NEW PERSPECTIVE FUND, INC.

MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

IMPORTANT NOTICE

A meeting of shareholders of New Perspective Fund will take place on March 13,
2003.

You don't need to attend the meeting to participate. But it's important that you
take a few minutes to read the enclosed material and vote your shares. You can
vote by the Internet, by telephone or by mailing your completed and signed proxy
card(s) in the enclosed postage-paid envelope. Unless you plan to attend the
meeting in person, you must respond in one of these ways in order for your vote
to be counted.

No matter how many shares you own, your vote is important. Your prompt response
will help reduce proxy costs -- which are paid for by the fund and its
shareholders --and will also help you avoid receiving follow-up telephone calls
or mailings. Voting by the Internet or telephone lowers proxy costs even
further.

We encourage you to read the attached Proxy Statement in full. Mutual funds are
required to obtain shareholders' approval for certain issues. As a shareholder,
you have a right to vote on these issues.

IMPORTANT VOTING INFORMATION INSIDE

NEW PERSPECTIVE FUND, INC.

NOTICE OF MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS MARCH 13, 2003

To the shareholders of New Perspective Fund, Inc.:

A meeting of shareholders of New Perspective Fund, Inc. (the "fund") will be
held at the offices of the fund, 333 South Hope Street, 55th Floor, Los Angeles,
California, on Thursday, March 13, 2003 at 9:15 a.m., local time, to consider
and vote on the following matters described under the corresponding numbers in
the accompanying Proxy Statement:

1.The election of a Board of 14 Directors.

2. A proposal to revise certain of the fund's fundamental investment policies,

3. Ratification of the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as independent
public accountant for the fund for the fiscal year ending September 30,
2003.

The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on December 27, 2002 as
the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to notice of and
to vote at the meeting.

THE PROPOSED BUSINESS CANNOT BE CONDUCTED AT THE MEETING UNLESS THE HOLDERS OF A
MAJORITY OF THE SHARES OF THE FUND OUTSTANDING ON THE RECORD DATE ARE PRESENT IN
PERSON OR BY PROXY. THEREFORE, PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE ENCLOSED
PROXY CARD, WHICH IS SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. YOU MAY REVOKE IT AT
ANY TIME BEFORE ITS USE. IF YOU SIGN IT YOU WILL STILL BE ABLE TO VOTE IN PERSON
IF YOU ATTEND THE MEETING.

By order of the Board of Directors,

Vincent P. Corti
Secretary

January 15, 2003

IMPORTANT
You can help the fund avoid the necessity and expense of sending follow-up
letters to ensure a quorum by promptly voting your shares by mail, telephone or
the Internet. If voting by mail, please mark, sign, date and return the enclosed
proxy card so that the necessary quorum may be represented at the meeting. The
enclosed envelope requires no postage if mailed in the United States. To vote by
telephone or the Internet please follow the instructions that appear on the
enclosed insert.

NEW PERSPECTIVE FUND, INC.
333 South Hope Street, Los Angeles, California 90071

PROXY STATEMENT
MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS MARCH 13, 2003

The enclosed proxy is solicited by the Board of Directors of the fund in
connection with the meeting of shareholders to be held at the office of the
fund, 333 South Hope Street, 55th Floor, Los Angeles, California, on Thursday,
March 13, 2003, at 9:15 a.m., local time.

If you complete and sign the enclosed proxy card in time to be voted at the
meeting, your shares will be voted exactly as you instruct. If you simply sign
the proxy card, without otherwise completing it, your shares will be voted for
the below nominated trustees and in favor of all proposals. You can revoke a
proxy card before its exercise, either by filling with the fund a written
notification of revocation, by delivering a duly executed proxy card bearing a
later date, or by attending the Meeting and voting in person. Shareholders who
return proxies marked as abstaining from voting on one or more of the proposals
are treated as being present at the Meeting for purposes of obtaining the quorum
necessary to hold the meeting, but are not counted as part of the vote necessary
to approve the proposal(s). Broker "non-votes" (i.e. proxies received from
brokers or nominees indicating that they have not received instructions from the
beneficial owner or other person entitled to vote the shares) will be treated as
abstentions. This Proxy Statement and proxy card was first mailed to
shareholders on or about January 15, 2003.

