneys-in-fact, and each of them, full power and
authority to do and perform every act and thing whatsoever requisite and
necessary to be done in and about the premises as fully to all intents and
purposes as the undersigned might or could do if personally present, hereby
ratifying and approving the acts of said attorneys-in-fact.
 
 EXECUTED at Sydney, Australia, this 16th day of April, 1999.
  /s/ William R. Grimsley                       
  William R. Grimsley
 
 
                              POWER  OF  ATTORNEY
 
 
                              POWER  OF  ATTORNEY
 
 I, Alan Greenway, the undersigned Director of New World Fund, Inc., a Maryland
corporation, do hereby constitute and appoint Vincent P. Corti, R. Marcia Gould
and Robert W. Lovelace, or any of them, to act as attorneys-in-fact for and in
my name, place and stead (1) to sign my name as a Director of said Fund to any
and all amendments to the Registration Statement of New World Fund, Inc., File
No. 333-67455 under the Securities Act of 1933 as amended, said amendments to
be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and to any and all
reports, applications or renewal of applications required by any State in the
United States of America in which this Fund is registered to sell shares, and
(2) to deliver any and all such amendments to such Registration Statement, so
signed, for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the
provisions of the Securities Act of 1933 as amended, granting to said
attorneys-in-fact, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform
every act and thing whatsoever requisite and necessary to be done in and about
the premises as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or
could do if personally present, hereby ratifying and approving the acts of said
attorneys-in-fact.
 
 EXECUTED at Sydney, Australia, this 16th day of April, 1999.
  /s/ Alan Greenway                      
  Alan Greenway
 
 I, Koichi Itoh, the undersigned Director of New World Fund, Inc., a Maryland
corporation, do hereby constitute and appoint Vincent P. Corti, R. Marcia Gould
and Robert W. Lovelace, or any of them, to act as attorneys-in-fact for and in
my name, place and stead (1) to sign my name as a Director of said Fund to any
and all amendments to the Registration Statement of New World Fund, Inc., File
No. 333-67455 under the Securities Act of 1933 as amended, said amendments to
be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and to any and all
reports, applications or renewal of applications required by any State in the
United States of America in which this Fund is registered to sell shares, and
(2) to deliver any and all such amendments to such Registration Statement, so
signed, for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the
provisions of the Securities Act of 1933 as amended, granting to said
attorneys-in-fact, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform
every act and thing whatsoever requisite and necessary to be done in and about
the premises as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or
could do if personally present, hereby ratifying and approving the acts of said
attorneys-in-fact.
 
 EXECUTED at Sydney, Australia, this 16th day of April, 1999.
  /s/ Koichi Itoh                               
  Koichi Itoh
 
 
                              POWER  OF  ATTORNEY
 
 I, William H. Kling, the undersigned Director of New World Fund, Inc., a
Maryland corporation, do hereby constitute and appoint Vincent P. Corti, R.
Marcia Gould and Robert W. Lovelace, or any of them, to act as
attorneys-in-fact for and in my name, place and stead (1) to sign my name as a
Director of said Fund to any and all amendments to the Registration Statement
of New World Fund, Inc., File No. 333-67455 under the Securities Act of 1933 as
amended, said amendments to be filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, and to any and all reports, applications or renewal of applications
required by any State in the United States of America in which this Fund is
registered to sell shares, and (2) to deliver any and all such amendments to
such Registration Statement, so signed, for filing with the Securities and
Exchange Commission under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933 as
amended, granting to said attorneys-in-fact, and each of them, full power and
authority to do and perform every act and thing whatsoever requisite and
necessary to be done in and about the premises as fully to all intents and
purposes as the undersigned might or could do if personally present, hereby
ratifying and approving the acts of said attorneys-in-fact.
 
 EXECUTED at Sydney, Australia, this 16th day of April, 1999.
  /s/ William H. Kling                        
  William H. Kling
 
 
                              POWER  OF  ATTORNEY
 
 I, John G. McDonald, the undersigned Director of New World Fund, Inc., a
Maryland corporation, do hereby constitute and appoint Vincent P. Corti, R.
Marcia Gould and Robert W. Lovelace, or any of them, to act as
attorneys-in-fact for and in my name, place and stead (1) to sign my name as a
Director of said Fund to any and all amendments to the Registration Statement
of New World Fund, Inc., File No. 333-67455 under the Securities Act of 1933 as
amended, said amendments to be filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, and to any and all reports, applications or renewal of applications
required by any State in the United States of America in which this Fund is
registered to sell shares, and (2) to deliver any and all such amendments to
such Registration Statement, so signed, for filing with the Securities and
Exchange Commission under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933 as
amended, granting to said attorneys-in-fact, and each of them, full power and
authority to do and perform every act and thing whatsoever requisite and
necessary to be done in and about the premises as fully to all intents and
purposes as the undersigned might or could do if personally present, hereby
ratifying and approving the acts of said attorneys-in-fact.
 
 EXECUTED at Sydney, Australia, this 16th day of April, 1999.
 
  /s/ John G. McDonald                          
  John G. McDonald
 
 
                              POWER  OF  ATTORNEY
 
 I, William I. Miller, the undersigned Director of New World Fund, Inc., a
Maryland corporation, do hereby constitute and appoint Vincent P. Corti, R.
Marcia Gould and Robert W. Lovelace, or any of them, to act as
attorneys-in-fact for and in my name, place and stead (1) to sign my name as a
Director of said Fund to any and all amendments to the Registration Statement
of New World Fund, Inc., File No. 333-67455 under the Securities Act of 1933 as
amended, said amendments to be filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, and to any and all reports, applications or renewal of applications
required by any State in the United States of America in which this Fund is
registered to sell shares, and (2) to deliver any and all such amendments to
such Registration Statement, so signed, for filing with the Securities and
Exchange Commission under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933 as
amended, granting to said attorneys-in-fact, and each of them, full power and
authority to do and perform every act and thing whatsoever requisite and
necessary to be done in and about the premises as fully to all intents and
purposes as the undersigned might or could do if personally present, hereby
ratifying and approving the acts of said attorneys-in-fact.
 
 EXECUTED at Sydney, Australia, this 16th day of April, 1999.
  /s/ William I. Miller                         
  William I. Miller
 
 
                              POWER  OF  ATTORNEY
 
 I, Kirk P. Pendleton, the undersigned Director of New World Fund, Inc., a
Maryland corporation, do hereby constitute and appoint Vincent P. Corti, R.
Marcia Gould and Robert W. Lovelace, or any of them, to act as
attorneys-in-fact for and in my name, place and stead (1) to sign my name as a
Director of said Fund to any and all amendments to the Registration Statement
of New World Fund, Inc., File No. 333-67455 under the Securities Act of 1933 as
amended, said amendments to be filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, and to any and all reports, applications or renewal of applications
required by any State in the United States of America in which this Fund is
registered to sell shares, and (2) to deliver any and all such amendments to
such Registration Statement, so signed, for filing with the Securities and
Exchange Commission under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933 as
amended, granting to said attorneys-in-fact, and each of them, full power and
authority to do and perform every act and thing whatsoever requisite and
necessary to be done in and about the premises as fully to all intents and
purposes as the undersigned might or could do if personally present, hereby
ratifying and approving the acts of said attorneys-in-fact.
 
 EXECUTED at Sydney, Australia, this 16th day of April, 1999.
  /s/ Kirk P. Pendleton                         
  Kirk P. Pendleton
 
 
                              POWER  OF  ATTORNEY
 
 I, Donald E. Petersen, the undersigned Director of New World Fund, Inc., a
Maryland corporation, do hereby constitute and appoint Vincent P. Corti, R.
Marcia Gould and Robert W. Lovelace, or any of them, to act as
attorneys-in-fact for and in my name, place and stead (1) to sign my name as a
Director of said Fund to any and all amendments to the Registration Statement
of New World Fund, Inc., File No. 333-67455 under the Securities Act of 1933 as
amended, said amendments to be filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, and to any and all reports, applications or renewal of applications
required by any State in the United States of America in which this Fund is
registered to sell shares, and (2) to deliver any and all such amendments to
such Registration Statement, so signed, for filing with the Securities and
Exchange Commission under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933 as
amended, granting to said attorneys-in-fact, and each of them, full power and
authority to do and perform every act and thing whatsoever requisite and
necessary to be done in and about the premises as fully to all intents and
purposes as the undersigned might or could do if personally present, hereby
ratifying and approving the acts of said attorneys-in-fact.
 
 EXECUTED at Sydney, Australia, this 16th day of April, 1999.
  /s/ Donald E. Petersen                        
  Donald E. Petersen
 
 
 
 NUMBER                                                        SHARES
                                                               (Void)
 
              INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF MARYLAND
 
                            NEW WORLD FUND, INC.
 
This Certifies that                                         is the owner of
 
*SEE REVERSE FOR CERTAIN ABBREVIATIONS
 
CUSIP 649 280 10 4
 
 
fully paid and nonassessable Shares of the Capital Stock of New World Fund,
Inc., each of the par value of One Cent [$.01], transferable on the books of
the Corporation by the holder thereof in person or by duly authorized attorney
upon surrender of this certificate properly endorsed.  This certificate is not
valid unless countersigned by the Transfer Agent.
 
     Witness, the facsimile signatures of its duly authorized officers.
 
