N-CSR 1 eupac_ncsr.htm N-CSR

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM N-CSR

Certified Shareholder Report of

Registered Management Investment Companies

 

Investment Company Act File Number: 811-03734

 

EuroPacific Growth Fund

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

333 South Hope Street

Los Angeles, California 90071

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (213) 486-9200

 

Date of fiscal year end: March 31

 

Date of reporting period: March 31, 2019

 

Brian C. Janssen

EuroPacific Growth Fund

333 South Hope Street

Los Angeles, California 90071

(Name and Address of Agent for Service)

 
 

 

ITEM 1 – Reports to Stockholders

 

 

 

EuroPacific Growth Fund®

 

Annual report
for the year ended
March 31, 2019

 

 

Tap into the growth
potential of
international equities.

 

Beginning January 1, 2021, as permitted by regulations adopted by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, we intend to no longer mail paper copies of the fund’s shareholder reports, unless specifically requested from American Funds or your financial intermediary, such as a broker-dealer or bank. Instead, the reports will be made available on the American Funds website (americanfunds.com); you will be notified by mail and provided with a website link to access the report each time a report is posted. If you have already elected to receive shareholder reports electronically, you will not be affected by this change and do not need to take any action. If you prefer to receive shareholder reports and other communications electronically, you may update your mailing preferences with your financial intermediary, or enroll in e-delivery at americanfunds.com (for accounts held directly with the fund).

 

You may elect to receive paper copies of all future reports free of charge. If you invest through a financial intermediary, you may contact your financial intermediary to request that you continue to receive paper copies of your shareholder reports. If you invest directly with the fund, you may inform American Funds that you wish to continue receiving paper copies of your shareholder reports by contacting us at (800) 421-4225. Your election to receive paper reports will apply to all funds held with American Funds or through your financial intermediary.

 

 

EuroPacific Growth Fund seeks to provide you with long-term growth of capital.

 

This fund is one of more than 40 offered by Capital Group, home of American Funds, one of the nation’s largest mutual fund families. For more than 85 years, Capital Group has invested with a long-term focus based on thorough research and attention to risk.

 

Fund results shown in this report, unless otherwise indicated, are for Class A shares at net asset value. If a sales charge (maximum 5.75%) had been deducted, the results would have been lower. Results are for past periods and are not predictive of results for future periods. Current and future results may be lower or higher than those shown. Share prices and returns will vary, so investors may lose money. Investing for short periods makes losses more likely. For current information and month-end results, visit americanfunds.com.

 

See page 4 for Class A share results with relevant sales charges deducted and fund expenses. For other share class results, visit americanfunds.com and americanfundsretirement.com.

 

Investment results assume all distributions are reinvested and reflect applicable fees and expenses. When applicable, investment results reflect fee waivers, without which results would have been lower. Visit americanfunds.com for more information.

 

Investing outside the United States may be subject to risks, such as currency fluctuations, periods of illiquidity and price volatility. These risks may be heightened in connection with investments in developing countries. Refer to the fund prospectus and the Risk Factors section of this report for more information on these and other risks associated with investing in the fund.

 

Investments are not FDIC-insured, nor are they deposits of or guaranteed by a bank or any other entity, so they may lose value.

 
Contents
   
1 Letter to investors
   
4 The value of a long-term perspective
   
6 Tapping global potential
   
7 Summary investment portfolio
   
12 Financial statements
   
38  Board of trustees and other officers

 

Fellow investors:

 

In a highly volatile year for international equity markets, EuroPacific Growth Fund trailed its primary benchmark while outpacing its mutual funds peer group.

 

EuroPacific Growth declined 4.97% for shareholders who reinvested dividends and capital gains during the one-year period ended March 31, 2019. This return lagged the 4.22% loss recorded by the fund’s primary benchmark, the unmanaged MSCI All Country World Index ex USA, which reflects the returns of more than 40 developed and developing country stock markets.

 

The fund outpaced its peers as reflected by the Lipper International Funds Average, which fell 5.77% during the same period. The fund also trailed the return of the MSCI EAFE (Europe, Australasia, Far East) Index, which lost 3.71%. Over longer time frames, the fund’s results outpaced the indexes and the peer group, as shown in the table below.

 

Sharp swings in global markets

International equity markets came under pressure during the one-year period, buffeted by rising interest rates, slowing global economic growth and deteriorating trade relations between the U.S., Europe and China. However, markets rebounded strongly in the first quarter of 2019 amid indications that the U.S. Federal Reserve would place its rate-hiking plans on hold and signs of progress in U.S.-China trade negotiations. By the end of the period, international stocks had regained some of the losses experienced earlier in the period, despite ongoing worries about the health of the global economy.

 

Pronounced economic slowdowns in Europe and China kept investors on edge, while the U.S. economy continued to show signs of strength. China’s economic growth declined to a nearly 30-year low amid weakness in several key areas, including the housing market and export activity. European growth also disappointed as a

 

Results at a glance

 

For periods ended March 31, 2019, with all distributions reinvested

 

    Cumulative
total return
  Average annual total returns
    1 year   5 years   10 years   Lifetime
(since 4/16/84)
                 
EuroPacific Growth Fund (Class A shares)     –4.97 %     3.91 %     9.57 %     10.47 %
MSCI ACWI (All Country World Index) ex USA1,2     –4.22       2.57       8.85       8.51  
MSCI EAFE (Europe, Australasia, Far East) Index1,3     –3.71       2.33       8.96       8.06  
Lipper International Funds Average4     –5.77       2.14       8.80       8.51  

 

1 The market indexes are unmanaged and, therefore, have no expenses. Investors cannot invest directly in an index. Source: MSCI.
2 From April 16, 1984, through December 31, 1987, the MSCI EAFE (Europe, Australasia, Far East) Index was used because the MSCI ACWI (All Country World Index) ex USA did not yet exist. Since January 1, 1988, the MSCI ACWI ex USA has been used. The MSCI EAFE Index reflects dividends net of withholding taxes. The MSCI ACWI ex USA reflects dividends gross of withholding taxes through December 31, 2000, and dividends net of withholding taxes thereafter.
3 This index was the fund’s primary benchmark until the fiscal year ended March 31, 2007. Results reflect dividends net of withholding taxes.
4 Results for the Lipper averages do not reflect sales charges. Lipper indexes track the largest mutual funds (no more than 30), represented by one share class per fund, in the corresponding Lipper category. Lipper averages reflect the current composition of all eligible mutual funds (all share classes) within a given category. Lipper source: Thomson Reuters Lipper. Lipper categories are dynamic and averages may have few funds, especially over longer periods. To see the number of funds included in the Lipper category for each fund’s lifetime, please see the Quarterly Statistical Update, available on our website.

 

EuroPacific Growth Fund 1
 

brewing trade war and political uncertainty clouded the outlook for the 19-member eurozone. The rise of populist politics in many countries served to heighten the sense of market uncertainty. In foreign exchange markets, the euro and many emerging markets currencies declined against the U.S. dollar and the Japanese yen.

 

Sector results mixed

Most sectors fell, underscored by a sharp decline among financials and consumer discretionary stocks. Bank shares were weighed down by negative interest rates in Europe and concerns about deteriorating economic growth in many countries. Concerns about China’s weakening economy hurt investor sentiment for many luxury goods and travel-related companies throughout Asia and Europe. Information technology stocks also moved lower amid slowing smartphone sales and waning demand for computer chips. Semiconductor stocks fell sharply during the period before bouncing back in the first quarter of 2019.

 

Defensive stocks fared better, highlighted by a strong rally in the utilities sector. The trend was particularly acute in the fourth quarter of 2018 when shares of companies with solid dividends and steady cash flows were in high demand. Energy stocks advanced, boosted by rising oil prices during most of the one-year period. Stocks in the health care sector also moved higher amid attractive valuations, rising M&A activity and investor optimism for innovative new drugs in the development pipeline.

 

Inside the portfolio

Select investments in the financials sector produced solid returns for the fund. Shares of HDFC Bank rallied as the Indian financial services company attracted a growing customer base and reported sharply higher profits. AIA Group shares also moved higher as the Hong Kong-based insurer generated solid earnings and received key government approvals to expand its operations in China. Elsewhere in the sector, shares of Italian bank UniCredit tumbled as a populist coalition government came to power in Rome, and the country’s economy fell into recession at the end of 2018.

 

Stock selection in the energy sector made a meaningful contribution to results. Reliance Industries rallied on the success of the Indian conglomerate’s petrochemicals business and its Jio telecommunications network. Reliance was among the top contributors to returns relative to the index, along with Airbus. Shares of the European aircraft manufacturer soared amid record-high profits, even as the company said it would cease production of the A380 jumbo jet in 2021 amid waning demand for the world’s largest commercial passenger plane. In addition, Airbus announced a €30 billion deal to deliver 300 planes to China-based carriers.

 

Stock selection and an overweight stance in the information technology sector hurt the fund’s results for the one-year period. Shares of AAC Technologies declined as slowing smartphone sales hurt companies in the Apple iPhone supply chain. AAC makes miniaturized speakers, lenses and other components for Apple and other mobile-phone manufacturers. In the industrials sector, shares of Ryanair fell sharply as the low-cost airline based in Dublin dealt with a series of strikes by pilots and cabin crew that forced the cancellation of hundreds of flights.

 

Certain investments in the communication services sector detracted. Nintendo shares declined amid investor worries about a growing competitive threat to traditional video-game companies from free-to-play internet streaming games. Portfolio managers continue to view Nintendo as an attractive, long-term investment primarily because of the Japanese company’s valuable intellectual property, including iconic names such as Mario Bros., Donkey Kong and The Legend of Zelda. Video games continue to grow in popularity, surpassing other forms of mass entertainment, and that’s in part why the fund owns a number of leaders in the space, including Nintendo, Sony and China’s Tencent.

 

Looking ahead

Despite signs of a slowing global economy, we remain optimistic about international equity markets going forward and, specifically, the portfolio of companies we have selected for the EuroPacific Growth portfolio. Well-managed companies with long growth runways and innovative products continue to demonstrate their resilience in a challenging investment environment. Even with markets falling precipitously in the fourth quarter, our view was that the fundamentals had not changed significantly for many of our portfolio companies. As a result, we saw the market decline as a buying opportunity for select holdings where a compelling investment thesis remained intact.