The fund is a fully managed, diversified, open-end investment company that
issues several different classes of shares. Each share class represents an
interest in the same investment portfolio of securities, but each class has its
own sales charge and expense structure (please refer to the fund's prospectus
for more information). Shares of all classes of the fund vote together on
matters that affect all classes in substantially the same manner. There is no
provision for cumulative voting. At the close of business on December 27, 2002,
the record date fixed by the Board of Directors for determination of
shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting, the following
were the outstanding share balances for the various classes of shares:

- ---------- ------------------------------- -------- -------------------------
Class Shares outstanding Class Shares outstanding
- ---------- ------------------------------- -------- -------------------------
- ---------- ------------------------------- -------- -------------------------
A 529-E
- ---------- ------------------------------- -------- -------------------------
- ---------- ------------------------------- -------- -------------------------
B 529-F
- ---------- ------------------------------- -------- -------------------------
- ---------- ------------------------------- -------- -------------------------
C R-1
- ---------- ------------------------------- -------- -------------------------
- ---------- ------------------------------- -------- -------------------------
F R-2
- ---------- ------------------------------- -------- -------------------------
- ---------- ------------------------------- -------- -------------------------
529-A R-3
- ---------- ------------------------------- -------- -------------------------
- ---------- ------------------------------- -------- -------------------------
529-B R-4
- ---------- ------------------------------- -------- -------------------------
- ---------- ------------------------------- -------- -------------------------
529-C R-5
- ---------- ------------------------------- -------- -------------------------

The 529 share classes are available only through CollegeAmerica to investors
establishing qualified higher education savings accounts. CollegeAmerica account
owners are technically not shareholders of the fund and accordingly, do not have
the rights of a shareholder, including the right to vote any proxies relating to
fund shares. No person owned of record or was known by the fund to own
beneficially 5% or more of the outstanding shares of the fund.

With respect to the election of directors (Proposal 1), the 14 nominees
receiving the highest number of votes will be elected. The vote required to
approve Proposals 2 and 3 is the affirmative vote of a majority of all shares
present in person or represented by proxy.

If sufficient votes are not received by the meeting date, the persons named as
proxies may propose one or more adjournments of the meeting in accordance with
applicable law, to permit further solicitation of proxies. The persons named as
proxies may vote all proxies in favor of such adjournment.

PROPOSAL 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

Fourteen Directors are to be elected at the meeting, each to hold office until
the next meeting and until a successor is elected and qualified. Because we do
not expect meetings of shareholders to be held each year, the Directors' terms
will be indefinite in length. Each of the nominees for Director except Vanessa
C.L. Chang, Paul G. Haaga, Jr., Jae H. Hyun, and Rozanne L. Ridgway were elected
by shareholders at their last Meeting on December 1, 1999. Ms. Chang, Mr. Haaga
and Amb. Ridgway were elected by the Board of Directors on March 15, 2000. The
Board elected Mr. Hyun on April 19, 2002. Alan Greenway and Jon B. Lovelace,
Jr., Directors since the fund's inception, are retiring from the Board.

Each of the nominees has agreed to serve as Director if elected. If any
unforeseen event prevents one or more of the nominees from serving as Director,
your votes will be cast (unless you have elected to withhold authority as to the
election of any nominee) for the election of such person or persons as the Board
of Directors shall recommend. The table below sets forth certain information
regarding the nominees.

Board of Directors

- --------------------- ---------- ----------- ------------------------------------------------- -----------------

Position Year Number of
with the first boards within
fund elected a fund complex1
Name and age Director Principle occupation(s) during past 5 years on which
of the Director serves
fund
- --------------------- ---------- ----------- ------------------------------------------------- -----------------
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Non-interested"
Directors
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------- ---------- ----------- ------------------------------------------------- -----------------
Elisabeth Allison Director 1991 Administrative Director, ANZI, Ltd. (financial 3
56 publishing and consulting); Publishing
Consultant, Harvard Medical School; former
Senior Vice President, Planning and
Development, McGraw Hill, Inc.
- --------------------- ---------- ----------- ------------------------------------------------- -----------------
- --------------------- ---------- ----------- ------------------------------------------------- -----------------
Vanessa C.L. Chang Director 2000 Chief Executive Officer, ResolveItNow.com 1
50 (insurance related internet company); former
Senior Vice President, Secured Capital
Corporation; former Partner, KPMG Peat Marwick
LLP
- --------------------- ---------- ----------- ------------------------------------------------- -----------------
- --------------------- ---------- ----------- ------------------------------------------------- -----------------
Robert A. Fox Director 1979 Managing General Partner, Fox Investments LP; 7
65 Professor and Executive in Residence,
University of California, Davis; former
President and Chief Executive Officer, Foster
Farms
- --------------------- ---------- ----------- ------------------------------------------------- -----------------
- --------------------- ---------- ----------- ------------------------------------------------- -----------------
Jae H. Hyun Director 2002 Chairman, Tong Yang Group 1
53
- --------------------- ---------- ----------- ------------------------------------------------- -----------------
- --------------------- ---------- ----------- ------------------------------------------------- -----------------
Koichi Itoh Director 1994 Managing Director, Itoh Associates, Ltd.; 3
62 former President, Autosplice KK; former
President and Chief Executive Officer, IMPAC
(management consulting services); former
Managing Partner, VENCA Management (venture
capital)
- --------------------- ---------- ----------- ------------------------------------------------- -----------------
- --------------------- ---------- ----------- ------------------------------------------------- -----------------
William H. Kling Director 1987 President, American Public Media Group 6
60
- --------------------- ---------- ----------- ------------------------------------------------- -----------------
- --------------------- ---------- ----------- ------------------------------------------------- -----------------
John G. McDonald Director 1978 The IBJ Professor of Finance, Graduate School 8
65 of Business, Stanford University