                                              Dated:
 
/s/ Vincent P. Corti                          /s/ William R. Grimsley
Secretary                                     Chairman of the Board
 
                                              COUNTERSIGNED
 
                                              AMERICAN FUNDS SERVICE COMPANY
 
                                                 TRANSFER AGENT
 
                                              BY---------------------------
                                                AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE
 
 
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         PLEASE DETACH AND DISCARD UNLESS CHANGES ARE REQUIRED
 
CERTIFICATE          NEW WORLD FUND, INC.
NUMBER                                                     SHARES
 
ACCOUNT NO.          ALPHA CODE        DEALER NUMBER            TRADE DATE
 
 
           CHANGE NOTICE: IF THE ABOVE INFORMATION IS INCORRECT OR MISSING,
           PLEASE PRINT THE CORRECT INFORMATION BELOW AND RETURN TO:
 
           --------------------------------------------------------------
           --------------------------------------------------------------
           TAXPAYER I.D. NUMBER------------------------------------------
 
 
EXPLANATION OF ABBREVIATIONS
 
* The following abbreviations, when used in the registration on the face of
this certificate, shall have the meanings assigned below:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>          <C>                   <C>        <C>                     <C>      <C>                   
ADM          --Administratrix      FBO        --For the benefit of    TTEE     --Trustee
             --Administrator                                                                         
 
COM PROP     --Community Property  GDN        --Guardian              U/A      --Under Agreement     
 
CUST         --Custodian           JT TEN     --Joint tenants         UGMA/    --Gift to minors act in effect in the state  
                                                with right  of       (State)     indicated
                                                survivorship                 
 
DTD          --Dated               LIFE TEN   --Life tenant           UTMA/    --Transfers to minors act in effect in the state 
                                                                     (State)     indicated   
 
EST          --Estate              TR         --Trust                 U/W      --Last will and testament   
             --Of Estate of                                                    --Under last will and testament of   
                                                                               --Of will of          
                                                                               --Under the will of   
                                                                               --Of the will of      
 
ET AL        --(and) Others        TEN  COM   --Tenants in common                                    
 
EXEC         --Executor            TEN ENT    --Tenants by the entireties                                  
             --Executrix                                                                             
 
</TABLE>
 
 
Note: Abbreviations refer where appropriate to the singular or plural, male or
female.  Other abbreviations may also be used, including U.S. Post Office
Department two-letter state abbreviations.
 
THE CORPORATION WILL FURNISH TO ANY SHAREHOLDER UPON REQUEST AND WITHOUT CHARGE
A FULL STATEMENT OF THE DESIGNATIONS, PREFERENCES, LIMITATIONS AND RELATIVE
RIGHTS OF THE SHARES OF EACH CLASS AUTHORIZED TO BE ISSUED, THE VARIATIONS IN
THE RELATIVE RIGHTS AND PREFERENCES BETWEEN THE SHARES OF EACH SERIES OF SHARES
OF THE CORPORATION SO FAR AS THE SAME HAVE BEEN FIXED AND DETERMINED, AND THE
AUTHORITY OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO FIX AND DETERMINE THE RELATIVE RIGHTS
AND PREFERENCES OF CLASSES AND SERIES OF THE SHARES OF THE CORPORATION.  SUCH
REQUEST MAY BE MADE TO THE SECRETARY OF THE CORPORATION.
 
NOTE: AS STATED IN THE FUND'S ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION, THIS CERTIFICATE
REPRESENTING SHARES OF CAPITAL STOCK OF THE FUND MAY BE REDEEMED WITHOUT THE
CONSENT OR APPROVAL OF THE SHAREHOLDER FOR THE THEN CURRENT NET ASSET VALUE PER
SHARE IF AT SUCH TIME THE SHAREHOLDER OWNS OF RECORD SHARES HAVING AN AGGREGATE
NET ASSET VALUE OF LESS THAN THE MINIMUM INITIAL INVESTMENT AMOUNT.
 
REQUIREMENTS: The signature(s) on this assignment must correspond exactly with
the name(s) as written upon the face of the certificate in every particular.
 
     Except as described below, in order to redeem shares, your signature must
be guaranteed by a bank, savings, association, credit union, or member firm of
a domestic stock exchange or the National Association of Securities Dealers,
Inc. that is an eligible guarantor prior toobtaining the signature guarantee.
 
     A signature guarantee is not currently required for any redemption of
$50,000 or less provided the redemption check is made payable to the registered
shareholder(s) and is mailed to the address of record.  However, the fund
reserves the right to require signature guarantee(s) on all redemptions. 
 
     For value received, the undersigned hereby sell, assign, and transfer   
- --------- shares of capital stock represented by this certificate to:
 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------
 (PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS OF ASSIGNEE)    
 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
and do hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint -------- attorney to transfer
the said stock on the books of the corporation with full power
of substitution.
 
    Dated: ----------------------  
 
           ----------------------------------------
           Owner
 
           ----------------------------------------
           Signature of Co-Owner, if any
IMPORTANT: BEFORE SIGNING, PLEASE READ AND COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS PRINTED
ABOVE.
 
Signatures(s) guaranteed by:
 
 
 
 
                                FORM OF
                 INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND SERVICE AGREEMENT
 
 
THIS AGREEMENT, dated and effective as of the 16th day of April 1999, is made
and entered into by and between NEW WORLD FUND, INC., a Maryland  corporation,
(hereinafter called the "Fund"), and CAPITAL RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT COMPANY, a
Delaware corporation, (hereinafter called the "Investment Adviser").
 
                              W I T N E S S E T H
 
The Fund is an open-end diversified investment company of the management type,
registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "1940 Act").  The
Investment Adviser is registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and
is engaged in the business of providing investment advisory and related
services to the Fund and to other investment companies.
 
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual undertaking of
the parties, it is covenanted and agreed as follows:
 
1. The Investment Adviser shall determine what securities and other assets
shall be purchased or sold by the Fund.
 
2. The Investment Adviser shall furnish the services of persons to perform the
executive, administrative, clerical, and bookkeeping functions of the Fund,
including the daily determination of net asset value per share.  The Investment
Adviser shall pay the compensation and travel expenses of all such persons, and
they shall serve without any additional compensation from the Fund.  The
Investment Adviser shall also, at its expense, provide the Fund with necessary
office space (which may be in the offices of the Investment Adviser); all
necessary office equipment and utilities; and general purpose forms, supplies,
and postage used at the offices of the Fund.
 
3. The Fund shall pay all its expenses not assumed by the Investment Adviser as
provided herein.  Such expenses shall include, but shall not be limited to,
expenses incurred in connection with the organization of the Fund, its
qualification to do business as a foreign corporation in the State of
California, and its registration as an investment company under the 1940 Act;
custodian, stock transfer and dividend disbursing fees and expenses;
distribution expenses pursuant to a plan under rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act;
costs of designing and of printing and mailing to its shareholders reports,
prospectuses, proxy statements, and notices to its shareholders; taxes;
expenses of the issuance, sale, redemption, or repurchase of shares of the Fund
(including registration and qualification expenses); legal and auditing fees
and expenses; compensation, fees, and expenses paid to directors not affiliated
with the Investment Adviser; association dues; and costs of any share
certificates, stationery and forms prepared exclusively for the Fund.
 
4. The Fund shall pay to the Investment Adviser on or before the tenth (10th)
day of each month, as compensation for the services rendered by the Investment
Adviser during the preceding month a fee, which shall be accrued daily,
calculated at the annual rate of:  
 
 .85% of net assets.
 
For the purposes hereof, the net assets of the Fund shall be determined in the
manner set forth in the Articles of Incorporation and Prospectus of the Fund. 
The advisory fee shall be payable for the period commencing on the date on
which operations of the Fund begin and ending on the date of termination hereof
and shall be prorated for any fraction of a month at the termination of such
period.
 
5. The Investment Adviser agrees that in the event the expenses 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 this Investment Advisory and Service 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
regulations, will reimburse the Fund in the amount of such excess.
 
6. This Agreement may be terminated at any time, without payment of any
penalty, by the Directors of the Fund or by vote of a majority (within the
meaning of the 1940 Act) of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund, on
sixty (60) days' written notice to the Investment Adviser, or by the Investment
Adviser on like notice to the Fund.  Unless sooner terminated in accordance
with this provision, this Agreement shall continue until December 31, 2000.  It
may thereafter be renewed from year to year by mutual consent; provided that
such renewal shall be specifically approved at least annually by the Board of
Directors of the Fund, or by vote of a majority (within the meaning of the 1940
Act) of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund.  In either event, it
must be approved by a majority of those Directors who are not parties to such
Agreement nor interested persons of any such party, cast in person at a meeting
called for the purpose of voting on such approval.
 
7. This Agreement shall not be assignable by either party hereto, and in the
event of assignment (within the meaning of the 1940 Act) by the Investment
Adviser shall automatically be terminated forthwith.
 
8. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed to prohibit the
Investment Adviser from performing investment advisory, management, or
distribution services for other investment companies and other persons or
companies, nor to prohibit affiliates of the Investment Adviser from engaging
in such businesses or in other related or unrelated businesses.
 
9.  The Investment Adviser shall not be liable to the Fund or its stockholders
for any error of judgment, act, or omission not involving willful misfeasance,
bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of its obligations and
duties hereunder.
 
10. It is understood that the name, "American Funds" and "Capital" or any
derivatives thereof or logo associated with those names are the valuable
property of the Investment Adviser and its affiliates, and that the Fund shall
have the right to use such names (or derivatives or logos) only so long as this
Agreement shall continue in effect.  Upon termination of this Agreement the
Fund shall forthwith cease to use such names (or derivatives or logos).
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this instrument to be
executed in duplicate original by their duly authorized officers.
 