 

From a macroeconomic perspective, global economic conditions remain moderately supportive for growth-oriented investors. Relatively low inflation and accommodative monetary policies are combining to provide a favorable tailwind in many markets around the world, as evidenced by the strong rebound in the first quarter of 2019. More importantly, we believe our extensive global research capabilities and intense focus on fundamental, company-by-

 

2 EuroPacific Growth Fund
 

company analysis helps us to separate winners from losers in a rapidly changing investment landscape.

 

As always, we remain focused on the long-term picture, and therefore we believe that we are well positioned to tolerate periods of short-term market volatility. We continue to be optimistic about the potential for significant price appreciation in international markets in the years ahead.

 

Thank you for your commitment to the fund, and we look forward to reporting to you again in six months.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

Carl Kawaja
Co-President

 

 

Christopher Thomsen
Co-President

 

May 13, 2019

 

For current information about the fund, visit americanfunds.com.

 

The New Geography of Investing®

 

EuroPacific Growth Fund invests primarily in companies based in developed markets in Europe and the Pacific Basin. However, emerging markets also make up a sizable and important area of focus for the fund (34%), especially when looking at the companies in terms of where they generate revenue (48%).

 

Equity portion breakdown by domicile (%)

 

 

  Country/Region   Fund     Index  
n United States     2 %     %
n Canada     4       7  
n Europe     38       42  
n Japan     14       16  
n Asia-Pacific ex. Japan     8       9  
n Emerging markets     34       26  
  Total     100 %     100 %

 

Equity portion breakdown by revenue (%)

 

 

  Country/Region   Fund     Index  
n United States     17 %     16 %
n Canada     3       4  
n Europe     19       22  
n Japan     9       11  
n Asia-Pacific ex. Japan     4       7  
n Emerging markets     48       40  
  Total     100 %     100 %

 

Source: Capital Group (as of March 31, 2019).

Compared with the MSCI ACWI ex USA as a percent of net assets.

 

EuroPacific Growth Fund 3
 

The value of a long-term perspective

 

 

Fund results shown are for Class A shares and reflect deduction of the maximum sales charge of 5.75% on the $10,000 investment.1 Thus, the net amount invested was $9,425.2 Results are for past periods and are not predictive of results for future periods. Current and future results may be lower or higher than those shown. Share prices and returns will vary, so investors may lose money. For current information and month-end results, visit americanfunds.com.

 

The results shown are before taxes on fund distributions and sale of fund shares.

 

1 As outlined in the prospectus, the sales charge is reduced for accounts (and aggregated investments) of $25,000 or more and is eliminated for purchases of $1 million or more. There is no sales charge on dividends or capital gain distributions that are reinvested in additional shares.
2 The maximum initial sales charge was 8.50% prior to July 1, 1988.
3 For the period April 16, 1984, commencement of operations, through March 31, 1985.
4 The index is unmanaged and, therefore, has no expenses. Investors cannot invest directly in an index.
5 From April 16, 1984, through December 31, 1987, the MSCI EAFE (Europe, Australasia, Far East) Index was used because the MSCI ACWI (All Country World Index) ex USA did not yet exist. Since January 1, 1988, the MSCI ACWI ex USA has been used. The MSCI EAFE Index reflects dividends net of withholding taxes. The MSCI ACWI ex USA reflects dividends gross of withholding taxes through December 31, 2000, and dividends net of withholding taxes thereafter.

 

4 EuroPacific Growth Fund
 

How a $10,000 investment has grown

This chart shows how a hypothetical $10,000 investment in the EuroPacific Growth Fund grew from April 16, 1984, to March 31, 2019. As you can see, the investment grew to $305,932 with all distributions reinvested. The fund’s year-by-year results appear under the chart. You can use this table to estimate how the value of your own holdings has grown.

 

 

EuroPacific Growth Fund 5
 

Tapping global potential

 

 

The table above compares total returns for the MSCI USA Index (shown in gray) and the MSCI ACWI (All Country World Index) ex USA (shown in blue) over the past 25 calendar years.

 

Results for the MSCI USA Index reflect dividends gross of withholding taxes. Results for the MSCI ACWI (All Country World Index) ex USA reflect dividends gross of withholding taxes through December 31, 2000, and dividends net of withholding taxes thereafter.

 

  MSCI USA Index   MSCI ACWI (All Country World Index) ex USA
   

 

A world of opportunity

With many of the world’s investment opportunities located beyond our shores, an international focus gives U.S. investors access to growth potential that would otherwise be out of reach. As the chart shows, international stocks have outpaced their U.S. counterparts in 11 of the past 25 calendar years. Diversifying across U.S. and non-U.S. stock markets can also help investors mitigate fluctuations in the value of their investments.

 

The Capital SystemSM

Negotiating the unfamiliar terrain of international markets can be challenging. That is why so many people choose to invest overseas through professionally managed mutual funds. EuroPacific Growth Fund draws on the global research experience of its investment adviser, Capital Research and Management Company, to find attractive companies based chiefly in Europe and the Pacific Basin.

 

6 EuroPacific Growth Fund
 

Summary investment portfolio March 31, 2019

 

Industry sector diversification Percent of net assets
   

 

Country diversification by domicile   Percent of
net assets
Eurozone*     20.20 %
Japan     12.74  
China     9.55  
United Kingdom     9.16  
India     8.56  
Hong Kong     5.66  
South Korea     4.32  
Brazil     4.21  
Canada     3.79  
Other countries     15.55  
Short-term securities & other assets less liabilities     6.26  
* Countries using the euro as a common currency; those represented in the fund’s portfolio are Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain.

 

Common stocks 93.54%   Shares     Value
(000)
 
Financials 17.43%                
HDFC Bank Ltd.     112,173,464     $ 3,754,876  
HDFC Bank Ltd. (ADR)     7,727,242       895,665  
AIA Group Ltd.     452,940,000       4,509,233  
Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd.     94,883,478       1,827,817  
Prudential PLC     74,885,038       1,499,585  
Barclays PLC     550,719,268       1,109,495  
Housing Development Finance Corp. Ltd.     31,813,425       903,887  
China Construction Bank Corp., Class H     949,336,140       813,895  
B3 SA - Brasil, Bolsa, Balcao     90,072,000       738,915  
Axis Bank Ltd.1     64,612,400       724,937  
Other securities             10,500,390  
              27,278,695  
                 
Consumer discretionary 14.43%                
Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. (ADR)1     21,324,295       3,890,618  
MercadoLibre, Inc.1,2     3,424,500       1,738,721  
LVMH Moët Hennessy-Louis Vuitton SE     4,636,000       1,705,222  
Galaxy Entertainment Group Ltd.2     224,749,000       1,530,307  
Sony Corp.     30,665,500       1,285,223  
adidas AG     4,984,373       1,211,058  
Naspers Ltd., Class N     3,786,500       874,445  
Industria de Diseño Textil, SA     26,741,966       785,942  
Kering SA     1,340,165       768,502  
Melco Resorts & Entertainment Ltd. (ADR)2     32,297,140       729,592  
EssilorLuxottica     6,613,801       722,465  
Meituan Dianping, Class B1     103,390,504       696,738  
Other securities             6,652,276  
              22,591,109  
                 
Information technology 12.29%                
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.     79,274,796       3,118,333  
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., nonvoting preferred     2,440,000       77,923  
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.     271,072,329       2,159,221  
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (ADR)     8,247,523       337,818  
ASML Holding NV     11,654,828       2,185,940  
SK hynix, Inc.     30,309,200       1,981,273  
Keyence Corp.     2,593,780       1,614,121  
Amadeus IT Group SA, Class A, non-registered shares     14,826,852       1,187,526  
Tokyo Electron Ltd.     5,805,800       838,156  
PagSeguro Digital Ltd., Class A1,2     24,308,238       725,601  
Other securities             5,001,776  
              19,227,688  

 

EuroPacific Growth Fund 7
 
Common stocks (continued)   Shares     Value
(000)
 
Industrials 10.62%                
Airbus SE, non-registered shares     32,152,127     $ 4,252,258  
SMC Corp.     2,409,700       902,958  
International Consolidated Airlines Group, SA (CDI)2     129,105,675       860,947  
Safran SA     6,107,000       837,477  
Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC1     63,482,720       746,793  
MTU Aero Engines AG2     3,144,000       711,705  
Other securities             8,304,173  
              16,616,311  
                 
Health care 8.68%                
Novartis AG     20,856,600       2,006,171  
Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd.3     34,141,000       1,728,867  
AstraZeneca PLC     11,519,100       920,129  
Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.     13,055,158       896,416  
Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd.     21,696,653       885,054  
Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (ADR)1     52,991,159       830,901  
Koninklijke Philips NV     17,302,000       704,820  
Other securities             5,605,397  
              13,577,755  
                 
Materials 8.18%                
Vale SA, ordinary nominative (ADR)     178,882,800       2,336,209  
Vale SA, ordinary nominative     49,698,378       646,466  
Glencore PLC     254,215,191       1,052,741  
Teck Resources Ltd., Class B     42,384,000       980,666  
Koninklijke DSM NV     7,657,619       834,598  
Asahi Kasei Corp.2     76,292,742       786,126  
Chr. Hansen Holding A/S2     7,314,000       741,357  
Other securities             5,424,595  
              12,802,758  
                 
Energy 6.19%                
Reliance Industries Ltd.     196,635,942       3,869,563  
Petróleo Brasileiro SA (Petrobras), ordinary nominative (ADR)     50,670,000       806,666  
Other securities             5,015,674  
              9,691,903  
                 
Consumer staples 5.99%                
Nestlé SA     14,341,399       1,366,808  
British American Tobacco PLC     31,185,430       1,297,322  
Pernod Ricard SA     5,360,610       962,122  
Kao Corp.     8,994,200       707,493  
Other securities             5,040,541  
              9,374,286  
                 