- --------------------- ---------- ----------- ------------------------------------------------- -----------------
- --------------------- ---------- ----------- ------------------------------------------------- -----------------
William I. Miller5 Director 1992 Chairman of the Board, Irwin Financial 3
46 Corporation
- --------------------- ---------- ----------- ------------------------------------------------- -----------------

- --------------------- -------------------------------------------

Name and age Other directorships2 held by Director

- --------------------- -------------------------------------------
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
"Non-interested"
Directors
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------- -------------------------------------------
Elisabeth Allison None
56

- --------------------- -------------------------------------------
- --------------------- -------------------------------------------
Vanessa C.L. Chang None
50

- --------------------- -------------------------------------------
- --------------------- -------------------------------------------
Robert A. Fox Crompton Corporation
65

- --------------------- -------------------------------------------
- --------------------- -------------------------------------------
Jae H. Hyun Southeast Asia Cement Holding, Inc.; Tong
53 Yang Cement Corp.; Tong Yang Merchant Bank
- --------------------- -------------------------------------------
- --------------------- -------------------------------------------
Koichi Itoh None
62

- --------------------- -------------------------------------------
- --------------------- -------------------------------------------
William H. Kling Irwin Financial Corporation; St. Paul
60 Companies
- --------------------- -------------------------------------------
- --------------------- -------------------------------------------
John G. McDonald Plum Creek Timber Co.; Scholastic
65 Corporation; iStar Financial, Inc.;
Varian, Inc.; Capstone Turbine Corp.
- --------------------- -------------------------------------------
- --------------------- -------------------------------------------
William I. Miller5 Cummins Engine Company, Inc.; Tennant
46 Company
- --------------------- -------------------------------------------

Board of Directors

- --------------------- ------------- ---------- ----------------------------------------------- -----------------

Year Number of
first boards within
Position elected fund complex1
Name and age with the a Principle occupation(s) during past 5 years on which
fund Director Director serves
of the
fund
- --------------------- ------------- ---------- ----------------------------------------------- -----------------
- --------------------- ------------- ---------- ----------------------------------------------- -----------------
Kirk P. Pendleton Director 1996 Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Cairnwood, 6
63 Inc. (venture capital investment)
- --------------------- ------------- ---------- ----------------------------------------------- -----------------
- --------------------- ------------- ---------- ----------------------------------------------- -----------------
Rozanne L. Ridgway Director 2000 Chair, Baltic-American Enterprises Fund; 1
67 former
Co-Chair, Atlantic Council of the United
States
- --------------------- ------------- ---------- ----------------------------------------------- -----------------
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Interested" Directors3
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------- ------------- ---------- ----------------------------------------------- -----------------
Gina H. Despres President 1991 Senior Vice President, Capital Research and 4
61 and Director Management Company; Vice President, Capital
Strategy Research, Inc.4
- --------------------- ------------- ---------- ----------------------------------------------- -----------------
- --------------------- ------------- ---------- ----------------------------------------------- -----------------
Paul G. Haaga, Jr. Director 2000 Executive Vice President and Director, 17
54 Capital Research and Management Company;
Director, American Funds Distributors, Inc.4
- --------------------- ------------- ---------- ----------------------------------------------- -----------------
- --------------------- ------------- ---------- ----------------------------------------------- -----------------
Gregg E. Ireland Director 1991 Senior Vice President, Capital Research and 1
52 and Management Company
Executive
Vice
President
- --------------------- ------------- ---------- ----------------------------------------------- -----------------
- --------------------- ------------- ---------- ----------------------------------------------- -----------------
Walter P. Stern Chairman of 1973 Vice Chairman, Capital Group International, 1
74 the Board Inc.4; Chairman, Capital International, Inc.4
- --------------------- ------------- ---------- ----------------------------------------------- -----------------

- --------------------- -------------------------------------------

Name and age Other directorships2held by Director

- --------------------- -------------------------------------------
- --------------------- -------------------------------------------
Kirk P. Pendleton York Group, Inc.
63
- --------------------- -------------------------------------------
- --------------------- -------------------------------------------
Rozanne L. Ridgway Boeing; Emerson Electric; Manpower, Inc.;
67 Sara Lee Corporation; 3M Corporation