NEW WORLD FUND, INC.
 
By     
Chairman of the Board
 
By     
Secretary
 
CAPITAL RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT
COMPANY
 
By     
Chairman of the Board
 
By     
Secretary
 
 
                                    FORM OF
                      PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
 
 
THIS PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT, between New World Fund, Inc., a Maryland
corporation (the "Fund"), and AMERICAN FUNDS DISTRIBUTORS, INC., a California
corporation ("AFD").
 
                               W I T N E S S E T H:
 
WHEREAS, the Fund is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended (the "1940 Act"), as an open-end diversified investment company which
offers shares of common stock and it is a part of the business of the Fund, and
affirmatively in the interest of the Fund, to offer shares of the Fund in an
initial offering during a period that shall terminate on the settlement date,
June 17, 1999, and thereafter either from time to time or continuously as
determined by the Fund's officers subject to authorization by its Board of
Directors; and
 
WHEREAS, AFD is engaged in the business of promoting the distribution of shares
of investment companies through securities broker-dealers; and
 
  WHEREAS, the Fund and AFD wish to enter into an agreement with each other to
promote the distribution of the shares of the Fund and of all series of the
Fund which may be established in the future;
 
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties agree as follows:
 
1.  (a) AFD shall be the exclusive principal underwriter for the sale of the
shares of the Fund and of each series of the Fund which may be established in
the future, except as otherwise provided pursuant to the following subsection
(b).  The terms "shares of Fund" or "shares" as used herein shall mean shares
of common stock of the Fund and each series which may be established in the
future and become covered by this Agreement in accordance with Section 21 of
this Agreement..
 
(b) The Fund may, upon 60 days' written notice to AFD, from time to time
designate other principal underwriters of its shares with respect to areas
other than the North American continent, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and such
countries or other jurisdictions as to which the Fund may have expressly waived
in writing its right to make such designation.  In the event of such
designation, the right of AFD under this Agreement to sell shares in the areas
so designated shall terminate, but this Agreement shall remain otherwise in
full force and effect until terminated in accordance with the other provisions
hereof.
 
2. In the sale of shares of the Fund, AFD shall act as agent of the Fund except
in any transaction in which AFD sells such shares as a dealer to the public, in
which event AFD shall act as principal for its own account.
 
3. The Fund shall sell shares only through AFD, except that the Fund may, to
the extent permitted by the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder or pursuant thereto, at any time:
 
(a) issue shares to any corporation, association, trust, partnership or other
organization, or its, or their, security holders, beneficiaries or members, in
connection with a merger, consolidation or reorganization to which the Fund is
a party, or in connection with the acquisition of all or substantially all the
property and assets of such corporation, association, Fund, partnership or
other organization;
 
(b) issue shares at net asset value to the holders of shares of capital stock
or beneficial interest of other investment companies served as investment
adviser by any affiliated company or companies of The Capital Group Companies,
Inc., to the extent of all or any portion of amounts received by such
shareholders upon redemption or repurchase of their shares by the other
investment companies;
 
(c) issue shares at net asset value to its shareholders in connection with the
reinvestment of dividends paid and other distributions made by the Fund;
 
(d) issue shares at net asset value to persons entitled to purchase shares at
net asset value without sales charge or contingent deferred sales charge as
described in the current  prospectus which is part of the Fund's Registration
Statement in effect under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, for each
series issued by the Fund at the time of such offer or sale (the "Prospectus").
 
4. AFD shall devote its best efforts to the sale of shares of the Fund and
shares of any other mutual funds served as investment adviser by affiliated
companies of The Capital Group Companies, Inc., and insurance contracts funded
by shares of such mutual funds, for which AFD has been authorized to act as a
principal underwriter for the sale of shares.  AFD shall maintain a sales
organization suited to the sale of shares of the Fund and shall use its best
efforts to effect such sales in jurisdictions as to which the Fund shall have
expressly waived in writing its right to designate another principal
underwriter pursuant to subsection 1(b) hereof, and shall effect and maintain
appropriate qualification to do so in all those jurisdictions in which it sells
or offers shares for sale and in which qualification is required.
 
5. Within the United States of America, all dealers to whom AFD shall offer and
sell shares must be duly licensed and qualified to sell shares of the Fund. 
Shares sold to dealers shall be for resale by such dealers only at the public
offering price set forth in the current Prospectus.  AFD shall not, without the
consent of the Fund, sell or offer for sale any shares of a series issued by
the Fund other than as principal underwriter pursuant to this Agreement.
 
6. In its sales to dealers, it shall be the responsibility of AFD to insure
that such dealers are appropriately qualified to transact business in the
shares under applicable laws, rules and regulations promulgated by such
national, state, local or other governmental or quasi-governmental authorities
as may in a particular instance have jurisdiction.
 
7. The applicable public offering price of shares shall be the price which is
equal to the net asset value per share as shall be determined by the Fund in
the manner and at the time or times set forth in and subject to the provisions
of the Prospectus of the Fund.
 
8. All orders for shares received by AFD shall, unless rejected by AFD or the
Fund, be accepted by AFD immediately upon receipt and confirmed at an offering
price determined in accordance with the provisions of the Prospectus and the
1940 Act, and applicable rules in effect thereunder.  AFD shall not hold orders
subject to acceptance nor otherwise delay their execution.  The provisions of
this Section shall not be construed to restrict the right of the Fund to
withhold shares from sale under Section 16 hereof.
 
9. The Fund or its transfer agent shall be promptly advised of all orders
received, and shall cause shares to be issued upon payment therefor in New York
or Los Angeles Clearing House Funds.
 
10. AFD shall adopt and follow procedures as approved by the officers of the
Fund for the confirmation of sales to dealers, the collection of amounts
payable by dealers on such sales, and the cancellation of unsettled
transactions, as may be necessary to comply with the requirements of the
Commission or the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD"), as
such requirements may from time to time exist.
 
11. The compensation for the services of AFD as a principal underwriter under
this Agreement shall be (i) that part of the sales charge which is retained by
AFD after allowance of discounts to dealers as set forth in the effective
prospectus which is part of the Fund's Registration Statement in effect under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and (ii) amounts payable to AFD as
reimbursement of distribution expenses pursuant to the Fund's Plan of
Distribution under Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act.
 
12. The Fund agrees to use its best efforts to maintain its registration as a
diversified open-end management investment company under the 1940 Act.
 
13. The Fund agrees to use its best efforts to maintain an effective Prospectus
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and warrants that such Prospectus
will contain all statements required by and will conform with the requirements
of such Securities Act of 1933 and the rules and regulations thereunder, and
that no part of any such Prospectus, at the time the Registration Statement of
which it is a part becomes effective, will contain any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein,
or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.  AFD agrees and
warrants that it will not in the sale of shares use any Prospectus, advertising
or sales literature not approved by the Fund or its officers nor make any
untrue statement of a material fact nor omit the stating of a material fact
necessary in order to make the statements made, in the light of the
circumstances under which they are made, not misleading.  AFD agrees to
indemnify and hold the Fund harmless from any and all loss, expense, damage and
liability resulting from a breach of the agreements and warranties in this
Section contained, or from the use of any sales literature, information,
statistics or other aid or device employed in connection with the sale of
shares.
 
14. The expense of each printing of each Prospectus and each revision thereof
or addition thereto deemed necessary by the Fund's officers to meet the
requirements of applicable laws shall be divided between the Fund, AFD and any
other principal underwriter of the shares of the Fund as follows:
 
(a) the Fund shall pay the typesetting and make-ready charges;
 
(b) the printing charges shall be prorated between the Fund, AFD, and any other
principal underwriter(s) in accordance with the number of copies each receives;
and
 
(c) expenses incurred in connection with the foregoing, other than to meet the
requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or other applicable
laws, shall be borne by AFD, except in the event such incremental expenses are
incurred at the request of any other principal underwriter(s) in which case
such incremental expenses shall be borne by the principal underwriter(s) making
the request.
 
15. The Fund agrees to use its best efforts to qualify and maintain the
qualification of an appropriate number of the shares of each series it offers
for sale under the securities laws of such states as AFD and the Fund may
approve.  Any such qualification for any series may be withheld, terminated or
withdrawn by the Fund at any time in its discretion.  The expense of
qualification and maintenance of qualification shall be borne by the Fund, but
AFD shall furnish such information and other material relating to its affairs
and activities as may be required by the Fund or its counsel in connection with
such qualifications.
 
16. The Fund may withhold shares of any series from sale in any jurisdiction
temporarily or permanently if, in the opinion of its counsel, such offer or
sale would be contrary to law or if the Directors or the President or any Vice
President of the Fund determines that such offer or sale is not in the best
interest of the Fund.  The Fund will give prompt notice to AFD of any
withholding and will indemnify it against any loss suffered by AFD as a result
of such withholding by reason of nondelivery of shares of any series after a
good faith confirmation by AFD of sales thereof prior to receipt of notice of
such withholding.
 
17. (a) This Agreement may be terminated at any time, without payment of any
penalty, as to the Fund or any series on sixty (60) days' written notice by AFD
to the Fund.
 
(b) This Agreement may be terminated as to the Fund or any series by either
party upon five (5) days' written notice to the other party in the event that
the Securities and Exchange Commission has issued an order or obtained an
injunction or other court order suspending effectiveness of the Registration
Statement covering the shares of the Fund or such series.
 