Communication services 5.30%                
Nintendo Co., Ltd.2     9,070,426       2,582,899  
Tencent Holdings Ltd.     49,853,911       2,292,660  
SoftBank Group Corp.     16,261,400       1,576,547  
Other securities             1,851,383  
              8,303,489  
                 
Utilities 2.89%                
Ørsted AS     19,677,485       1,491,319  
ENN Energy Holdings Ltd.2     77,627,000       750,564  
China Gas Holdings Ltd.     208,024,600       731,403  
Other securities             1,551,516  
              4,524,802  
                 
Real estate 1.54%                
Other securities             2,407,646  
                 
Total common stocks (cost: $107,146,634,000)             146,396,442  

 

8 EuroPacific Growth Fund
 
Rights & warrants 0.08%     Shares     Value
(000)
 
Real estate 0.08%                
Other securities           $ 132,001  
                 
Total rights & warrants (cost: $138,006,000)             132,001  
                 
Bonds, notes & other debt instruments 0.12% Principal amount
(000)
         
U.S. Treasury bonds & notes 0.06%                
U.S. Treasury 0.06%                
Other securities             99,461  
                 
Other 0.06%                
Other securities             81,803  
                 
Total bonds, notes & other debt instruments (cost: $179,071,000)             181,264  
                 
Short-term securities 6.20%     Shares          
Money market investments 5.95%                
Capital Group Central Cash Fund2     93,044,336       9,302,573  
                 
  Principal amount
(000)
         
Bonds & notes of governments & government agencies outside the U.S. 0.25%          
Other securities             395,081  
                 
Total short-term securities (cost: $9,778,246,000)             9,697,654  
Total investment securities 99.94% (cost: $117,241,957,000)             156,407,361  
Other assets less liabilities 0.06%             98,240  
                 
Net assets 100.00%           $ 156,505,601  

 

This summary investment portfolio is designed to streamline the report and help investors better focus on the fund’s principal holdings. See the inside back cover for details on how to obtain a complete schedule of portfolio holdings.

 

“Other securities” includes all issues that are not disclosed separately in the summary investment portfolio. “Other securities” also includes a security (with a value of $17,534,000, which represented .01% of the net assets of the fund) which was acquired in transactions exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933 and may be resold in the U.S. in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. “Other securities” also includes a security which was pledged as collateral. The total value of pledged collateral was $2,860,000, which represented less than .01% of the net assets of the fund.

 

Forward currency contracts

 

                    Unrealized  
Contract amount             (depreciation)  
                    appreciation  
Purchases     Sales             at 3/31/2019  
(000)     (000)     Counterparty   Settlement date   (000)  
USD62,400       INR4,462,500     HSBC Bank   4/5/2019     $(1,948 )
USD82,916       INR5,925,000     JPMorgan Chase   4/8/2019     (2,480 )
USD187,594       GBP141,350     Citibank   4/26/2019     3,233  
USD133,465       GBP100,572     JPMorgan Chase   4/26/2019     2,290  
USD64,334       INR4,462,500     Citibank   4/26/2019     199  
USD42,159       INR2,925,000     HSBC Bank   5/7/2019     179  
                        $1,473  

 

EuroPacific Growth Fund 9
 

Investments in affiliates

 

A company is an affiliate of the fund under the Investment Company Act of 1940 if the fund’s holdings in that company represent 5% or more of the outstanding voting shares. The value of the fund’s affiliated-company holdings is either shown in the summary investment portfolio or included in the value of “Other securities” under the respective industry sectors. Further details on these holdings and related transactions during the year ended March 31, 2019, appear below.

 

    Beginning
shares
    Additions     Reductions     Ending
shares
    Net
realized
(loss) gain
(000)
    Net
unrealized
appreciation
(depreciation)
(000)
    Dividend
income
(000)
    Value of
affiliates at
3/31/2019
(000)
 
Common stocks 11.36%                                                          
Consumer discretionary 3.55%                                                    
MercadoLibre, Inc.1     1,602,500       1,822,000             3,424,500     $     $ 556,650     $     $ 1,738,721  
Galaxy Entertainment Group Ltd.     93,299,000       131,450,000             224,749,000             (225,483 )     24,198       1,530,307  
Melco Resorts & Entertainment Ltd. (ADR)     12,814,000       19,483,140             32,297,140             (100,112 )     13,110       729,592  
Ryohin Keikaku Co., Ltd.     923,000       1,393,000       152,000       2,164,000       (10,343 )     (123,847 )     7,239       547,492  
Just Eat PLC1     51,012,545       3,383,455             54,396,000             (2,359 )           532,069  
ASOS PLC1     6,690,380             792,496       5,897,884       (22,127 )     (348,662 )           245,814  
GVC Holdings PLC4     3,008,730       28,303,953             31,312,683             (146,676 )     10,658       227,978  
Global Brands Group Holding Ltd.5     487,835,358             487,835,358             (88,391 )     80,313       4,479        
Kroton Educacional SA, ordinary nominative5     90,424,000             90,424,000             (196,188 )     33,730       6,492        
Paddy Power Betfair PLC5     6,722,677             4,396,996       2,325,681       (187,596 )     42,380       18,411        
William Hill PLC5     55,379,159       445,848       31,336,007       24,489,000       (106,499 )     (35,150 )     10,016        
                                                              5,551,973  
Information technology 0.78%                                                          
PagSeguro Digital Ltd., Class A1           24,308,238             24,308,238             79,063             725,601  
Halma PLC     11,480,157       11,173,000             22,653,157             63,728       2,248       493,317  
AAC Technologies Holdings Inc.5     42,638,799       24,112,667       43,747,589       23,003,877       (280,345 )     (405,309 )     12,639        
                                                              1,218,918  
Industrials 1.87%                                                                
International Consolidated Airlines Group, SA (CDI)     150,105,675             21,000,000       129,105,675       37,288       (284,928 )     46,430       860,947  
MTU Aero Engines AG     1,603,000       1,541,000             3,144,000             134,640       4,558       711,705  
Melrose Industries PLC           290,421,746             290,421,746             (197,192 )     4,974       692,783  
Yamato Holdings Co., Ltd.4     15,699,000       9,819,093             25,518,093             (5,322 )     6,263       658,271  
Air France-KLM1,5     9,233,795       18,623,500       27,857,295             134,132       12,655              
Ryanair Holdings PLC (ADR)1,5     17,974,744       566,491       12,735,235       5,806,000       (119,569 )     (732,166 )            
                                                              2,923,706  
Health care 0.65%                                                                
NMC Health PLC           12,262,303             12,262,303             (123,332 )     639       364,779  
Hikma Pharmaceuticals PLC     15,323,773             708,728       14,615,045       (800 )     99,687       5,363       341,019  
GW Pharmaceuticals PLC (ADR)1,4     1,294,000       522,499             1,816,499             83,393             306,207  
Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (ADR)1,5     50,202,159       2,789,000             52,991,159             (84,516 )            
                                                              1,012,005  
Materials 1.37%                                                                
Asahi Kasei Corp.     45,607,100       30,685,642             76,292,742             (178,602 )     22,645       786,126  
Chr. Hansen Holding A/S     7,491,364             177,364       7,314,000       9,755       99,846       13,965       741,357  
First Quantum Minerals Ltd.     41,611,001       12,411,482             54,022,483             (133,931 )     354       612,445  
                                                              2,139,928  

 

10 EuroPacific Growth Fund
 
    Beginning
shares
    Additions     Reductions     Ending
shares
    Net
realized
(loss) gain
(000)
    Net
unrealized
appreciation
(depreciation)
(000)
    Dividend
income
(000)
    Value of
affiliates at
3/31/2019
(000)
 
Energy 0.88%                                                                
Cenovus Energy Inc.     27,333,400       52,716,000       10,231,400       69,818,000     $ (1,282 )   $ 4,888     $ 7,821     $ 606,045  
Oil Search Ltd.     66,700,452       42,022,800       14,535,452       94,187,800       (16,452 )     (441 )     9,743       524,993  
Tourmaline Oil Corp.     16,547,000                   16,547,000             (25,051 )     4,902       255,569  
                                                              1,386,607  
Communication services 1.78%                                                    
Nintendo Co., Ltd.     6,797,026       3,140,000       866,600       9,070,426       (136,377 )     (1,267,463 )     62,729       2,582,899  
Altice Europe NV, Class A1,6     69,114,355       3,928,273       10,415,000       62,627,628       (31,158 )     301,216             164,461  
Altice Europe NV, Class B1,6     16,341,536             1,563,667       14,777,869       (25,443 )     (67,225 )           38,525  
Altice USA, Inc., Class A5           35,575,286       35,575,286             (68,375 )                  
Altice USA, Inc., Class B5           27,021,262       27,021,262                                
                                                              2,785,885  
Utilities 0.48%                                                                
ENN Energy Holdings Ltd.     50,122,000       27,505,000             77,627,000             17,259       6,896       750,564  
Ørsted AS5     24,649,666       61,619       5,033,800       19,677,485       119,411       85,029       29,077        
                                                              750,564  
Short-term securities 5.95%                                                    
Money market investments 5.95%                                                
Capital Group Central Cash Fund           123,314,647       30,270,311       93,044,336       (21 )     (928 )     24,047       9,302,573  
Total 17.30%                                   $ (990,380 )   $ (2,794,218 )   $ 359,896     $ 27,072,159  

 

1 Security did not produce income during the last 12 months.
2 Represents an affiliated company as defined under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
3 Valued under fair value procedures adopted by authority of the board of trustees. The total value of all such securities, including those in “Other securities,” was $1,932,542,000, which represented 1.23% of the net assets of the fund.
4 This security was an unaffiliated issuer in its initial period of acquisition at 3/31/2018; it was not publicly disclosed.
5 Unaffiliated issuer at 3/31/2019.
6 This security changed its name during the reporting period.