- --------------------- -------------------------------------------
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
"Interested" Directors
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------- -------------------------------------------
Gina H. Despres None
61

- --------------------- -------------------------------------------
- --------------------- -------------------------------------------
Paul G. Haaga, Jr. None
54

- --------------------- -------------------------------------------
- --------------------- -------------------------------------------
Gregg E. Ireland None
52

- --------------------- -------------------------------------------
- --------------------- -------------------------------------------
Walter P. Stern None
74
- --------------------- -------------------------------------------

1 Capital Research and Management Company manages the American Funds,
consisting of 29 funds. Capital Research and Management Company also
manages American Funds 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
certain nonprofit organizations.
2 These include all directorships (other than those in the American Funds)
that are held by each Director as a director of a public company or a
registered investment company.
3 "Interested persons" within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of
1940 on the basis of their affiliation with the fund's Investment
Adviser, Capital Research and Management Company, or affiliated entities
(including the fund's principal underwriter).
4 Company affiliated with Capital Research and Management Company.
5 May be deemed an "interested person" of the fund due to membership on the
board of directors of the parent company of a registered broker-dealer.

Compensation and fund ownership

Aggregate compensation/1/ (including Aggregate compensation (incuding
voluntarily deferred compensation/2/) from voluntarily deferred compensation/2/)
the fund during fiscal year ended September 30, from all funds managed by Capital
2002 Research and management Company or
its affiliates/3/ during fiscal yaer ended
Name September 30, 2002
"Non-interested"
Directors
Elisabeth Allison $31,000 $77,834
Vanessa C.L. Chang $31,000 $31,000
Robert A. Fox $29,0005 $184,8345
Jae H. Hyun $18,000 $18,000
Koichi Itoh $32,0005 $78,8345
William H. Kling $30,0005 $126,5845
John G. McDonald $30,0005 $266,3345
William I. Miller $28,5005 $69,3345
Kirk P. Pendleton $32,0005 $162,8345
Rozanne L. Ridgway $26,5005 $26,5005

Dollar range/4/ of fund Aggregate dollar range/4/ of
shares owned as of shares owned in all funds
December 27, 2002 within the American funds
overseen by Director
Name
"Non-interested"
Directors
Elisabeth Allison
Vanessa C.L. Chang
Robert A. Fox
Jae H. Hyun
Koichi Itoh
William H. Kling
John G. McDonald
William I. Miller
Kirk P. Pendleton
Rozanne L. Ridgway

Compensation and fund ownership

Dollar range/4/ of fund Aggregate dollar range/4/ of
shares owned as of shares owned in all funds
December 27, 2002 within the American funds
overseen by Director

Name
"Iinterested" Directors6
Gina H. Despres
Paul G. Haaga, Jr.
Gregg E. Ireland
Walter P. Stern

1 Each "non-interested" Director is paid an annual fee of $23,000 plus
$1,000 for each Board of Directors meeting attended and $500 for each
meeting attended as a member of a committee of the Board.
2 Amounts may be deferred by eligible Directors under a non-qualified
deferred compensation plan adopted by the fund in 1993. Deferred amounts
accumulate at an earnings rate determined by the total return of one or
more funds in the American Funds as designated by the Directors.
3 Capital Research and Management Company manages the American Funds,
consisting of 29 funds. Capital Research and Management Company also
manages American Funds 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
certain nonprofit organizations.
4 Ownership disclosure is made using the following ranges: None; $1 -
$10,000; $10,001 - $50,000; $50,001 - $100,000 and Over $100,000. The
amounts listed for "interested" directors include shares owned through
The Capital Group Companies, Inc. retirement plan and 401(k) plan.
5 Since the deferred compensation plan's adoption, the total amount of
deferred compensation accrued by the fund (plus earnings thereon) through
the 2002 fiscal year for participating Directors is as follows: Robert A.
Fox ($294,590), Koichi Itoh ($135,517), William H. Kling ($173,442), John
G. McDonald ($244,116), William I. Miller ($127,784), Kirk P. Pendleton
($129,665) and Amb. Rozanne L. Ridgway ($47,304). Amounts deferred and
accumulated earnings thereon are not funded and are general unsecured
liabilities of the fund until paid to the Directors.
6 "Interested persons" within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of
1940 on the basis of their affiliation with the fund's Investment
Adviser, Capital Research and Management Company, or affiliated entities
(including the fund's principal underwriter).
7 No compensation is paid by the fund to any Director who is affiliated
with the Investment Adviser.