(c) This Agreement may be terminated as to any series upon five (5) days'
written notice to AFD provided either of the following events has occurred:
 
(i)  The NASD has expelled AFD or suspended its membership in that
organization;
 
(ii)  the qualification, registration, license or right of AFD to sell shares
of any series in a particular state has been suspended or canceled by the State
of California or any other state in which sales of the shares of the Fund or
such series during the most recent 12-month period exceeded 10% of all shares
of such series sold by AFD during such period.
 
(d) This Agreement may be terminated as to the Fund or any series at any time
on sixty (60) days' written notice to AFD without the payment of any penalty,
by vote of a majority of the members of the Board of Directors of the Fund who
are not interested persons of the Fund and have no direct or indirect financial
interest in the operation of the Plan of Distribution or this Agreement or any
other agreements related to the Plan of Distribution (the "Independent
Directors") or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as
defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund or such series.
 
18. This Agreement shall not be assignable by either party hereto and in the
event of assignment shall automatically terminate forthwith.  The term
"assignment" shall have the meaning set forth in the 1940 Act.
 
19. No provision of this Agreement shall protect or purport to protect AFD
against any liability to the Fund or holders of its shares for which AFD would
otherwise be liable by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross
negligence.
 
20. This Agreement shall become effective on April 16, 1999. Unless sooner
terminated in accordance with the other provisions hereof, this Agreement shall
continue in effect until December 31, 2000, and shall continue in effect from
year to year thereafter but only so long as such continuance is specifically
approved at least annually by (i) the vote of a majority of the Independent
Directors of the Fund cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of
voting on such approval, and (ii) the vote of either a majority of the entire
Board of Directors of the Fund or a majority (within the meaning of the 1940
Act) of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund.
 
21. If the Fund shall at any time issue shares in more than one series, this
Agreement shall take effect with respect to such series of the Fund which may
be established in the future at such time as it has been approved as to such
series by vote of the Board of Directors and the Independent Directors in
accordance with Section 20.  The Agreement as approved with respect to any
series shall specify the compensation payable to AFD pursuant to Section 11, as
well as any provisions which may differ from those herein with respect to such
series, subject to approval in writing by AFD.
 
This Agreement may be approved, amended, continued or renewed with respect to a
series as provided herein notwithstanding such approval, amendment, continuance
or renewal has not been effected with respect to any one or more other series
of the Fund.
 
This Agreement shall be construed under and shall be governed by the laws of
the State of California, and the parties hereto agree that proper venue of any
action with respect hereto shall be Los Angeles County, California.
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this instrument to be
executed in duplicate original by their officers thereunto duly authorized, as
of ______________.
 
AMERICAN FUNDS DISTRIBUTORS, INC.   NEW WORLD FUND, INC.
 
By                                  By   
 Chairman of the Board              Chairman of the Board
By                                  By   
 Secretary                          Secretary
 
 
                        FORM OF GLOBAL CUSTODY AGREEMENT
 
 This AGREEMENT is effective __________ and is between THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK
(the "Bank") and NEW WORLD FUND, INC. (the "Customer").
 
1. Customer Accounts.
 
 The Bank agrees to establish and maintain the following accounts ("Accounts"):
 
 (a) A custody account in the name of the Customer  ("Custody Account") for any
and all stocks, shares, bonds, debentures, notes, mortgages or other
obligations for the payment of money, bullion, coin and any certificates,
receipts, warrants or other instruments representing rights to receive,
purchase or subscribe for the same or evidencing or representing any other
rights or interests therein and other similar property whether certificated or
uncertificated as may be received by the Bank or its Subcustodian (as defined
in Section 3) for the account of the Customer ("Securities"); and
 
 (b) A deposit account in the name of the Customer ("Deposit Account") for any
and all cash in any currency received by the Bank or its Subcustodian for the
account of the Customer, which cash shall not be subject to withdrawal by draft
or check.
 
 The Customer warrants its authority to:  1) deposit the cash and Securities
("Assets") received in the Accounts and 2) give Instructions (as defined in
Section 11) concerning the Accounts.  The Bank may deliver securities of the
same class in place of those deposited in the Custody Account.
 
 Upon written agreement between the Bank and the Customer, additional Accounts
may be established and separately accounted for as additional Accounts under
the terms of this Agreement.
 
 The Bank shall be accountable under the terms of this agreement to the
Customer for all Assets held in the accounts and shall take prompt and
appropriate action to remedy any discrepancies with respect to such Assets.
 
2. Maintenance of Securities and Cash at Bank and Subcustodian Locations.
 
 Unless Instructions specifically require another location acceptable to the
Bank:
 
 (a) Securities will be held in the country or other jurisdiction in which the
principal trading market for such Securities is located, where such Securities
are to be presented for payment or where such Securities are acquired; and
 
 (b) Cash will be credited to an account in a country or other jurisdiction in
which such cash may be legally deposited or is the legal currency for the
payment of public or private debts.
 
 Cash may be held pursuant to Instructions in either interest or non-interest
bearing accounts as may be available for the particular currency.  To the
extent Instructions are issued and the Bank can comply with such Instructions,
the Bank is authorized to maintain cash balances on deposit for the Customer
with itself or one of its affiliates at such reasonable rates of interest as
may from time to time be paid on such accounts, or in non-interest bearing
accounts as the Customer may direct, if acceptable to the Bank.
 
 If the Customer wishes to have any of its Assets held in the custody of an
institution other than the established Subcustodians as defined in Section 3
(or their securities depositories), such arrangement must be authorized by a
written agreement, signed by the Bank and the Customer.
 
3. Subcustodians and Securities Depositories.
 
 The Bank may act under this Agreement through the subcustodians listed in
Schedule A of this Agreement with which the Bank has entered into subcustodial
agreements ("Subcustodians").  The Customer authorizes the Bank to hold Assets
in the Accounts in accounts which the Bank has established with one or more of
its branches or Subcustodians.  The Bank and Subcustodians are authorized to
hold any of the Securities in their account with any securities depository in
which they participate.
 
 The Bank reserves the right to add new, replace or remove Subcustodians.  The
Customer will be given reasonable notice by the Bank of any amendment to
Schedule A.  Upon request by the Customer, the Bank will identify the name,
address and principal place of business of any Subcustodian of the Customer's
Assets and the name and address of the governmental agency or other regulatory
authority that supervises or regulates such Subcustodian.
 
 The terms Subcustodian and securities depositories as used in this Agreement
shall mean a branch of a qualified U.S. bank, an eligible foreign custodian or
an eligible foreign securities depository, which are further defined as
follows:
 
 (a) "qualified U.S. Bank" shall mean a qualified U.S. bank as defined in Rule
17f-5 under the Investment Company Act of 1940;
 
 (b) "eligible foreign custodian" shall mean (i) a banking institution or trust
company incorporated or organized under the laws of a country other than the
United States that is regulated as such by that country's government or an
agency thereof and that has shareholders' equity in excess of $200 million in
U.S. currency (or a foreign currency equivalent thereof), (ii) a majority owned
direct or indirect subsidiary of a qualified U.S. bank or bank holding company
that is incorporated or organized under the laws of a country other than the
United States and that has shareholders' equity in excess of $100 million in
U.S. currency (or a foreign currency equivalent thereof) (iii) a banking
institution or trust company incorporated or organized under the laws of a
country other than the United States or a majority owned direct or indirect
subsidiary of a qualified U.S. bank or bank holding company that is
incorporated or organized under the laws of a country other than the United
States which has such other qualifications as shall be specified in
Instructions and approved by the Bank; or (iv) any other entity that shall have
been so qualified by exemptive order, rule or other appropriate action of the
SEC; and
 
 (c) "eligible foreign securities depository" shall mean a securities
depository or clearing agency, incorporated or organized under the laws of a
country other than the United States, which operates (i) the central system for
handling securities or equivalent book-entries in that country, or (ii) a
transnational system for the central handling of securities or equivalent
book-entries.
 
 The Customer represents that its Board of Directors will approve each of the
Subcustodians listed in Schedule A to this Agreement before Assets are held by
such Subcustodian and the form of the subcustody agreements between the Bank
and each Subcustodian, and further represents that its Board will determine
that the use of such Subcustodian and the terms of each subcustody agreement
are consistent with the best interests of the customer's fund(s) and its
(their) shareholders prior to placing Assets with any such Subcustodian.  The
Bank will supply the Customer with any amendment to Schedule A for approval
within such reasonable period of time as agreed to by the Bank and the
Customer.  Upon request, the Customer has supplied or will supply the Bank with
certified copies of its Board of Directors resolutions with respect to the
foregoing prior to placing Assets with any Subcustodian so approved.
 
 The Bank shall furnish annually to the Customer information concerning
Subcustodians employed by the Bank.  Such information shall be similar in kind
and scope to that furnished to the Customer in connection with the initial
approval of the subcustodian by the Customer's Board of Directors.  In
addition, the Bank will promptly inform the Customer in the event that the Bank
learns of a material adverse change in the financial condition of a
Subcustodian or is notified by a foreign banking institution employed as a
Subcustodian that there appears to be a substantial likelihood that its
shareholders's equity as required by Rule 17f-5 or any order thereunder.  With
regard to the foregoing paragraphs, the Bank shall not be deemed to have
assumed any fiduciary duties imposed upon Customer by law.
 
 The Bank will supply periodically, as mutually agreed upon, a statement in
respect of any Securities and cash, including identification of the foreign
entities having custody of the Securities and cash and descriptions thereof.
 