 

Key to abbreviations and symbol

ADR = American Depositary Receipts

CDI = CREST Depository Interest

GBP = British pounds

INR = Indian rupees

USD/$ = U.S. dollars

 

See notes to financial statements

 

EuroPacific Growth Fund 11
 

Financial statements

 

Statement of assets and liabilities            
at March 31, 2019   (dollars in thousands)  
             
Assets:                
Investment securities, at value:                
Unaffiliated issuers (cost: $92,452,166)   $ 129,335,202          
Affiliated issuers (cost: $24,789,791)     27,072,159     $ 156,407,361  
Cash             5,301  
Cash denominated in currencies other than U.S. dollars (cost: $124,108)             124,230  
Unrealized appreciation on open forward currency contracts             5,901  
Receivables for:                
Sales of investments     533,057          
Sales of fund’s shares     295,582          
Dividends and interest     482,049          
Other     29,904       1,340,592  
              157,883,385  
Liabilities:                
Unrealized depreciation on open forward currency contracts             4,428  
Payables for:                
Purchases of investments     468,317          
Repurchases of fund’s shares     548,008          
Investment advisory services     54,501          
Services provided by related parties     19,763          
Trustees’ deferred compensation     4,011          
Non-U.S. taxes     276,787          
Other     1,969       1,373,356  
Net assets at March 31, 2019           $ 156,505,601  
                 
Net assets consist of:                
Capital paid in on shares of beneficial interest           $ 119,820,607  
Total distributable earnings             36,684,994  
Net assets at March 31, 2019           $ 156,505,601  

 

(dollars and shares in thousands, except per-share amounts)

 

Shares of beneficial interest issued and outstanding (no stated par value) —
unlimited shares authorized (3,079,887 total shares outstanding)

 

    Net assets     Shares
outstanding
    Net asset
value per share
 
Class A   $ 24,703,660       484,481     $ 50.99  
Class C     1,015,243       20,428       49.70  
Class T     10       *     50.99  
Class F-1     3,231,993       63,680       50.75  
Class F-2     24,585,377       483,670       50.83  
Class F-3     11,992,491       235,253       50.98  
Class 529-A     1,375,675       27,320       50.35  
Class 529-C     218,491       4,443       49.18  
Class 529-E     59,782       1,199       49.87  
Class 529-T     12       *     50.98  
Class 529-F-1     145,452       2,891       50.32  
Class R-1     208,994       4,277       48.86  
Class R-2     690,286       14,001       49.30  
Class R-2E     88,648       1,758       50.42  
Class R-3     3,446,142       69,119       49.86  
Class R-4     7,714,908       154,589       49.91  
Class R-5E     1,510,964       29,872       50.58  
Class R-5     7,283,340       143,140       50.88  
Class R-6     68,234,133       1,339,766       50.93  

 

* Amount less than one thousand.

 

See notes to financial statements

 

12 EuroPacific Growth Fund
 
Statement of operations            
for the year ended March 31, 2019   (dollars in thousands)  
                 
Investment income:                
Income:                
Dividends (net of non-U.S. taxes of $297,024;                
also includes $359,896 from affiliates)   $ 3,096,366          
Interest     331,768     $ 3,428,134  
Fees and expenses*:                
Investment advisory services     651,418          
Distribution services     141,313          
Transfer agent services     91,038          
Administrative services     68,221          
Reports to shareholders     3,818          
Registration statement and prospectus     6,920          
Trustees’ compensation     366          
Auditing and legal     333          
Custodian     28,432          
Other     2,160          
Total fees and expenses before reimbursements     994,019          
Less transfer agent services reimbursements     30          
Total fees and expenses after reimbursements             993,989  
Net investment income             2,434,145  
                 
Net realized gain and unrealized depreciation:                
Net realized gain (loss) on:                
Investments (net of non-U.S. taxes of $3,015):                
Unaffiliated issuers     1,332,529          
Affiliated issuers     (990,380 )        
Forward currency contracts     25,495          
Currency transactions     (14,317 )     353,327  
Net unrealized (depreciation) appreciation on:                
Investments (net of non-U.S. taxes of $249,790):                
Unaffiliated issuers     (8,190,029 )        
Affiliated issuers     (2,794,218 )        
Forward currency contracts     490          
Currency translations     15,927       (10,967,830 )
Net realized gain and unrealized depreciation             (10,614,503 )
                 
Net decrease in net assets resulting from operations           $ (8,180,358 )

 

* Additional information related to class-specific fees and expenses is included in the notes to financial statements.

 

See notes to financial statements

 

EuroPacific Growth Fund 13
 
Statements of changes in net assets            
(dollars in thousands)  
   
    Year ended March 31  
    2019     2018  
Operations:                
Net investment income   $ 2,434,145     $ 1,587,081  
Net realized gain     353,327       8,721,963  
Net unrealized (depreciation) appreciation     (10,967,830 )     17,390,904  
Net (decrease) increase in net assets resulting from operations     (8,180,358 )     27,699,948  
                 
Distributions paid to shareholders     (8,900,930 )     (7,539,524 )*
                 
Net capital share transactions     6,917,067       14,228,851  
                 
Total (decrease) increase in net assets     (10,164,221 )     34,389,275  
                 
Net assets:                
Beginning of year     166,669,822       132,280,547  
End of year   $ 156,505,601     $ 166,669,822  

 

* Prior year comparative amounts have been adjusted to reflect current presentation under new accounting standards. Prior year distributions were $1,625,899 from net investment income and $5,913,625 from net realized gain on investments.

 

See notes to financial statements

 

14 EuroPacific Growth Fund
 

Notes to financial statements

 

1. Organization

 

EuroPacific Growth Fund (the “fund”) is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 as an open-end, diversified management investment company. The fund seeks to provide long-term growth of capital. Shareholders approved a proposal to reorganize the fund from a Massachusetts business trust to a Delaware statutory trust. The reorganization may be completed in the next 12 months; however, the fund reserves the right to delay the implementation.

 

The fund has 19 share classes consisting of six retail share classes (Classes A, C, T, F-1, F-2 and F-3), five 529 college savings plan share classes (Classes 529-A, 529-C, 529-E, 529-T and 529-F-1) and eight retirement plan share classes (Classes R-1, R-2, R-2E, R-3, R-4, R-5E, R-5 and R-6). The 529 college savings plan share classes can be used to save for college education. The retirement plan share classes are generally offered only through eligible employer-sponsored retirement plans. The fund’s share classes are described further in the following table:

 

Share class   Initial sales
charge
  Contingent deferred sales
charge upon redemption
  Conversion feature  
Classes A and 529-A   Up to 5.75%   None (except 1% for certain redemptions within 18 months of purchase without an initial sales charge)   None  
Class C   None   1% for redemptions within one year of purchase   Class C converts to Class F-1 after 10 years  
Class 529-C   None   1% for redemptions within one year of purchase   Class 529-C converts to Class 529-A after 10 years  
Class 529-E   None   None   None  
Classes T and 529-T*   Up to 2.50%   None   None  
Classes F-1, F-2, F-3 and 529-F-1   None   None   None  
Classes R-1, R-2, R-2E, R-3, R-4, R-5E, R-5 and R-6   None   None   None  
* Class T and 529-T shares are not available for purchase.

 

Holders of all share classes have equal pro rata rights to the assets, dividends and liquidation proceeds of the fund. Each share class has identical voting rights, except for the exclusive right to vote on matters affecting only its class. Share classes have different fees and expenses (“class-specific fees and expenses”), primarily due to different arrangements for distribution, transfer agent and administrative services. Differences in class-specific fees and expenses will result in differences in net investment income and, therefore, the payment of different per-share dividends by each share class.

 

2. Significant accounting policies

 

The fund is an investment company that applies the accounting and reporting guidance issued in Topic 946 by the U.S. Financial Accounting Standards Board. The fund’s financial statements have been prepared to comply with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”). These principles require the fund’s investment adviser to make estimates and assumptions that affect reported amounts and disclosures. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Subsequent events, if any, have been evaluated through the date of issuance in the preparation of the financial statements. The fund follows the significant accounting policies described in this section, as well as the valuation policies described in the next section on valuation.

 

Security transactions and related investment income — Security transactions are recorded by the fund as of the date the trades are executed with brokers. Realized gains and losses from security transactions are determined based on the specific identified cost of the securities. In the event a security is purchased with a delayed payment date, the fund will segregate liquid assets sufficient to meet its payment obligations. Dividend income is recognized on the ex-dividend date and interest income is recognized on an accrual basis. Market discounts, premiums and original issue discounts on fixed-income securities are amortized daily over the expected life of the security.

 

Class allocations — Income, fees and expenses (other than class-specific fees and expenses) and realized and unrealized gains and losses are allocated daily among the various share classes based on their relative net assets. Class-specific fees and expenses, such as distribution, transfer agent and administrative services, are charged directly to the respective share class.

 

Distributions paid to shareholders — Income dividends and capital gain distributions are recorded on the ex-dividend date.

 

EuroPacific Growth Fund 15
 

Currency translation — Assets and liabilities, including investment securities, denominated in currencies other than U.S. dollars are translated into U.S. dollars at the exchange rates supplied by one or more pricing vendors on the valuation date. Purchases and sales of investment securities and income and expenses are translated into U.S. dollars at the exchange rates on the dates of such transactions. The effects of changes in exchange rates on investment securities are included with the net realized gain or loss and net unrealized appreciation or depreciation on investments in the fund’s statement of operations. The realized gain or loss and unrealized appreciation or depreciation resulting from all other transactions denominated in currencies other than U.S. dollars are disclosed separately.

 

3. Valuation

 

Capital Research and Management Company (“CRMC”), the fund’s investment adviser, values the fund’s investments at fair value as defined by U.S. GAAP. The net asset value of each share class of the fund is generally determined as of approximately 4:00 p.m. New York time each day the New York Stock Exchange is open.

 

Methods and inputs — The fund’s investment adviser uses the following methods and inputs to establish the fair value of the fund’s assets and liabilities. Use of particular methods and inputs may vary over time based on availability and relevance as market and economic conditions evolve.

 

Equity securities are generally valued at the official closing price of, or 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. Prices for each security are taken from the principal exchange or market on which the security trades.

 

Fixed-income securities, including short-term securities, are generally valued at prices obtained from one or more pricing vendors. Vendors value such securities based on one or more of the inputs described in the following table. The table provides examples of inputs that are commonly relevant for valuing particular classes of fixed-income securities in which the fund is authorized to invest. However, these classifications are not exclusive, and any of the inputs may be used to value any other class of fixed-income security.