The fund has an Audit Committee comprised of Elisabeth Allison, Vanessa C.L.
Chang, Jae H. Hyun and Kirk P. Pendleton. The function of the Committee includes
such specific matters as recommending the independent accountant to the Board of
Directors, reviewing the audit plan and results of the audits and considering
other matters deemed appropriate for consideration by the Board of Directors
and/or the Committee.

The fund has a Nominating Committee comprised of Robert A. Fox, John G.
McDonald, William I. Miller, and Amb. Rozanne L. Ridgway. The Committee's
functions include selecting and recommending to the Board of Directors nominees
for election as directors of the fund. While the Committee normally is able to
identify from its own resources an ample number of qualified candidates, it will
consider shareholder suggestions of persons to be considered as nominees to fill
future vacancies on the Board. Such suggestions must be sent in writing to the
Nominating Committee of the fund, c/o the fund's Secretary, and must be
accompanied by complete biographical and occupational data on the prospective
nominee, along with a written consent of the prospective nominee to
consideration of his or her name by the Committee. See also "Shareholder
Proposals."

The fund has a Contracts Committee comprised of all directors who are not
considered to be "interested persons" of the fund within the meaning of the 1940
Act. The Contracts Committee's function is to request, review and consider the
information deemed necessary to evaluate the terms of the investment advisory
and service agreement, principal underwriting agreements and the plans of
distribution under rule 12b-1 that the fund proposes to enter into, renew or
continue prior to voting thereon, and to make its recommendations to the full
Board of Directors on these matters.

The fund has an Advisory Board currently composed of 11 persons, all of who were
appointed by the Board of Directors. These individuals are, in the judgment of
the Board of Directors, knowledgeable about political and economic matters. In
addition to holding meetings from time to time with the Board of Directors,
members of the Advisory Board, while not participating in specific investment
decisions, may consult from time to time with the Investment Adviser. Member of
the Advisory Board, however, possess no authority or responsibility with respect
to the fund's investments or management.

There were five Board of Directors, four Audit Committee, two Nominating
Committee and two Contracts Committee meetings during the year ended September
30, 2002. All incumbent directors attended at least 75% of all Board meetings
and meetings of the committees of which they were members.

Other officers

- ------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------- -------------
Name Officer
(position with fund) continuously
and age Principal occupation1 since2
- ------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------- -------------
- ------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------- -------------
Darcy B. Kopcho Director, Capital Research and Management Company; 1996
(Senior Vice President) President and Director, Capital Research Company3;
49 Director, Capital International, Inc.3; Director, The
Capital Group Companies, Inc.3
- ------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------- -------------
- ------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------- -------------
Robert W. Lovelace Chairman and Principal Executive Officer, Capital 2001
(Senior Vice President) Research Company3; Director, American Funds
40 Distributors, Inc.3 ; Senior Vice President, Capital
Research and Management Company; Director, The Capital
Group Companies, Inc.3
- ------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------- -------------
- ------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------- -------------
Catherine M. Ward Senior Vice President and Director, Capital Research and 1991
(Senor Vice President) Management Company; Director, American Funds Service
55 Company3; Secretary and Director, Capital Group
Research, Inc.3; Director, The Capital Group Companies,
Inc.3
- ------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------- -------------
- ------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------- -------------
Timothy P. Dunn Senior Vice President, Capital Research Company3; Vice 2000
(Vice President) President, Capital Research and Management Company
41
- ------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------- -------------
- ------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------- -------------
Jonathan O. Knowles Executive Vice President and Director, Capital Research 1998
(Vice President) Company3
41
- ------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------- -------------
- ------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------- -------------
Vincent P. Corti Vice President - Fund Business Management Group, Capital 1984
(Secretary) Research and Management Company
46
- ------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------- -------------
- ------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------- -------------
R. Marcia Gould Vice President - Fund Business Management Group, Capital 1993
(Treasurer) Research and Management Company
48
- ------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------- -------------
- ------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------- -------------
Dayna G. Yamabe Vice President - Fund Business Management Group, Capital 1998
(Assistant Treasurer) Research and Management Company
35
- ------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------- -------------

1The occupations shown reflect the principal employment of each individual
during the past five years. Corporate positions, in some instances, may have
changed during this period.
2Officers hold office until their respective successors are elected, or until
they resign or are removed. 3Company affiliated with Capital Research and
Management Company.

No officer, director or employee of the Investment Adviser receives any
remuneration from the fund. All directors and officers as a group owned
beneficially fewer than 1% of the fund's shares outstanding on December 27,
2002.

PROPOSAL 2: APPROVAL OF THE REVISION OF CERTAIN OF THE FUND'S FUNDAMENTAL
INVESTMENT POLICIES

INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY

The fund is subject to investment restrictions, which establish percentage and
other limits that govern its investment activities. Under the 1940 Act,
investment restrictions relating to certain activities are required to be
"fundamental," which means that any changes require shareholder approval.
Investment companies, including the fund, are permitted to designate additional
restrictions as fundamental. They may also adopt "non-fundamental" investment
restrictions, which may be changed by the fund's Board of Directors without
shareholder approval.