4. Use of Subcustodian.
 
 (a) The Bank will identify such Assets on its books as belonging to the
Customer.
 
 (b) A Subcustodian will hold such Assets together with assets belonging to
other customers of the Bank in accounts identified on such Subcustodian's books
as special custody accounts for the exclusive benefit of customers of the Bank.
 
 (c) Any Assets in the Accounts held by a Subcustodian will be subject only to
the instructions of the Bank or its agent.  Any Securities held in a securities
depository for the account of a Subcustodian will be subject only to the
instructions of such Subcustodian.
 
 (d) Any agreement the Bank enters into with a Subcustodian for holding its
customer's assets shall provide that such assets will not be subject to any
right, charge, security interest, lien or claim of any kind in favor of such
Subcustodian except for safe custody or administration, and that the beneficial
ownership of such assets will be freely transferable without the payment of
money or value other than for safe custody or administration.  The foregoing
shall not apply to the extent of any special agreement or arrangement made by
the Customer with any particular Subcustodian.
 
5. Deposit Account Transactions.
 
 (a) The Bank or its Subcustodians will make payments from the Deposit Account
upon receipt of Instructions which include all information required by the
Bank.
 
 (b) In the event that any payment to be made under this Section 5 exceeds the
funds available in the Deposit Account, the Bank, in its discretion, may
advance the Customer such excess amount which shall be deemed a loan payable on
demand, bearing interest at the rate customarily charged by the Bank on similar
loans.
 
 (c) If the Bank credits the Deposit Account on a payable date, or at any time
prior to actual collection and reconciliation to the Deposit Account, with
interest, dividends, redemptions or any other amount due, the Customer will
promptly return any such amount upon oral or written notification:  (i) that
such amount has not been received in the ordinary course of business or (ii)
that such amount was incorrectly credited.  If the Customer does not promptly
return any amount upon such notification, the Bank shall be entitled, upon oral
or written notification to the Customer, to reverse such credit by debiting the
Deposit Account for the amount previously credited.  The Bank or its
Subcustodian shall have no duty or obligation to institute legal proceedings,
file a claim or a proof of claim in any insolvency proceeding or take any other
action with respect to the collection of such amount, but may act for the
Customer upon Instructions after consultation with the Customer.
 
6. Custody Account Transactions.
 
 (a) Securities will be transferred, exchanged or delivered by the Bank or its
Subcustodian upon receipt by the Bank of Instructions which include all
information required by the Bank.  Settlement and payment for Securities
received for, and delivery of Securities out of, the Custody Account may be
made in accordance with the customary or established securities trading or
securities processing practices and procedures in the jurisdiction or market in
which the transaction occurs, including, without limitation, delivery of
Securities to a purchaser, dealer or their agents against a receipt with the
expectation of receiving later payment and free delivery.  Delivery of
Securities out of the Custody Account may also be made in any manner
specifically required by Instructions acceptable to the Bank.
 
 (b) The Bank, in its discretion, may credit or debit the Accounts on a
contractual settlement date with cash or Securities with respect to any sale,
exchange or purchase of Securities.  Otherwise, such transactions will be
credited or debited to the Accounts on the date cash or Securities are actually
received by the Bank and reconciled to the Account.
 
 (i) The Bank may reverse credits or debits made to the Accounts in its
discretion if the related transaction fails to settle within a reasonable
period, determined by the Bank in its discretion, after the contractual
settlement date for the related transaction; provided however that prior to
taking action, the Bank will use every reasonable effort to give Customer
written notice of any such reversal which may include back valuation.
 
 (ii) If any Securities delivered pursuant to this Section 6 are returned by
the recipient thereof, the Bank may reverse the credits and debits of the
particular transaction at any time.
 
7. Actions of the Bank.
 
 The Bank shall follow Instructions received regarding assets held in the
Accounts.  However, until it receives Instructions to the contrary, the Bank
will:
 
 (a) Present for payment any Securities which are called, redeemed or retired
or otherwise become payable and all coupons and other income items which call
for payment upon presentation, to the extent that the Bank or Subcustodian is
actually aware of such opportunities.
 
 (b) Execute in the name of the Customer such ownership and other certificates
as may be required to obtain payments in respect of Securities.
 
 (c) Exchange interim receipts or temporary Securities for definitive
Securities.
 
 (d) Appoint brokers and agents for any transaction involving the Securities,
including, without limitation, affiliates of the Bank or any Subcustodian.
 
 (e) Issue statements to the Customer, at times mutually agreed upon,
identifying the Assets in the Accounts.
 
 The Bank will send the Customer an advice or notification of any transfers of
Assets to or from the Accounts.  Such statements, advices or notifications
shall indicate the identity of the entity having custody of the Assets.  Unless
the Customer sends the Bank a written exception or objection to certain bank
statements as shall be mutually agreed upon in writing within 180 days of
receipt, the Customer shall be deemed to have approved such statement. In such
event, or where the Customer has otherwise approved any such statement, the
Bank shall, to the extent permitted by law, be released, relieved and
discharged with respect to all matters set forth in such statement or
reasonably implied therefrom as though it had been settled by the decree of a
court of competent jurisdiction in an action where the Customer and all persons
having or claiming an interest in the Customer or the Customer's Accounts were
parties.
 
 All collections of funds or other property paid or distributed in respect of
Securities in the Custody Account shall be made at the risk of the Customer. 
The Bank shall have no liability for any loss occasioned by delay in the actual
receipt of notice by the Bank or by its Subcustodians of any payment,
redemption or other transaction regarding Securities in the Custody Account in
respect of which the Bank has agreed to take any action under this Agreement.
 
8. Corporate Actions; Proxies.
 
 Whenever the Bank receives information concerning the Securities which
requires discretionary action by the beneficial owner of the Securities (other
than a proxy), such as subscription rights, bonus issues, stock repurchase
plans and rights offerings, or legal notices or other material intended to be
transmitted to securities holders ("Corporate Actions"), the Bank will give the
Customer prompt notice of such Corporate Actions to the extent that the Bank's
central corporate actions department has actual knowledge of a Corporate Action
in time to notify its customers.
 
 When a rights entitlement or a fractional interest resulting from a rights
issue, stock dividend, stock split or similar Corporate Action is received
which bears an expiration date, the Bank will endeavor to obtain Instructions
from the Customer or its Authorized Person, but if Instructions are not
received in time for the Bank to take timely action, or actual notice of such
Corporate Action was received too late to seek Instructions, the Bank is
authorized to sell such rights entitlement or fractional interest and to credit
the Deposit Account with the proceeds or take any other action it deems, in
good faith, to be appropriate in which case it shall be held harmless for any
such action.
 
 The Bank will deliver proxies to the Customer or its designated agent pursuant
to special arrangements which may have been agreed to in writing.  Such proxies
shall be executed in the appropriate nominee name relating to Securities in the
Custody Account registered in the name of such nominee but without indicating
the manner in which such proxies are to be voted; and where bearer Securities
are involved, proxies will be delivered in accordance with Instructions.
 
9. Nominees.
 
 Securities which are ordinarily held in registered form may be registered in a
nominee name of the Bank, Subcustodian or securities depository, as the case
may be.  The Bank may without notice to the Customer cause any such Securities
to cease to be registered in the name of any such nominee and to be registered
in the name of the Customer.  In the event that any Securities registered in a
nominee name are called for partial redemption by the issuer, the Bank may
allot the called portion to the respective beneficial holders of such class of
security in any manner the Bank deems to be fair and equitable.  The Customer
agrees to hold the Bank, Subcustodians, and their respective nominees harmless
from any liability arising directly or indirectly from their status as a mere
record holder of Securities in the Custody Account.
 
10. Authorized Persons.
 
 As used in this Agreement, the term "Authorized Person" means employees or
agents including investment managers as have been designated by written notice
from the Customer or its designated agent to act on behalf of the Customer
under this Agreement.  Such persons shall continue to be Authorized Persons
until such time as the Bank receives Instructions from the Customer or its
designated agent that any such employee or agent is no longer an Authorized
Person.
 
11. Instructions.
 
 The term "Instructions" means instructions of any Authorized Person received
by the Bank, via telephone, telex, TWX, facsimile transmission, bank wire or
other teleprocess or electronic instruction or trade information system
acceptable to the Bank which the Bank believes in good faith to have been given
by Authorized Persons or which are transmitted with proper testing or
authentication pursuant to terms and conditions which the Bank may specify. 
Unless otherwise expressly provided, all Instructions shall continue in full
force and effect until canceled or superseded.
 
 Any Instructions delivered to the Bank by telephone shall promptly thereafter
be confirmed in writing by an Authorized Person (which confirmation may bear
the facsimile signature of such Person), but the Customer will hold the Bank
harmless for the failure of an Authorized Person to send such confirmation in
writing, the failure of such confirmation to conform to the telephone
instructions received or the Bank's failure to produce such confirmation at any
subsequent time.  The Bank may electronically record any Instructions given by
telephone, and any other telephone discussions with respect to the Custody
Account.  The Customer shall be responsible for safeguarding any testkeys,
identification codes or other security devices which the Bank shall make
available to the Customer or its Authorized Persons.
 
 Deposit Account Payments and Custody Account Transactions made pursuant to
Section 5 and 6 of this Agreement may be made only for the purposes listed
below.  Instructions must specify the purpose for which any transaction is to
be made and Customer shall be solely responsible to assure that Instructions
are in accord with any limitations or restrictions applicable to the Customer
by law or as may be set forth in its prospectus.
 