 

Fixed-income class   Examples of standard inputs
All   Benchmark yields, transactions, bids, offers, quotations from dealers and trading systems, new issues, spreads and other relationships observed in the markets among comparable securities; and proprietary pricing models such as yield measures calculated using factors such as cash flows, financial or collateral performance and other reference data (collectively referred to as “standard inputs”)
Corporate bonds & notes; convertible securities   Standard inputs and underlying equity of the issuer
Bonds & notes of governments & government agencies   Standard inputs and interest rate volatilities

 

When the fund’s investment adviser deems it appropriate to do so (such as when vendor prices are unavailable or deemed to be not representative), fixed-income securities will be valued in good faith at the mean quoted bid and ask prices that are reasonably and timely available (or bid prices, if ask prices are not available) or at prices for securities of comparable maturity, quality and type.

 

Securities with both fixed-income and equity characteristics, or equity securities traded principally among fixed-income dealers, are generally valued in the manner described for either equity or fixed-income securities, depending on which method is deemed most appropriate by the fund’s investment adviser. The Capital Group Central Cash Fund (“CCF”) is valued based on the policies and procedures in CCF’s statement of additional information. Forward currency contracts are valued at the mean of representative quoted bid and ask prices, generally based on prices supplied by one or more pricing vendors.

 

Securities and other assets for which representative market quotations are not readily available or are considered unreliable by the fund’s investment adviser are fair valued as determined in good faith under fair valuation guidelines adopted by authority of the fund’s board of trustees as further described. The investment adviser follows fair valuation guidelines, consistent with U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission rules and guidance, to consider relevant principles and factors when making fair value determinations. The investment adviser considers relevant indications of value that are reasonably and timely available to it in determining the fair value to be assigned to a particular security, such as the type and cost of the security; contractual or legal restrictions on resale of the security; relevant financial or business developments of the issuer; actively traded similar or related securities; conversion or exchange rights on the security; related corporate actions; significant events occurring after the close of trading in the security; and changes in overall market conditions. In addition, the closing prices of equity securities that trade in markets outside U.S. time zones may be adjusted to reflect significant events that occur after the close of local trading but before the net asset value of each share class of the fund is determined. Fair valuations and

 

16 EuroPacific Growth Fund
 

valuations of investments that are not actively trading involve judgment and may differ materially from valuations that would have been used had greater market activity occurred.

 

Processes and structure — The fund’s board of trustees has delegated authority to the fund’s investment adviser to make fair value determinations, subject to board oversight. The investment adviser has established a Joint Fair Valuation Committee (the “Fair Valuation Committee”) to administer, implement and oversee the fair valuation process, and to make fair value decisions. The Fair Valuation Committee regularly reviews its own fair value decisions, as well as decisions made under its standing instructions to the investment adviser’s valuation teams. The Fair Valuation Committee reviews changes in fair value measurements from period to period and may, as deemed appropriate, update the fair valuation guidelines to better reflect the results of back testing and address new or evolving issues. The Fair Valuation Committee reports any changes to the fair valuation guidelines to the board of trustees. The fund’s board and audit committee also regularly review reports that describe fair value determinations and methods.

 

The fund’s investment adviser has also established a Fixed-Income Pricing Review Group to administer and oversee the fixed-income valuation process, including the use of fixed-income pricing vendors. This group regularly reviews pricing vendor information and market data. Pricing decisions, processes and controls over security valuation are also subject to additional internal reviews, including an annual control self-evaluation program facilitated by the investment adviser’s compliance group.

 

Classifications — The fund’s investment adviser classifies the fund’s assets and liabilities into three levels based on the inputs used to value the assets or liabilities. Level 1 values are based on quoted prices in active markets for identical securities. Level 2 values are based on significant observable market inputs, such as quoted prices for similar securities and quoted prices in inactive markets. Certain securities trading outside the U.S. may transfer between Level 1 and Level 2 due to valuation adjustments resulting from significant market movements following the close of local trading. Level 3 values are based on significant unobservable inputs that reflect the investment adviser’s determination of assumptions that market participants might reasonably use in valuing the securities. The valuation levels are not necessarily an indication of the risk or liquidity associated with the underlying investment. For example, U.S. government securities are reflected as Level 2 because the inputs used to determine fair value may not always be quoted prices in an active market. The following tables present the fund’s valuation levels as of March 31, 2019 (dollars in thousands):

 

    Investment securities  
    Level 1     Level 2     Level 3     Total  
Assets:                                
Common stocks:                                
Financials   $ 27,278,695     $     $     $ 27,278,695  
Consumer discretionary     22,591,109                   22,591,109  
Information technology     19,227,688                   19,227,688  
Industrials     16,616,311                   16,616,311  
Health care     11,848,888       1,728,867             13,577,755  
Materials     12,802,758                   12,802,758  
Energy     9,691,903                   9,691,903  
Consumer staples     9,374,286                   9,374,286  
Communication services     8,303,489                   8,303,489  
Utilities     4,453,953       70,849             4,524,802  
Real estate     2,406,821             825       2,407,646  
Rights & warrants           132,001             132,001  
Bonds, notes & other debt instruments           181,264             181,264  
Short-term securities     9,302,573       395,081             9,697,654  
Total   $ 153,898,474     $ 2,508,062     $ 825     $ 156,407,361  

 

    Other investments*  
    Level 1     Level 2     Level 3     Total  
Assets:                                
Unrealized appreciation on open forward currency contracts   $     $ 5,901     $     $ 5,901  
Liabilities:                                
Unrealized depreciation on open forward currency contracts           (4,428 )           (4,428 )
Total   $     $ 1,473     $     $ 1,473  

 

* Forward currency contracts are not included in the investment portfolio.

 

EuroPacific Growth Fund 17
 

4. Risk factors

 

Investing in the fund may involve certain risks including, but not limited to, those described below.

 

Market conditions — The prices of, and the income generated by, the common stocks and other securities held by the fund may decline — sometimes rapidly or unpredictably — due to various factors, including events or conditions affecting the general economy or particular industries; overall market changes; local, regional or global political, social or economic instability; governmental, governmental agency or central bank responses to economic conditions; and currency exchange rate, interest rate and commodity price fluctuations.

 

Issuer risks — The prices of, and the income generated by, securities held by the fund may decline in response to various factors directly related to the issuers of such securities, including reduced demand for an issuer’s goods or services, poor management performance, major litigation related to the issuer, changes in government regulations affecting the issuer or its competitive environment and strategic initiatives such as mergers, acquisitions or dispositions and the market response to any such initiatives.

 

Investing in growth-oriented stocks — Growth-oriented common stocks and other equity-type securities (such as preferred stocks, convertible preferred stocks and convertible bonds) may involve larger price swings and greater potential for loss than other types of investments. These risks may be even greater in the case of smaller capitalization stocks.

 

Investing outside the U.S. — Securities of issuers domiciled outside the U.S., or with significant operations or revenues outside the U.S., may lose value because of adverse political, social, economic or market developments (including social instability, regional conflicts, terrorism and war) in the countries or regions in which the issuers operate or generate revenue. These securities may also lose value due to changes in foreign currency exchange rates against the U.S. dollar and/or currencies of other countries. Issuers of these securities may be more susceptible to actions of foreign governments, such as nationalization, currency blockage or the imposition of price controls or punitive taxes, each of which could adversely impact the value of these securities. Securities markets in certain countries may be more volatile and/or less liquid than those in the U.S. Investments outside the U.S. may also be subject to different accounting practices and different regulatory, legal and reporting standards and practices, and may be more difficult to value, than those in the U.S. In addition, the value of investments outside the U.S. may be reduced by foreign taxes, including foreign withholding taxes on interest and dividends. Further, there may be increased risks of delayed settlement of securities purchased or sold by the fund. The risks of investing outside the U.S. may be heightened in connection with investments in emerging markets.

 

Investing in emerging markets — Investing in emerging markets may involve risks in addition to and greater than those generally associated with investing in the securities markets of developed countries. For instance, emerging countries may have less developed legal and accounting systems than those in developed countries. The governments of these countries may be less stable and more 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 could adversely affect the prices of securities. 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 can also be relatively small and have substantially lower trading volumes. As a result, securities issued in these countries may be more volatile and less liquid, and may be more difficult to value, than securities issued in countries with more developed economies and/or markets. Less certainty with respect to security valuations may lead to additional challenges and risks in calculating the fund’s net asset value. Additionally, emerging markets are more likely to experience problems with the clearing and settling of trades and the holding of securities by banks, agents and depositories that are less established than those in developed countries.

 

Management — The investment adviser to the fund actively manages the fund’s investments. Consequently, the fund is subject to the risk that the methods and analyses, including models, tools and data, employed by the investment adviser in this process may be flawed or incorrect and may not produce the desired results. This could cause the fund to lose value or its investment results to lag relevant benchmarks or other funds with similar objectives.

 

5. Certain investment techniques

 

Short-term securities — The fund holds shares of CCF, an institutional prime money market fund managed by CRMC. CCF invests in high-quality, short-term money market instruments. CCF is used as the primary investment vehicle for the fund’s short-term investments. CCF shares are only available for purchase by CRMC, its affiliates, and other funds managed by CRMC and are not available to the public.

 

Forward currency contracts — The fund has entered into forward currency contracts, which represent agreements to exchange currencies on specific future dates at predetermined rates. The fund’s investment adviser uses forward currency contracts to manage the fund’s

 

18 EuroPacific Growth Fund
 

exposure to changes in exchange rates. Upon entering into these contracts, risks may arise from the potential inability of counterparties to meet the terms of their contracts and from possible movements in exchange rates.

 

On a daily basis, the fund’s investment adviser values forward currency contracts and records unrealized appreciation or depreciation for open forward currency contracts in the fund’s statement of assets and liabilities. Realized gains or losses are recorded at the time the forward currency contract is closed or offset by another contract with the same broker for the same settlement date and currency.