Some of the fund's existing fundamental investment restrictions reflect
regulatory, business or industry conditions, practices or requirements that have
changed or no longer exist. With the passage of time, the development of new
practices, and changes in regulatory standards, management believes certain
fundamental restrictions should be revised, eliminated or reclassified as
non-fundamental.

The Board of Directors, together with the fund's senior officers, have analyzed
the current fundamental investment restrictions, and have concluded that two
restrictions should be amended. The restrictions would be revised but remain
fundamental.

The proposed investment restrictions have been drafted to maintain important
investor protections while providing flexibility to respond to future legal,
regulatory and market changes. By reducing the number of policies that can be
changed only by shareholder vote, the Board of Directors and the fund will have
greater flexibility to modify fund policies, as appropriate, in response to
changing markets and in light of new investment opportunities and instruments.
The fund will then be able to avoid the costs and delays associated with a
shareholder meeting when making changes to the non-fundamental investment
policies that the Board of Directors may consider desirable.

IMPORTANTLY, THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS DO NOT AFFECT THE INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES OF
YOUR FUND, WHICH REMAIN UNCHANGED. MOREOVER, THE BOARD DOES NOT ANTICIPATE THAT
THE CHANGES, INDIVIDUALLY OR IN THE AGGREGATE, WILL CHANGE TO A MATERIAL DEGREE
THE LEVEL OF INVESTMENT RISK ASSOCIATED WITH AN INVESTMENT IN THE FUND.

The text of each proposed change to the fund's fundamental restrictions is set
forth below. Shareholders may vote for any or all of the changes that are the
subject of Proposal 2.

RESTRICTIONS PROPOSED TO BE REVISED BUT REMAIN FUNDAMENTAL

2A. LENDING ACTIVITIES

Under the 1940 Act, the fund is required to have a fundamental restriction
addressing its lending activities. These activities are also subject to certain
restrictions. Under the 1940 Act, loans of securities and other assets are
generally permitted up to 33-1/3% of a fund's total assets. The fund's current
fundamental policy states that the fund may not make loans, except by making
time or demand deposits with banks or by purchasing a portion of an issue of
bonds, debentures, commercial paper or other debt securities at original issue
or otherwise.

Under the revised fundamental policy, the fund would be permitted to lend
securities or make loans up to 15% of total assets. However, a non-fundamental
policy would be adopted stating that the fund has no current intention to lend
portfolio securities. As such, the fund would have the flexibility to invest,
consistent with its investment objectives, in loans, loan participations, and
other forms of direct debt instruments. Direct debt instruments are interests in
amounts owed to lender or lending syndicates or other parties. As the beneficial
owner of a direct debt instrument, the fund would be entitled to receive
payments of principal, interest and any fees to which it is entitled. If the
fund acquires an indirect interest in a loan (e.g., a loan participation), the
fund would be entitled to receive these payments only from the lender selling
the participation. The fund generally would have no right to enforce compliance
by the borrower with the terms of the loan agreement relating to the loan. It
would be subject to the credit risk of both the borrower and the lender selling
the participation.

Current Text [fundamental policy]

[The fund may not ...] lend any of its assets; provided, however, that
investment in government obligations, short-term commercial paper,
certificates of deposit and banker's acceptances and publicly traded
bonds, debentures, or other debt securities shall not be deemed to be
the making of a loan.

Proposed Text [fundamental policy]

[The fund may not ...] lend any security or make any other loan if, as
a result, more than 15% of its total assets would be lent to third
parties, but this limitation does not apply to purchases of debt
securities or to repurchase agreements.

Proposed Text [non-fundamental policy]

The fund does not currently intend to lend portfolio securities.

2B. BORROWING

The 1940 Act, the rules thereunder, Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC")
or SEC staff interpretations of the 1940 Act or the rules, and exemptive relief
granted by the SEC under the 1940 Act, together allow mutual funds to issue
"senior securities" and borrow money in certain circumstances. A senior security
is an obligation of a fund, with respect to its earnings or assets, that takes
precedence over the claims of a fund's shareholders with respect to the same
earnings or assets. The 1940 Act generally prohibits a mutual fund from issuing
senior securities with the exception of certain borrowings, but SEC staff
interpretations allow a fund to engage in certain types of transactions that
might otherwise be considered to create senior securities or leverage. For
example, short sales, certain options and futures transactions, reverse
repurchase agreements and any securities transactions that obligate a fund to
pay money at a future date (such as when-issued, forward commitment or delayed
delivery transactions) may technically be considered senior securities, but are
permitted investments as long as certain collateral requirements designed to
protect shareholders are met.