 (a) In connection with the purchase or sale of Securities at prices as
confirmed by Instructions;
 
 (b) When Securities are called, redeemed or retired, or otherwise become
payable;
 
 (c) In exchange for or upon conversion into other securities alone or other
securities and cash pursuant to any plan or merger, consolidation,
reorganization, recapitalization or readjustment;
 
 (d) Upon conversion of Securities pursuant to their terms into other
securities;
 
 (e) Upon exercise of subscription, purchase or other similar rights
represented by Securities;
 
 (f) For the payment of interest, taxes, management or supervisory fees,
distributions or operating expenses;
 
 (g) In connection with any borrowings by the Customer requiring a pledge of
Securities, but only against receipt of amounts borrowed;
 
 (h) In connection with any loans, but only against receipt of adequate
collateral as specified in Instructions which shall reflect any restrictions
applicable to the Customer;
 
 (i) For the purpose of redeeming shares of the capital stock of the Customer
and the delivery to, or the crediting to the account of, the Bank, its
Subcustodian or the Customer's transfer agent, such shares to be purchased or
redeemed;
 
 (j) For the purpose of redeeming in kind shares of the Customer against
delivery to the Bank, its Subcustodian or the Customer's transfer agent of such
shares to be so redeemed;
 
 (k) For delivery in accordance with the provisions of any agreement among the
Customer, the Bank and a broker-dealer registered under the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") and a member of The National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD"), relating to compliance with the rules of The
Options Clearing Corporation and of any registered national securities
exchange, or of any similar organization or organizations, regarding escrow or
other arrangements in connection with transactions by the Customer;
 
 (l) For release of Securities to designated brokers under covered call
options, provided, however, that such Securities shall be released only upon
payment to the Bank of monies for the premium due and a receipt for the
Securities which are to be held in escrow.  Upon exercise of the option, or at
expiration, the Bank will receive from brokers the Securities previously
deposited.  The Bank will act strictly in accordance with Instructions in the
delivery of Securities to be held in escrow and will have no responsibility or
liability for any such Securities which are not returned promptly when due
other than to make proper request for such return;
 
 (m) For spot or forward foreign exchange transactions to facilitate security
trading, receipt of income from Securities or related transactions;
 
 (n) For other proper purposes as may be specified in Instructions issued by an
officer of the Customer which shall include a statement of the purpose for
which the delivery or payment is to be made, the amount of the payment or
specific Securities to be delivered, the name of the person or persons to whom
delivery or payment is to be made, and a certification that the purpose is a
proper purpose under the instruments governing the Customer; and
 
 (o) Upon the termination of this Agreement as set forth in Section 14(i).
 
12. Standard of Care; Liabilities.
 
 (a) The Bank shall be responsible for the performance of only such duties as
are set forth in this Agreement or expressly contained in Instructions which
are consistent with the provisions of this Agreement as follows:
 
 (i) The Bank will use reasonable care with respect to its obligations under
this Agreement and the safekeeping of Assets.  The Bank shall be liable to the
Customer for any loss which shall occur as the result of the failure of a
Subcustodian to exercise reasonable care with respect to the safekeeping of
such Assets to the same extent that the Bank would be liable to the Customer if
the Bank were holding such Assets in New York.  In the event of any loss to the
Customer by reason of the failure of the Bank or its Subcustodian to utilize
reasonable care, the Bank shall be liable to the Customer only to the extent of
the Customer's direct damages, to be determined based on the market value of
the property which is the subject of the loss at the date of discovery of such
loss and without reference to any special conditions or circumstances.
 
 (ii) The Bank will not be responsible for any act, omission, default or for
the solvency of any broker or agent which it or a Subcustodian appoints unless
such appointment was made negligently or in bad faith.
 
 (iii)  The Bank shall be indemnified by, and without liability to the Customer
for any action taken or omitted by the Bank whether pursuant to Instructions or
otherwise within the scope of this Agreement if such act or omission was in
good faith, without negligence.  In performing its obligations under this
Agreement, the Bank may rely on the genuineness of any document which it
believes in good faith to have been validly executed.
 
 (iv) The Customer agrees to pay for and hold the Bank harmless from any
liability or loss resulting from the imposition or assessment of any taxes or
other governmental charges, and any related expenses with respect to income
from or Assets in the Accounts.
 
 (v) The Bank shall be entitled to rely, and may act, upon the advice of
counsel (who may be counsel for the Customer) on all matters and shall be
without liability for any action reasonably taken or omitted pursuant to such
advice.
 
 (vi) The Bank need not maintain any insurance for the benefit of the Customer.
 
 (vii)  Without limiting the foregoing, the Bank shall not be liable for any
loss which results from:  1) the general risk of investing, or 2) investing or
holding Assets in a particular country including, but not limited to, losses
resulting from nationalization, expropriation or other governmental actions;
regulation of the banking or securities industry; currency restrictions,
devaluations or fluctuations; and market conditions which prevent the orderly
execution of securities transactions or affect the value of Assets.
 
 (viii) Neither party shall be liable to the other for any loss due to forces
beyond their control including, but not limited to strikes or work stoppages,
acts of war or terrorism, insurrection, revolution, nuclear fusion, fission or
radiation, or acts of God.
 
 (b) Consistent with and without limiting the first paragraph of this Section
12, it is specifically acknowledged that the Bank shall have no duty or
responsibility to:
 
 (i) question Instructions or make any suggestions to the Customer or an
Authorized Person regarding such Instructions;
 
 (ii) supervise or make recommendations with respect to investments or the
retention of Securities;
 
 (iii) advise the Customer or an Authorized Person regarding any default in the
payment of principal or income of any security other than as provided in
Section 5(c) of this Agreement;
 
 (iv) evaluate or report to the Customer or an Authorized Person regarding the
financial condition of any broker, agent or other party to which Securities are
delivered or payments are made pursuant to this Agreement;
 
 (v) review or reconcile trade confirmations received from brokers.  The
Customer or its Authorized Persons (as defined in Section 10) issuing
Instructions shall bear any responsibility to review such confirmations against
Instructions issued to and statements issued by the Bank.
 
 (c) The Bank hereby warrants to the Customer that in its opinion, after due
inquiry, the established procedures to be followed by each of its branches,
each branch of a qualified U.S. bank, each eligible foreign custodian and each
eligible foreign securities depository holding the Customer's Securities
pursuant to this Agreement afford protection for such Securities at least equal
to that afforded by the Bank's established procedures with respect to similar
securities held by the Bank and its securities depositories in New York.
 
 (d) The Customer authorizes the Bank to act under this Agreement
notwithstanding that the Bank or any of its divisions or affiliates may have a
material interest in a transaction, or circumstances are such that the Bank may
have a potential conflict of duty or interest including the fact that the Bank
or any of its affiliates may provide brokerage services to other customers, act
as financial advisor to the issuer of Securities, act as a lender to the issuer
of Securities, act in the same transaction as agent for more than one customer,
have a material interest in the issue of Securities, or earn profits from any
of the activities listed herein.
 
13. Fees and Expenses.
 
 The Customer agrees to pay the Bank for its services under this Agreement such
amount as may be agreed upon in writing, together with the Bank's reasonable
out-of-pocket or incidental expenses, including, but not limited to, legal fees
incurred on behalf of the Customer.  The Bank shall have a lien on and is
authorized to charge any Accounts of the Customer for any amount owing to the
Bank under any provision of this Agreement.
 
14. Miscellaneous.
 
 (a) Foreign Exchange Transactions.  To facilitate the administration of the
Customer's trading and investment activity, the Bank is authorized to enter
into spot or forward foreign exchange contracts with the Customer or an
Authorized Person for the Customer and may also provide foreign exchange
through its subsidiaries, affiliates or Subcustodians.  Instructions, including
standing instructions, may be issued with respect to such contracts but the
Bank may establish rules or limitations concerning any foreign exchange
facility made available.  In all cases where the Bank, its subsidiaries,
affiliates or Subcustodians enter into a foreign exchange contract related to
Accounts, the terms and conditions of the then current foreign exchange
contract of the Bank, its subsidiary, affiliate or Subcustodian and, to the
extent not inconsistent, this Agreement shall apply to such transaction.
 
 (b) Certification of Residency, etc.  The Customer certifies that it is a
resident of the United States and agrees to notify the Bank of any changes in
residency.  The Bank may rely upon this certification or the certification of
such other facts as may be required to administer the Bank's obligations under
this Agreement.  The Customer will indemnify the Bank against all losses,
liability, claims or demands arising directly or indirectly from any such
certifications.
 
 (c) Access to Records.  The Bank shall allow the Customer's independent public
accountant reasonable access to the records of the Bank relating to the Assets
as is required in connection with their examination of books and records
pertaining to the Customer's affairs.  Subject to restrictions under applicable
law, the Bank shall also obtain an undertaking to permit the Customer's
independent public accountants reasonable access to the records of any
Subcustodian which has physical possession of any Assets as may be required in
connection with the examination of the Customer's books and records.  Upon
reasonable request from the Customer, the Bank shall furnish the Customer such
reports (or portions thereof) of the Bank's system of internal accounting
controls applicable to the Bank's duties under this Agreement.  The Bank shall
endeavor to obtain and furnish the Customer with such similar reports as it may
reasonably request with respect to each Subcustodian and securities depository
holding the Customer's assets.  The Bank shall not unreasonably refuse to
furnish to the Customer such reports (or portions thereof) of the  Bank's
external auditors as they relate directly to the Bank's system of internal
accounting controls applicable to the Bank's duties under this Agreement.  The
Bank shall endeavor to obtain and furnish the Customer with such similar
reports as the Customer may reasonably request with respect to each
Subcustodian holding Assets of the Customer.  Expenses of the Bank and any
Subcustodians under this provision shall be paid by the Customer.
 