 

Closed forward currency contracts that have not reached their settlement date are included in the respective receivables or payables for closed forward currency contracts in the fund’s statement of assets and liabilities. Net realized gains or losses from closed forward currency contracts and net unrealized appreciation or depreciation from open forward currency contracts are recorded in the fund’s statement of operations. The average month-end notional amount of open forward currency contracts while held was $629,402,000.

 

The following tables identify the location and fair value amounts on the fund’s statement of assets and liabilities and the effect on the fund’s statement of operations resulting from the fund’s use of forward currency contracts as of, or for the year ended, March 31, 2019 (dollars in thousands):

 

 

        Assets     Liabilities  
Contracts   Risk type   Location on statement of
assets and liabilities
  Value     Location on statement of
assets and liabilities
  Value  
Forward currency   Currency   Unrealized appreciation on open forward currency contracts   $ 5,901     Unrealized depreciation on open forward currency contracts   $ 4,428  
                             
        Net realized gain     Net unrealized appreciation  
Contracts   Risk type   Location on statement of
operations
  Value     Location on statement of
operations
  Value  
Forward currency   Currency   Net realized gain on forward currency contracts   $ 25,495     Net unrealized appreciation on forward currency contracts   $ 490  

 

 

 

Collateral — The fund participates in a collateral program due to its use of forward currency contracts that calls for the fund to either receive or pledge highly liquid assets, such as cash or U.S. government securities, as collateral based on the net gain or loss on unsettled forward currency contracts by counterparty. The purpose of the collateral is to cover potential losses that could occur in the event that either party cannot meet its contractual obligation. Non-cash collateral pledged by the fund, if any, is disclosed in the fund’s investment portfolio, and cash collateral pledged by the fund, if any, is held in a segregated account with the fund’s custodian, which is reflected as pledged cash in the fund’s statement of assets and liabilities.

 

Rights of offset — The fund has entered into enforceable master netting agreements with certain counterparties for forward currency contracts, where on any date amounts payable by each party to the other (in the same currency with respect to the same transaction) may be closed or offset by each party’s payment obligation. If an early termination date occurs under these agreements following an event of default or termination event, all obligations of each party to its counterparty are settled net through a single payment in a single currency (“close-out netting”). For financial reporting purposes, the fund does not offset financial assets and financial liabilities that are subject to these master netting arrangements in the statement of assets and liabilities.

 

EuroPacific Growth Fund 19
 

The following table presents the fund’s forward currency contracts by counterparty that are subject to master netting agreements but that are not offset in the fund’s statement of assets and liabilities. The net amount column shows the impact of offsetting on the fund’s statement of assets and liabilities as of March 31, 2019, if close-out netting was exercised (dollars in thousands):

 

    Gross amounts
recognized in the
    Gross amounts not offset in the
statement of assets and liabilities and
subject to a master netting agreement
       
Counterparty   statement of assets
and liabilities
    Available
to offset
    Non-cash
collateral*
    Cash
collateral*
    Net
amount
 
Assets:                                        
Citibank   $ 3,432     $     $     $ (2,551 )   $ 881  
HSBC Bank     179       (179 )                  
JPMorgan Chase     2,290       (2,290 )                  
Total   $ 5,901     $ (2,469 )   $     $ (2,551 )   $ 881  
Liabilities:                                        
HSBC Bank   $ 1,948     $ (179 )   $ (1,769 )   $     $  
JPMorgan Chase     2,480       (2,290 )     (190 )            
Total   $ 4,428     $ (2,469 )   $ (1,959 )   $     $  

 

* Collateral is shown on a settlement basis.

 

6. Taxation and distributions

 

Federal income taxation — The fund complies with the requirements under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to mutual funds and intends to distribute substantially all of its net taxable income and net capital gains each year. The fund is not subject to income taxes to the extent such distributions are made. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required.

 

As of and during the period ended March 31, 2019, the fund did not have a liability for any unrecognized tax benefits. The fund recognizes interest and penalties, if any, related to unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense in the statement of operations. During the period, the fund did not incur any significant interest or penalties.

 

The fund’s tax returns are not subject to examination by federal, state and, if applicable, non-U.S. tax authorities after the expiration of each jurisdiction’s statute of limitations, which is generally three years after the date of filing but can be extended in certain jurisdictions.

 

Non-U.S. taxation — Dividend and interest income are recorded net of non-U.S. taxes paid. The fund may file withholding tax reclaims in certain jurisdictions to recover a portion of amounts previously withheld. As a result of rulings from European courts, the fund filed for additional reclaims related to prior years. These reclaims are recorded when the amount is known and there are no significant uncertainties on collectability. Gains realized by the fund on the sale of securities in certain countries, if any, may be subject to non-U.S. taxes. If applicable, the fund records an estimated deferred tax liability based on unrealized gains to provide for potential non-U.S. taxes payable upon the sale of these securities.

 

Distributions — Distributions paid to shareholders are based on net investment income and net realized gains determined on a tax basis, which may differ from net investment income and net realized gains for financial reporting purposes. These differences are due primarily to different treatment for items such as currency gains and losses; short-term capital gains and losses; capital losses related to sales of certain securities within 30 days of purchase; unrealized appreciation of certain investments in securities outside the U.S.; deferred expenses; cost of investments sold and income on certain investments. The fiscal year in which amounts are distributed may differ from the year in which the net investment income and net realized gains are recorded by the fund for financial reporting purposes. The fund may also designate a portion of the amount paid to redeeming shareholders as a distribution for tax purposes.

 

During the year ended March 31, 2019, the fund reclassified $367,527,000 from total distributable earnings to capital paid in on shares of beneficial interest to align financial reporting with tax reporting.

 

20 EuroPacific Growth Fund
 

As of March 31, 2019, the tax basis components of distributable earnings, unrealized appreciation (depreciation) and cost of investments were as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

Undistributed ordinary income   $ 197,377  
Post-October capital loss deferral*     (1,321,161 )
Gross unrealized appreciation on investments     44,189,091  
Gross unrealized depreciation on investments     (6,157,558 )
Net unrealized appreciation on investments     38,031,533  
Cost of investments     118,377,301  

 

* This deferral is considered incurred in the subsequent year.

 

Distributions paid were characterized for tax purposes as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

    Year ended March 31, 2019     Year ended March 31, 2018  
Share class   Ordinary
income
    Long-term
capital gains
    Total
distributions
paid
    Ordinary
income
    Long-term
capital gains
    Total
distributions
paid
 
Class A   $ 300,775     $ 1,127,603     $ 1,428,378     $ 247,242     $ 1,087,109     $ 1,334,351  
Class B1                                          
Class C     6,163       51,849       58,012       1,675       52,155       53,830  
Class T2     3     3     3     3     1       1  
Class F-1     35,862       161,250       197,112       37,697       175,011       212,708  
Class F-2     357,839       1,054,389       1,412,228       265,665       941,406       1,207,071  
Class F-3     168,391       423,728       592,119       82,028       220,257       302,285  
Class 529-A     15,928       61,112       77,040       12,322       54,000       66,322  
Class 529-B1                                          
Class 529-C     1,305       10,802       12,107       214       12,822       13,036  
Class 529-E     617       2,818       3,435       423       2,633       3,056  
Class 529-T2     3     3     3     3     1       1  
Class 529-F-1     2,015       5,727       7,742       1,305       4,721       6,026  
Class R-1     1,368       10,489       11,857       434       10,611       11,045  
Class R-2     4,303       32,240       36,543       1,396       32,753       34,149  
Class R-2E     227       8,663       8,890       1,191       9,019       10,210  
Class R-3     35,061       176,288       211,349       27,704       187,911       215,615  
Class R-4     102,828       402,073       504,901       93,792       417,928       511,720  
Class R-5E     20,731       38,416       59,147       2,014       6,397       8,411  
Class R-5     112,862       359,636       472,498       103,478       349,875       453,353  
Class R-6     1,027,207       2,780,365       3,807,572       747,319       2,349,015       3,096,334  
Total   $ 2,193,482     $ 6,707,448     $ 8,900,930     $ 1,625,899     $ 5,913,625     $ 7,539,524  

 

1 Class B and 529-B shares were fully liquidated on May 5, 2017.
2 Class T and 529-T shares began investment operations on April 7, 2017.
3 Amount less than one thousand.

 

7. Fees and transactions with related parties

 

CRMC, the fund’s investment adviser, is the parent company of American Funds Distributors,® Inc. (“AFD”), the principal underwriter of the fund’s shares, and American Funds Service Company® (“AFS”), the fund’s transfer agent. CRMC, AFD and AFS are considered related parties to the fund.

 

Investment advisory services — The fund has an investment advisory and service agreement with CRMC that provides for monthly fees accrued daily. At the beginning of the year, these fees were based on a series of decreasing annual rates beginning with 0.690% on the first $500 million of daily net assets and decreasing to 0.394% on such assets in excess of $144 billion. On December 12, 2018, the fund’s board of trustees approved an amended investment advisory and service agreement effective February 1, 2019, decreasing the annual rate to 0.392% on daily net assets in excess of $186 billion. For the year ended March 31, 2019, the investment advisory services fee was $651,418,000, which was equivalent to an annualized rate of 0.414% of average daily net assets.

 

EuroPacific Growth Fund 21
 

Class-specific fees and expenses — Expenses that are specific to individual share classes are accrued directly to the respective share class. The principal class-specific fees and expenses are further described below:

 

Distribution services — The fund has plans of distribution for all share classes, except Class F-2, F-3, R-5E, R-5 and R-6 shares. Under the plans, the board of trustees approves certain categories of expenses that are used to finance activities primarily intended to sell fund shares and service existing accounts. The plans provide for payments, based on an annualized percentage of average daily net assets, ranging from 0.25% to 1.00% as noted in this section. In some cases, the board of trustees has limited the amounts that may be paid to less than the maximum allowed by the plans. All share classes with a plan may use up to 0.25% of average daily net assets to pay service fees, or to compensate AFD for paying service fees, to firms that have entered into agreements with AFD to provide certain shareholder services. The remaining amounts available to be paid under each plan are paid to dealers to compensate them for their sales activities.