The 1940 Act also generally permits mutual funds to borrow money from banks and
engage in other transactions that create leverage within certain prescribed
limits and provided certain requirements are met. A fund can generally borrow an
amount equal to 33 1/3% of its total assets. The fund currently has a
fundamental restriction on borrowing which is more restrictive than the
limitations imposed by the 1940 Act. The proposed restriction would provide the
fund with the flexibility to borrow money up to the limits prescribed by law, in
order to meet redemption requests and without being forced to sell portfolio
securities at possibly disadvantageous prices. The proposed restriction would
also permit the fund to borrow money for the purpose of investing in additional
securities. However, a non-fundamental policy would be adopted stating that the
fund will only borrow for temporary or emergency purposes and not for investment
in securities (also known as "leverage").

Current Text [fundamental policy]

[The fund may not ...] borrow amounts in excess of 5% of the value of
its total assets; in any event, the fund may borrow only as a temporary
measure for extraordinary or emergency purposes and not for investment
securities.

Proposed Text [fundamental policy]

[The fund may not ...] issue senior securities or borrow money, except
as permitted by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended or any
rule thereunder, any SEC or SEC staff interpretations thereof or any
exemptions therefrom which may be granted by the SEC.

Proposed Text [non-fundamental policy]

The fund will only borrow for temporary or emergency purposes and not
for investment in securities.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE IN FAVOR OF THESE
PROPOSED CHANGES TO FUNDAMENTAL INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS.

PROPOSAL 3: RATIFICATION OF THE SELECTION OF PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP AS
INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2003

Shareholders are requested to ratify the selection by the Board of Directors
(including a majority of directors who are not "interested persons" of the fund
as that term is defined in the 1940 Act) of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP ("PwC")
to act as independent accountants for the fund for the fiscal year ending
September 30, 2003. PwC has served as the fund's independent accountants since
the fund's inception. No representative of PwC is expected to attend the meeting
of shareholders.

The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of the fund has discussed with PwC
representatives the independence of PwC from the fund and its management,
including the matters disclosed in the letter from PwC required by Independence
Standards Board Standard No. 1, and also considered whether the provision of
non-audit services described below is compatible with maintaining their
independence.

Securities and Exchange Commission rules require the disclosure of professional
fees for audit and non-audit services billed to the fund, the investment adviser
and affiliates of the investment adviser providing services to the fund
(together, "Covered Entities"), during the fund's fiscal year ended September
30, 2002, as follows:

AUDIT FEES: Aggregate fees billed by PwC for professional services rendered for
the audit of the fund's annual financial statements during the period were
$XXXX.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION FEES: PwC did not render
any professional services relating to financial information systems design and
implementation to Covered Entities during the period.

ALL OTHER FEES: PwC's billings for tax services rendered to the fund during the
period were $XXX. Aggregate fees billed by PwC for all other professional
services rendered to Covered Entities during the period were $XXXXX. These fees
relate to assistance with X.

The amounts shown above do not include amounts paid for audit and non-audit
services (including tax services) rendered to other mutual funds within the
American Funds. Billings for these services during the fund's fiscal year ended
September 30, 2002 totaled $X.

PwC renders audit and audit related services on a global basis to certain
affiliates of the investment adviser's parent company. Aggregate billings for
these services totaled approximately $X during the fund's fiscal year ended
September 30, 2002.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE FOR RATIFICATION OF
ITS SELECTION OF PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP.

OTHER MATTERS

Neither the persons named in the enclosed proxy nor the Board of Directors are
aware of any matters that will be presented for action at the meeting other than
matters described above. If any other matters properly requiring a vote of
shareholders arise, the proxies will confer upon the person or persons entitled
to vote the shares in respect of any such matters in accordance with their best
judgment in the interests of the fund and its shareholders.

SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS

Any shareholder proposals for inclusion in proxy solicitation material for a
subsequent shareholders meeting should be submitted to the Secretary of the
fund, at the fund's principal executive offices, 333 South Hope Street, Los
Angeles, CA 90071. Any such proposals must comply with the requirements of rule
14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Capital Research and Management Company is the investment adviser to the fund
and is located at 333 South Hope Street, Los Angeles, CA 90071 and 135 South
State College Boulevard, Brea, CA 92821. American Funds Distributors, Inc. is
the principal underwriter of the fund's shares and is located at the Los Angeles
and Brea addresses above and also at 3500 Wiseman Boulevard, San Antonio, TX
78251, 8332 Woodfield Crossing Boulevard, Indianapolis, IN 46240, and 5300 Robin
Hood Road, Norfolk, VA 23513.