 (d) Governing Law; Successors and Assigns.  This Agreement shall be governed
by the laws of the State of New York and shall not be assignable by either
party, but shall bind the successors in interest of the Customer and the Bank.
 
 (e) Entire Agreement; Applicable Riders.  Customer represents that the Assets
deposited in the Accounts are (Check one):
 
____ Employee Benefit Plan or other assets subject to the Employee Retirement
Income Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA");
 
  X   Mutual Fund assets subject to certain Securities and Exchange Commission
("SEC") rules and regulations;
 
____ Neither of the above.
 
 This Agreement consists exclusively of this document together with Schedule A,
and the following Rider(s) [Check applicable rider(s)]:
 
____ ERISA
  X   MUTUAL FUND
 
  X   SPECIAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS
 
 There are no other provisions of this Agreement and this Agreement supersedes
any other agreements, whether written or oral, between the parties.  Any
amendment to this Agreement must be in writing, executed by both parties.
 
 (f) Severability.  In the event that one or more provisions of this Agreement
are held invalid, illegal or enforceable in any respect on the basis of any
particular circumstances or in any jurisdiction, the validity, legality and
enforceability of such provision or provisions under other circumstances or in
other jurisdictions and of the remaining provisions will not in any way be
affected or impaired.
 
 (g) Waiver.  Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, no failure or
delay on the part of either party in exercising any power or right under this
Agreement operates as a waiver, nor does any single or partial exercise of any
power or right preclude any other or further exercise, or the exercise of any
other power or right.  No waiver by a party of any provision of this Agreement,
or waiver of any breach or default, is effective unless in writing and signed
by the party against whom the waiver is to be enforced.
 
 (h) Notices.  All notices under this Agreement shall be effective when
actually received.  Any notices or other communications which may be required
under this Agreement are to be sent to the parties at the following addresses
or such other addresses as may subsequently be given to the other party in
writing:
 
 Bank:  The Chase Manhattan Bank
   4 Chase MetroTech Center
   Brooklyn, NY  11245
   Attention:  Global Custody Division
 
   or telex:                                                      
 
 Customer: Capital Research and Management Company     
   135 South State College Blvd.                   
   Brea, CA  92821                                      
   or telex:                                                                   
 
 (i) Termination.  This Agreement may be terminated by the Customer or the Bank
by giving sixty (60) days written notice to the other, provided that such
notice to the Bank shall specify the names of the persons to whom the Bank
shall deliver the Assets in the Accounts.  If notice of termination is given by
the Bank, the Customer shall, within sixty (60) days following receipt of the
notice, deliver to the Bank Instructions specifying the names of the persons to
whom the Bank shall deliver the Assets.  In either case the Bank will deliver
the Assets to the persons so specified, after deducting any amounts which the
Bank determines in good faith to be owed to it under Section 13.  If within
sixty (60) days following receipt of a notice of termination by the Bank, the
Bank does not receive Instructions from the Customer specifying the names of
the persons to whom the Bank shall deliver the Assets, the Bank, at its
election, may deliver the Assets to a bank or trust company doing  business in
the State of New York to be held and disposed of pursuant to the provisions of
this Agreement, or to Authorized Persons, or may continue to hold the Assets
until Instructions are provided to the Bank.
 
      NEW WORLD FUND, INC.
      By:      
       Title:
      THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK
      By:      
       Title:
 
 
STATE OF   )
    :  ss.
COUNTY OF   )
On this           day of                    , 19  , before me personally came  
                             , to me known, who being by me duly sworn, did
depose and say that he/she resides in                at                        
            ;
that he/she is                                        of                       
                  , the entity described in and which executed the foregoing
instrument; that he/she knows the seal of said entity, that the seal affixed to
said instrument is such seal, that it was so affixed by order of said entity,
and that he/she signed his/her name thereto by like order.
Sworn to before me this               
day of               , 19     .
                                        
           Notary
STATE OF NEW YORK  )
     :  ss.
COUNTY OF NEW YORK  )
 On this                 day of                                ,19  , before me
personally came                        , to me known, who being by me duly
sworn, did depose and say that he/she resides in                               
                at
                                                  ; that he/she is a Vice
President of THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK,  the corporation described in and which
executed the foregoing instrument; that he/she knows the seal of said
corporation, that the seal affixed to said instrument is such corporate seal,
that it was so affixed by order of the Board of Directors of said corporation,
and that he/she signed his/her name thereto by like order.
                                                   
Sworn to before me this                     
day of                 , 19        .
                                              
        Notary
 
 
                               FORM OF
                    SHAREHOLDER SERVICES AGREEMENT
 
1. The parties to this Agreement, which is effective as of April, 16, 1999, are
New World Fund, Inc. (hereinafter called "the Fund") and American Funds Service
Company, a California corporation (hereinafter called "AFS").  AFS is a wholly
owned subsidiary of Capital Research and Management Company (hereinafter called
"CRMC"). This Agreement will continue in effect until amended or terminated in
accordance with its terms.
 
2. The Fund hereby employs AFS, and AFS hereby accepts such employment by the
Fund, as its transfer agent.  In such capacity AFS will provide the services of
stock transfer agent, dividend disbursing agent, redemption agent, and such
additional related services as the Fund may from time to time require, all of
which services are sometimes referred to herein as "shareholder services."
 
3. AFS has entered into substantially identical agreements with other
investment companies for which CRMC serves as investment adviser.  (For the
purposes of this Agreement, such investment companies, including the Fund, are
called "participating investment companies.")
 
4. AFS has entered into an agreement with DST Systems, Inc. (hereinafter called
"DST"), to provide AFS with electronic data processing services sufficient for
the performance of the shareholder services referred to in paragraph 2.  
 
5. The Fund, together with the other participating companies, will maintain a
Review and Advisory Committee, which Committee will review and may make
recommendations to the boards of the participating investment companies
regarding all fees and charges provided for in this Agreement, as well as
review the level and quality of the shareholder services rendered to the
participating investment companies and their shareholders.  Each participating
investment company may select one director who is not affiliated with CRMC, or
any of its affiliated companies, or with Washington Management Corporation or
any of its affiliated companies, to serve on the Review and Advisory Committee.
 
6. AFS will provide to the participating investment companies the shareholder
services referred to herein in return for the following fees:
 
ANNUAL ACCOUNT MAINTENANCE FEE (PAID MONTHLY):
 
$.45 per month for each open account on AFS books or in Level 2 or 4
Networking ($5.40 per year)
$.06 per month for each open account maintained in Street Name or Level 1 or 3
Networking ($0.72 per year)
 
No annual fee will be charged for a participant account underlying a 401(k) or
other defined contribution plan where the plan maintains a single account on
AFS books and responds to all participant inquiries
 
TRANSACTION FEES:
 
$2.70 per non-automated transaction
$0.20 per automated transaction
 
For this purpose, "transactions" shall include all types of transactions
included in an "activity index" as reported to the Review and Advisory
Committee at least annually.  AFS will bill the Fund monthly, on or shortly
after the first of each calendar month, and the Fund will pay to AFS within
five business days of such billing.
 
Any revision of the schedule of charges set forth herein shall require the
affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the board of directors of the
Fund.
 
7. All fund-specific charges from third parties -- including DST charges,
payments described in the next sentence, postage, NSCC transaction charges and
similar out-of-pocket expenses -- will be passed through directly to the Fund
or other participating investment companies, as applicable.  AFS, subject to
approval of its board of directors, is authorized in its discretion to
negotiate payments to third parties for account maintenance and/or transaction
processing services provided such payments do not exceed the anticipated
savings to the Fund, either in fees payable to AFS hereunder or in other direct
Fund expenses, that AFS reasonably anticipates would be realized by the Fund
from using the services of such third party rather than maintaining the
accounts directly on AFS' books and/or processing non-automated transactions.
 
8. It is understood that AFS may have income in excess of its expenses and may
accumulate capital and surplus.  AFS is not, however, permitted to distribute
any net income or accumulated surplus to its parent, CRMC, in the form of a
dividend without the affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the
boards of directors of the Fund and all participating investment companies.
 
9. This Agreement may be amended at any time by mutual agreement of the
parties, with agreement of the Fund to be evidenced by affirmative vote of a
majority of the members of the board of directors of the Fund.
 
10. This Agreement may be terminated on 180 days' written notice by either
party.  In the event of a termination of this Agreement, AFS and the Fund will
each extend full cooperation in effecting a conversion to whatever successor
shareholder service provider(s) the Fund may select, it being understood that
all records relating to the Fund and its shareholders are property of the Fund.
 