 

Share class   Currently approved limits   Plan limits
Class A     0.25 %     0.25 %
Class 529-A     0.25       0.50  
Classes C, 529-C and R-1     1.00       1.00  
Class R-2     0.75       1.00  
Class R-2E     0.60       0.85  
Classes 529-E and R-3     0.50       0.75  
Classes T, F-1, 529-T, 529-F-1 and R-4     0.25       0.50  

 

For Class A and 529-A shares, distribution-related expenses include the reimbursement of dealer and wholesaler commissions paid by AFD for certain shares sold without a sales charge. These share classes reimburse AFD for amounts billed within the prior 15 months but only to the extent that the overall annual expense limits are not exceeded. As of March 31, 2019, there were no unreimbursed expenses subject to reimbursement for Class A or 529-A shares.

 

Transfer agent services — The fund has a shareholder services agreement with AFS under which the fund compensates AFS for providing transfer agent services to each of the fund’s share classes. These services include recordkeeping, shareholder communications and transaction processing. In addition, the fund reimburses AFS for amounts paid to third parties for performing transfer agent services on behalf of fund shareholders.

 

Administrative services — The fund has an administrative services agreement with CRMC under which the fund compensates CRMC for providing administrative services to Class A, C, T, F, 529 and R shares. Administrative services are provided by CRMC to help assist third parties providing non-distribution services to fund shareholders. These services include providing in depth information on the fund and market developments that impact fund investments. Administrative services also include, but are not limited to, coordinating, monitoring and overseeing third parties that provide services to fund shareholders. The agreement between the fund and the investment adviser provides the fund the ability to charge an administrative services fee of 0.05% of average daily net assets for all share classes. Currently Class A shares pay an annual fee of 0.01% of average daily net assets (which could be increased as noted above) and Class C, T, F, 529 and R shares pay an annual fee of 0.05% of their respective average daily net assets.

 

529 plan services — Each 529 share class is subject to service fees to compensate the Virginia College Savings Plan (“Virginia529”) for its oversight and administration of the CollegeAmerica 529 college savings plan. The fee is based on the combined net assets invested in Class 529 and ABLE shares of the American Funds. Class ABLE shares are offered on other American Funds by Virginia529 through ABLEAmerica, a tax-advantaged savings program for individuals with disabilities. The quarterly fee is based on a series of decreasing annual rates beginning with 0.10% on the first $20 billion of the combined net assets invested in the American Funds and decreasing to 0.03% on such assets in excess of $100 billion. The fee for any given calendar quarter is accrued and calculated on the basis of the average net assets of Class 529 and ABLE shares of the American Funds for the last month of the prior calendar quarter. The fee is included in other expenses in the fund’s statement of operations. Virginia529 is not considered a related party to the fund.

 

22 EuroPacific Growth Fund
 

For the year ended March 31, 2019, class-specific expenses under the agreements were as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

  Share class   Distribution
services
  Transfer agent
services
  Administrative
services
  529 plan
services
 
  Class A     $64,905       $34,158       $2,606     Not applicable  
  Class C     11,467       1,389       578     Not applicable  
  Class T           *     *   Not applicable  
  Class F-1     8,696       4,573       1,751     Not applicable  
  Class F-2     Not applicable       24,476       12,450     Not applicable  
  Class F-3     Not applicable       391       5,236     Not applicable  
  Class 529-A     3,219       1,461       702     $924  
  Class 529-C     2,347       252       120     158  
  Class 529-E     314       41       32     42  
  Class 529-T           *     *   *
  Class 529-F-1           139       68     89  
  Class R-1     2,303       258       115     Not applicable  
  Class R-2     5,392       2,565       359     Not applicable  
  Class R-2E     866       315       72     Not applicable  
  Class R-3     19,595       6,013       1,962     Not applicable  
  Class R-4     22,209       9,160       4,455     Not applicable  
  Class R-5E     Not applicable       1,556       565     Not applicable  
  Class R-5     Not applicable       3,810       4,006     Not applicable  
  Class R-6     Not applicable       481       33,144     Not applicable  
  Total class-specific expenses     $141,313       $91,038       $68,221     $1,213  

 

  * Amount less than one thousand.

 

Trustees’ deferred compensation — Trustees who are unaffiliated with CRMC may elect to defer the cash payment of part or all of their compensation. These deferred amounts, which remain as liabilities of the fund, are treated as if invested in shares of the fund or other American Funds. These amounts represent general, unsecured liabilities of the fund and vary according to the total returns of the selected funds. Trustees’ compensation of $366,000 in the fund’s statement of operations reflects $480,000 in current fees (either paid in cash or deferred) and a net decrease of $114,000 in the value of the deferred amounts.

 

Affiliated officers and trustees — Officers and certain trustees of the fund are or may be considered to be affiliated with CRMC, AFD and AFS. No affiliated officers or trustees received any compensation directly from the fund.

 

Security transactions with related funds — The fund has purchased from, and sold securities to, other funds managed by CRMC (or funds managed by certain affiliates of CRMC) under procedures adopted by the fund’s board of trustees. The funds involved in such transactions are considered related by virtue of having a common investment adviser (or affiliated investment advisers), common trustees and/or common officers. Each transaction was executed at the current market price of the security and no brokerage commissions or fees were paid in accordance with Rule 17a-7 of the 1940 Act. During the year ended March 31, 2019, the fund engaged in such purchase and sale transactions with related funds in the amounts of $1,623,948,000 and $10,901,787,000, respectively, which generated $71,204,000 of net realized losses from sales.

 

Interfund lending — Pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the SEC, the fund, along with other CRMC-managed funds (or funds managed by certain affiliates of CRMC), may participate in an interfund lending program. The program provides an alternate credit facility that permits the funds to lend or borrow cash for temporary purposes directly to or from one another, subject to the conditions of the exemptive order. The fund did not lend or borrow cash through the interfund lending program at any time during the year ended March 31, 2019.

 

EuroPacific Growth Fund 23
 

8. Capital share transactions

 

Capital share transactions in the fund were as follows (dollars and shares in thousands):

 

    Sales1     Reinvestments of
distributions
    Repurchases1     Net (decrease)
increase
 
Share class   Amount     Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount     Shares  
                                                 
Year ended March 31, 2019                                
                                                                 
Class A   $ 1,745,025       33,779     $ 1,400,728       27,795     $ (4,591,568 )     (90,056 )   $ (1,445,815 )     (28,482 )
Class C     131,659       2,589       57,361       1,146       (384,770 )     (7,703 )     (195,750 )     (3,968 )
Class T                                                
Class F-1     822,668       16,074       192,181       3,793       (1,772,096 )     (33,935 )     (757,247 )     (14,068 )
Class F-2     8,283,565       160,944       1,336,131       26,800       (8,105,462 )     (161,012 )     1,514,234       26,732  
Class F-3     5,778,865       112,229       541,201       10,866       (2,726,520 )     (54,975 )     3,593,546       68,120  
Class 529-A     148,848       2,915       77,005       1,548       (221,689 )     (4,386 )     4,164       77  
Class 529-C     27,200       546       12,102       245       (71,019 )     (1,425 )     (31,717 )     (634 )
Class 529-E     5,528       110       3,432       70       (12,673 )     (253 )     (3,713 )     (73 )
Class 529-T                 1       2                 1       2
Class 529-F-1     42,297       838       7,738       157       (24,685 )     (492 )     25,350       503  
Class R-1     21,196       429       11,853       241       (60,088 )     (1,230 )     (27,039 )     (560 )
Class R-2     156,715       3,160       36,498       737       (238,880 )     (4,793 )     (45,667 )     (896 )
Class R-2E     52,852       1,018       8,890       168       (212,291 )     (3,979 )     (150,549 )     (2,793 )
Class R-3     650,346       12,821       211,068       4,245       (1,578,069 )     (31,422 )     (716,655 )     (14,356 )
Class R-4     1,531,980       30,328       504,822       10,214       (3,503,544 )     (71,071 )     (1,466,742 )     (30,529 )
Class R-5E     1,264,628       24,306       59,150       1,241       (310,842 )     (6,387 )     1,012,936       19,160  
Class R-5     1,999,574       38,294       472,082       9,375       (3,227,419 )     (62,636 )     (755,763 )     (14,967 )
Class R-6     14,811,246       288,387       3,793,726       76,102       (12,241,479 )     (239,135 )     6,363,493       125,354  
Total net increase (decrease)   $ 37,474,192       728,767     $ 8,725,969       174,743     $ (39,283,094 )     (774,890 )   $ 6,917,067       128,620  
                                                                 
Year ended March 31, 2018                                
                                 
Class A   $ 2,843,403       51,520     $ 1,307,706       24,158     $ (4,581,031 )     (83,563 )   $ (429,922 )     (7,885 )
Class B3     2     2                 (3,850 )     (78 )     (3,850 )     (78 )
Class C     283,062       5,244       53,157       1,007       (405,218 )     (7,594 )     (68,999 )     (1,343 )
Class T4     10       2                             10       2
Class F-1     1,107,097       20,232       207,272       3,851       (1,727,999 )     (31,488 )     (413,630 )     (7,405 )
Class F-2     8,507,578       154,605       1,143,934       21,198       (9,998,054 )     (185,550 )     (346,542 )     (9,747 )
Class F-3     8,492,577       157,263       288,899       5,256       (1,064,140 )     (18,947 )     7,717,336       143,572  
Class 529-A     277,885       5,013       66,304       1,237       (166,157 )     (3,035 )     178,032       3,215  
Class 529-B3     2     2                 (378 )     (8 )     (378 )     (8 )
Class 529-C     39,172       733       13,030       251       (168,308 )     (3,097 )     (116,106 )     (2,113 )
Class 529-E     8,365       155       3,057       57       (9,497 )     (176 )     1,925       36  
Class 529-T4     10       2     1       2                 11       2
Class 529-F-1     27,992       513       6,025       112       (17,854 )     (325 )     16,163       300  
Class R-1     33,981       642       11,045       213       (64,379 )     (1,218 )     (19,353 )     (363 )
Class R-2     194,136       3,633       34,093       650       (287,727 )     (5,407 )     (59,498 )     (1,124 )
Class R-2E     49,166       913       10,210       191       (24,043 )     (438 )     35,333       666  
Class R-3     1,004,933       18,679       215,367       4,069       (1,745,504 )     (32,510 )     (525,204 )     (9,762 )
Class R-4     2,226,257       41,532       511,553       9,646       (3,768,347 )     (69,864 )     (1,030,537 )     (18,686 )
Class R-5E     624,795       11,154       8,410       156       (43,879 )     (781 )     589,326       10,529  
Class R-5     1,764,445       32,126       452,863       8,386       (3,236,891 )     (59,603 )     (1,019,583 )     (19,091 )
Class R-6     17,132,391       310,505       3,083,362       56,893       (10,491,436 )     (190,228 )     9,724,317       177,170  
Total net increase (decrease)   $ 44,617,255       814,462     $ 7,416,288       137,331     $ (37,804,692 )     (693,910 )   $ 14,228,851       257,883  

 

1 Includes exchanges between share classes of the fund.
2 Amount less than one thousand.
3 Class B and 529-B shares were fully liquidated on May 5, 2017.
4 Class T and 529-T shares began investment operations on April 7, 2017.