The enclosed proxy is solicited by and on behalf of the Board of Directors of
the fund. The fund will pay the cost of soliciting proxies, consisting of
printing, handling and mailing of the proxies and related materials. In addition
to solicitation by mail, certain officers and directors of the fund, who will
receive no extra compensation for their services, may solicit by telephone,
telegram or personally. WE URGE ALL SHAREHOLDERS TO VOTE THEIR SHARES BY MAIL,
TELEPHONE OR THE INTERNET. IF VOTING BY MAIL, PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE, AND
RETURN THE PROXY CARD IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE, WHICH REQUIRES NO POSTAGE IF
MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES. TO VOTE YOUR PROXY BY TELEPHONE OR THE INTERNET
PLEASE FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS THAT APPEAR ON THE ENCLOSED INSERT.

You may obtain a copy of the fund's most recent annual report and semi-annual
report without charge, by writing to the Secretary of the fund at 333 South Hope
Street, 55th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90071, or by telephoning 800/421-0180. These
requests will be honored within three business days of receipt.

By order of the Board of Directors,

Vincent P. Corti
Secretary

January 15, 2003

(This page intentionally left blank.)

The right choice for the long termSM

Printed on recycled paper.

THE CAPITAL GROUP COMPANIES
American Funds Capital Research and Management Capital International
Capital Guardian Capital Bank and Trust

PROXY CARD
[logo - American Funds (sm)]

NEW PERSPECTIVE FUND

PROXY SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
FOR THE MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD MARCH 13, 2003

The undersigned hereby appoints Vincent P. Corti, Gina H. Despres and Walter P.
Stern, and each of them, his/her true and lawful agents and proxies with full
power of substitution to represent the undersigned at the Meeting of
Shareholders to be held at the office of the Fund, 333 South Hope Street, 55th
Floor, Los Angeles, California, on Thursday March 13, 2003 at 9:15 a.m., on all
matters coming before the meeting.

PLEASE EXECUTE, SIGN AND RETURN THIS PROXY. WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED, IT WILL BE
VOTED EXACTLY AS YOU INSTRUCT. IF YOU SIGN AND RETURN THIS PROXY, WITHOUT
OTHERWISE COMPLETING IT, YOUR SHARES WILL BE VOTED FOR THE PROPOSALS.

VOTE VIA THE INTERNET: https://vote.proxy-direct.com
VOTE VIA THE TELEPHONE: 1-866-235-4298
CONTROL NUMBER: 999 9999 9999 999

CAPITAL BANK AND TRUST COMPANY AS TRUSTEE

/s/ Thomas J. Hamblin

AUTHORIZED OFFICER

Note: Please sign exactly as your name(s) appear on this card. Joint owners
should each sign individually. Corporate proxies should be signed in full
corporate name by an authorized officer. Fiduciaries should give full titles.

- -------------
Signature

- -------------
Signature of joint owner, if any

- -------------
Date

NPF_12899

PROXY CARD
[logo- American Funds (sm)]

NEW PERSPECTIVE FUND

PROXY SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
FOR THE MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD MARCH 13, 2003

VOTE VIA THE INTERNET: https://vote.proxy-direct.com
VOTE VIA THE TELEPHONE: 1-866-235-4298
CONTROL NUMBER: 999 9999 9999 999

- -------------
Signature

- -------------
Signature of joint owner, if any

- -------------
Date

NPF_12899

NEW PERSPECTIVE FUND

TO VOTE, MARK BLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS FOLLOWS. Example: [graphic:
filled in box]

1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS:

01 Elisabeth Allison 02 Vanessa C.L. Chang 03 Gina H. Despres
04 Robert A. Fox 05 Paul G. Haaga, Jr. 06 Jae H. Hyun
07 Gregg E. Ireland 08 Koichi Itoh 09 William H. Kling
10 John G. McDonald 11 William I. Miller 12 Kirk P. Pendleton
13 Rozanne L. Ridgway 14 Walter P. Stern

FOR ALL [GRAPHIC BOX]
WITHHOLD ALL [GRAPHIC BOX]
FOR ALL EXCEPT [GRAPHIC BOX]

To withhold your vote for any individual nominee, mark the "For All Except"
box and write the nominee's number on the line provided below.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

2. REVISION TO CERTAIN FUNDAMENTAL POLICIES: FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN

A. Lending activities
B. Borrowing and senior securities

3. RATIFICATION OF PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP AS INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS.

In their discretion, upon other matters as may properly come before the meeting.

IMPORTANT

Shareholders can help the Fund avoid the
necessity and expense of sending
follow-up letters by promptly
signing and returning this Proxy.

PLEASE SIGN AND DATE ON THE REVERSE SIDE BEFORE MAILING