11. In the event of a termination of this Agreement by the Fund, the Fund will
pay to AFS as a termination fee the Fund's proportionate share of any costs of
conversion of the Fund's shareholder service from AFS to a successor.  In the
event of termination of this Agreement and all corresponding agreements with
all the participating investment companies, all assets of AFS will be sold or
otherwise converted to cash, with a view to the liquidation of AFS when it
ceases to provide shareholder services for the participating investment
companies.  To the extent any such assets are sold by AFS to CRMC and/or any of
its affiliates, such sales shall be at fair market value at the time of sale as
agreed upon by AFS, the purchasing company or companies, and the Review and
Advisory Committee.  After all assets of AFS have been converted to cash and
all liabilities of AFS have been paid or discharged, an amount equal to any
capital or paid-in surplus of AFS that shall have been contributed by CRMC or
its affiliates shall be set aside in cash for distribution to CRMC upon
liquidation of AFS.  Any other capital or surplus and any assets of AFS
remaining after the foregoing provisions for liabilities and return of capital
or paid-in surplus to CRMC shall be distributed to the participating investment
companies in such proportions as may be determined by the Review and Advisory
Committee. 
 
12. In the event of disagreement between the Fund and AFS, or between the Fund
and other participating investment companies as to any matter arising under
this Agreement, which the parties to the disagreement are unable to resolve,
the question shall be referred to the Review and Advisory Committee for
resolution.  If the Review and Advisory Committee is unable to resolve the
question to the satisfaction of both parties, either party may elect to submit
the question to arbitration; one arbitrator to be named by each party to the
disagreement and a third arbitrator to be selected by the two arbitrators named
by the original parties.  The decision of a majority of the arbitrators shall
be final and binding on all parties to the arbitration.  The expenses of such
arbitration shall be paid by the party electing to submit the question to
arbitration.
 
13. The obligations of the Fund under this Agreement are not binding upon any
of the directors, officers, employees, agents or shareholders of the Fund
individually, but bind only the Fund itself.  AFS agrees to look solely to the
assets of the Fund for the satisfaction of any liability of the Fund in respect
to this Agreement and will not seek recourse against such directors, officers,
employees, agents or shareholders, or any of them or their personal assets for
such satisfaction.
 
AMERICAN FUNDS SERVICE COMPANY                        NEW WORLD FUND, INC.
By                                                    By                       
                           
By                                                    By                       
                           
 
 
CENTURY CITY                       O                         HONG KONG 
NEWPORT BEACH           O'Melveny & Myers LLP                LONDON 
NEW YORK                400 South Hope Street                SHANGHAI 
SAN FRANCISCO           Los Angeles, California 90071-2899   TOKYO 
WASHINGTON, D.C.        TELEPHONE(213) 430-6000 
                        FACSIMILE (213) 430-6407      
                        INTERNET: www.omm.com  
 
 
 
April 16, 1999
 
OUR FILE NUMBER 619,749-999
 
 
WRITER'S DIRECT DIAL          (213) 430-6443
 
 
New World Fund, Inc.            
333 South Hope Street
Los Angeles, CA 90071                                 
 
WRITER'S E-MAIL ADDRESS               [email protected]
                                
Ladies and Gentlemen:
 
 At your request we have examined the form of Registration Statement on Form
N-1A and the related Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 filed by you with the
Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the registration under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of an indefinite number of shares of
your common stock, $.01 par value per share (the "Shares").  We are familiar
with the proceedings taken and proposed to be taken by you in connection with
the authorization, issuance and sale of the Shares.
 
 Based upon our examination and upon our knowledge of your activities, it is
our opinion that, subject to the issuance of an appropriate order by the
Securities and Exchange Commission declaring the Registration Statement
effective and the completion of the proposed actions referred to above, and
subject to the qualification of the Shares under the California Corporate
Securities Law of 1968, and provided that an appropriate amendment to your
Articles of Incorporation is duly effected prior to the issuance of more than
200,000,000 Shares, the Shares upon issuance and sale in the manner described
in the Registration Statement will constitute validly issued, fully paid
and nonassessable Shares of you common stock.
 
 We consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement.
 
       Respectfully submitted, 
       O'MELVENY & MYERS LLP
 
 
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
 
New World Fund, Inc.:
 
We consent to the use in this Pre-Effective Amendment No. 3 to Registration
Statement No. 333-67455 on Form N-1A of our report dated April 16, 1999
appearing in the Financial Statements, which are included in Part B, the
Statement of Additional Information of such Registration Statement.
 
We also consent to the references to us under the heading "General Information"
in such Statement of Additional Information.
 
DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
 
Los Angeles, California
April 16, 1999
 
April 16, 1999
 
Capital Research and Management Company
333 South Hope Street
Los Angeles, CA  90071
 
Re:  Investment Letter
 
Gentlemen:
 
New World Fund, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the "Fund"), hereby offers to
sell to you 7,427.844 shares of its common stock, $0.01 par value, (the
"Shares") at a price of $23.56 per share upon the following terms and
conditions:
 
You agree to pay to the Fund the aggregate purchase price of $175,000 against
delivery of a statement confirming the registration of the 7,427.844 Shares in
your name.
 
You represent to the Fund that you are purchasing the Shares for your own
account for investment purposes and not with the present intention of redeeming
or reselling the Shares and that the purchase price of such Shares is in
payment for an equity interest and does not represent a loan or temporary
advance by you.
 
You understand that you are obligated to pay certain expenses incurred in
connection with the organization of the Fund, as shall be reflected in an
Investment Advisory and Service Agreement between you and the Fund.  You agree
that you will not redeem any of the Shares while any portion of such
organizational expenses has not been paid by you.
 
   Very truly yours,
 
   NEW WORLD FUND, INC.
   By  /s/ Vincent P. Corti
       Vincent P. Corti, Secretary
 
Confirmed and agreed to April 16, 1999
 
CAPITAL RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT COMPANY
By   /s/ Michael J. Downer                               
     Michael J. Downer, Secretary
 
 
 
                                    FORM OF
                            PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
                                      OF
                              NEW WORLD FUND, INC.
 
WHEREAS, New World Fund, Inc. (the "Fund") is a Maryland Corporation which
offers shares of common stock.
 
WHEREAS, American Funds Distributors, Inc. ("AFD") will serve as distributor of
the shares of common stock of the Fund, and the Fund and AFD are parties to a
principal underwriting agreement (the "Agreement");
 
WHEREAS, the purpose of this Plan of Distribution (the "Plan") is to authorize
the Fund to bear expenses of distribution of its shares, including
reimbursement of AFD for certain of its expenses incurred in connection with
the Fund;
 
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Fund has determined that there is a
reasonable likelihood that this Plan will benefit the Fund and its
shareholders:
 
NOW, THEREFORE, the Fund adopts this Plan as follows:
 
1. The Fund may expend pursuant to this Plan amounts not to exceed .30 of 1% of
the average net assets of the Fund per annum.
 
2. Subject to the limit in paragraph 1, the Fund shall pay, or reimburse AFD
for, amounts to finance any activity which is primarily intended to result in
the sale of shares of the Fund provided that the Board of Directors of the Fund
shall have approved categories of expenses for which payment or reimbursement
shall be made pursuant to this paragraph 2.
 
3. This Plan shall not take effect until it has been approved by vote of a
majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund (as defined in the
Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "1940 Act")) and by the Board of Directors
as provided in paragraph 4.
 
4. This Plan shall not take effect until it has been approved, together with
any related agreement, by votes of the majority of both (i) the Board of
Directors of the Fund and (ii) those Directors of the Fund who are not
"interested persons" of the Fund (as defined in the 1940 Act) and have no
direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of this Plan or any
agreement related to it (the "Independent Directors"), cast in person at a
meeting called for the purpose of voting on this Plan and/or such agreement.
 
5. At least quarterly, the Board of Directors shall be provided by any person
authorized to direct the disposition of monies paid or payable by the Fund
pursuant to this Plan or any related agreement, and the Board shall review a
written report of the amounts expended pursuant to the Plan and the purposes
for which such expenditures were made.
 
6. This Plan may be terminated as to the Fund at any time by vote of a majority
of the Independent Directors, or by vote of a majority of the outstanding
voting securities (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund.  Unless sooner
terminated in accordance with this provision, this Plan shall continue in
effect until December 31, 2000.  It may thereafter be renewed from year to year
in the manner provided for in paragraph 4 hereof.
 
7. Any agreement related to this Plan shall be in writing, and shall provide:
 
A. that such agreement may be terminated as to the Fund at any time, without
payment of any penalty, by vote of a majority of the Independent Directors or
by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the
1940 Act) of the Fund, on not more than sixty (60) days' written notice to any
other party to the agreement; and
 
B. that such agreement shall terminate automatically in the event of its
assignment.
 
8. This Plan may not be amended to increase materially the maximum amount of
fee or other distribution expenses provided for in paragraph 1 hereof with
respect to the Fund unless such amendment is approved by the voting securities
of the Fund in the manner provided in paragraph 3 hereof, and no material
amendment to this Plan shall be made unless approved in the manner provided for
in paragraph 4 hereof.
 
9. While this Plan is in effect, the selection and nomination of Directors of
the Fund who are not "interested persons" of the Fund (as defined in the 1940
Act) shall be committed to the discretion of the Directors who are not
interested persons.
 
10. If the Fund shall at any time issue shares in more than one series, this
Plan may be adopted, amended, continued or renewed with respect to a series as
provided herein notwithstanding such adoption, amendment, continuance or
renewal has not been effected with respect to any one or more other series of
the Fund.
 
11. The Fund shall preserve copies of this Plan and any related agreement and
all reports made pursuant to paragraph 5 hereof for a period of not less than
six (6) years from the date of this Plan, or such agreement or reports, as the
case may be, the first two (2) years of which such records shall be stored in
an easily accessible place.
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Fund has caused this Plan to be executed by its
officers thereunto duly authorized, as of _______________.
 
NEW WORLD FUND, INC.
 
By       
President
 
By       
Secretary


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