 

9. Investment transactions

 

The fund made purchases and sales of investment securities, excluding short-term securities and U.S. government obligations, if any, of $61,469,378,000 and $51,006,536,000, respectively, during the year ended March 31, 2019.

 

24 EuroPacific Growth Fund
 

Financial highlights

 

          (Loss) income from
investment operations1
    Dividends and distributions                                
Period ended   Net asset
value,
beginning
of period
    Net
investment
income
    Net (losses)
gains on
securities
(both
realized and
unrealized)
    Total from
investment
operations
    Dividends
(from net
investment
income)
    Distributions
(from capital
gains)
    Total
dividends
and
distributions
    Net asset
value,
end
of period
    Total
return2
    Net assets,
end of period
(in millions)
    Ratio of
expenses to
average
net assets
    Ratio of
net income
to average
net assets
 
Class A:                                                                                                
3/31/2019   $ 56.66     $ .71     $ (3.52 )   $ (2.81 )   $ (.62 )   $ (2.24 )   $ (2.86 )   $ 50.99       (4.97 )%   $ 24,704       .83 %     1.37 %
3/31/2018     49.30       .47       9.51       9.98       (.49 )     (2.13 )     (2.62 )     56.66       20.74       29,067       .82       .86  
3/31/2017     44.28       .44       5.14       5.58       (.56 )           (.56 )     49.30       12.72       25,678       .85       .95  
3/31/2016     49.91       .44       (4.68 )     (4.24 )     (.80 )     (.59 )     (1.39 )     44.28       (8.60 )     26,556       .83       .92  
3/31/2015     49.37       .43       .76       1.19       (.65 )           (.65 )     49.91       2.48       30,770       .83       .88  
Class C:                                                                                                
3/31/2019     55.32       .31       (3.41 )     (3.10 )     (.28 )     (2.24 )     (2.52 )     49.70       (5.70 )     1,015       1.60       .62  
3/31/2018     48.19       .04       9.29       9.33       (.07 )     (2.13 )     (2.20 )     55.32       19.82       1,350       1.60       .08  
3/31/2017     43.25       .08       5.02       5.10       (.16 )           (.16 )     48.19       11.82       1,240       1.63       .17  
3/31/2016     48.75       .06       (4.56 )     (4.50 )     (.41 )     (.59 )     (1.00 )     43.25       (9.30 )     1,474       1.62       .13  
3/31/2015     48.22       .05       .73       .78       (.25 )           (.25 )     48.75       1.65       1,803       1.61       .11  
Class T:                                                                                                
3/31/2019     56.69       .83       (3.54 )     (2.71 )     (.75 )     (2.24 )     (2.99 )     50.99       (4.76 )3     4     .59 3     1.60 3
3/31/20185,6     49.19       .58       9.63       10.21       (.58 )     (2.13 )     (2.71 )     56.69       21.27 3,7     4     .60 3,8     1.07 3,8
Class F-1:                                                                                                
3/31/2019     56.40       .74       (3.57 )     (2.83 )     (.58 )     (2.24 )     (2.82 )     50.75       (5.01 )     3,232       .87       1.43  
3/31/2018     49.08       .45       9.46       9.91       (.46 )     (2.13 )     (2.59 )     56.40       20.69       4,385       .86       .83  
3/31/2017     44.08       .43       5.11       5.54       (.54 )           (.54 )     49.08       12.69       4,179       .87       .93  
3/31/2016     49.67       .41       (4.64 )     (4.23 )     (.77 )     (.59 )     (1.36 )     44.08       (8.60 )     4,281       .86       .86  
3/31/2015     49.10       .45       .71       1.16       (.59 )           (.59 )     49.67       2.43       6,773       .86       .93  
Class F-2:                                                                                                
3/31/2019     56.52       .82       (3.52 )     (2.70 )     (.75 )     (2.24 )     (2.99 )     50.83       (4.75 )     24,585       .59       1.58  
3/31/2018     49.17       .61       9.48       10.09       (.61 )     (2.13 )     (2.74 )     56.52       21.05       25,826       .59       1.11  
3/31/2017     44.19       .55       5.12       5.67       (.69 )           (.69 )     49.17       12.99       22,949       .60       1.19  
3/31/2016     49.82       .56       (4.68 )     (4.12 )     (.92 )     (.59 )     (1.51 )     44.19       (8.36 )     19,386       .60       1.18  
3/31/2015     49.32       .53       .76       1.29       (.79 )           (.79 )     49.82       2.69       16,273       .59       1.06  
Class F-3:                                                                                                
3/31/2019     56.68       .82       (3.48 )     (2.66 )     (.80 )     (2.24 )     (3.04 )     50.98       (4.65 )     11,993       .49       1.60  
3/31/2018     49.32       .59       9.58       10.17       (.68 )     (2.13 )     (2.81 )     56.68       21.15       9,473       .49       1.06  
3/31/20175,9     47.46       .24       1.62       1.86                         49.32       3.92 7     1,162       .09 7     .50 7
Class 529-A:                                                                                                
3/31/2019     56.00       .67       (3.49 )     (2.82 )     (.59 )     (2.24 )     (2.83 )     50.35       (5.04 )     1,376       .89       1.31  
3/31/2018     48.77       .44       9.40       9.84       (.48 )     (2.13 )     (2.61 )     56.00       20.71       1,525       .87       .81  
3/31/2017     43.82       .41       5.09       5.50       (.55 )           (.55 )     48.77       12.65       1,172       .90       .90  
3/31/2016     49.41       .40       (4.63 )     (4.23 )     (.77 )     (.59 )     (1.36 )     43.82       (8.64 )     1,103       .90       .86  
3/31/2015     48.89       .40       .75       1.15       (.63 )           (.63 )     49.41       2.41       1,205       .89       .82  

 

See end of table for footnotes.

 

EuroPacific Growth Fund 25
 

Financial highlights (continued)

 

          (Loss) income from
investment operations1
    Dividends and distributions                                
Period ended   Net asset
value,
beginning
of period
    Net
investment
income
    Net (losses)
gains on
securities
(both
realized and
unrealized)
    Total from
investment
operations
    Dividends
(from net
investment
income)
    Distributions
(from capital
gains)
    Total
dividends
and
distributions
    Net asset
value,
end
of period
    Total
return2
    Net assets,
end of period
(in millions)
    Ratio of
expenses to
average
net assets
    Ratio of
net income
to average
net assets
 
Class 529-C:                                                                                                
3/31/2019   $ 54.79     $ .29     $ (3.38 )   $ (3.09 )   $ (.28 )   $ (2.24 )   $ (2.52 )   $ 49.18       (5.72 )%   $ 219       1.64 %     .59 %
3/31/2018     47.73       .01       9.21       9.22       (.03 )     (2.13 )     (2.16 )     54.79       19.76       278       1.65       .03  
3/31/2017     42.90       .05       4.97       5.02       (.19 )           (.19 )     47.73       11.76       343       1.68       .12  
3/31/2016     48.38       .04       (4.53 )     (4.49 )     (.40 )     (.59 )     (.99 )     42.90       (9.35 )     335       1.68       .08  
3/31/2015     47.88       .02       .73       .75       (.25 )           (.25 )     48.38       1.62       374       1.67       .04  
Class 529-E:                                                                                                
3/31/2019     55.50       .55       (3.44 )     (2.89 )     (.50 )     (2.24 )     (2.74 )     49.87       (5.24 )     60       1.11       1.09  
3/31/2018     48.35       .31       9.31       9.62       (.34 )     (2.13 )     (2.47 )     55.50       20.41       71       1.11       .57  
3/31/2017     43.45       .30       5.04       5.34       (.44 )           (.44 )     48.35       12.39       60       1.13       .66  
3/31/2016     49.00       .29       (4.59 )     (4.30 )     (.66 )     (.59 )     (1.25 )     43.45       (8.86 )     57       1.14       .62  
3/31/2015     48.49       .27       .75       1.02       (.51 )           (.51 )     49.00       2.15       62       1.14       .57  
Class 529-T:                                                                                                
3/31/2019     56.68       .79       (3.53 )     (2.74 )     (.72 )     (2.24 )     (2.96 )     50.98       (4.82 )3     4     .65 3     1.52 3
3/31/20185,6     49.19       .56       9.62       10.18       (.56 )     (2.13 )     (2.69 )     56.68       21.22 3,7     4     .64 3,8     1.03 3,8
Class 529-F-1:                                                                                            
3/31/2019     55.99       .76       (3.47 )     (2.71 )     (.72 )     (2.24 )     (2.96 )     50.32       (4.81 )     145       .66       1.50  
3/31/2018     48.74       .56       9.40       9.96       (.58 )     (2.13 )     (2.71 )     55.99       20.96       134       .65       1.02  
3/31/2017     43.81       .51       5.07       5.58       (.65 )           (.65 )     48.74       12.88       102       .68       1.11  
3/31/2016     49.40       .50       (4.62 )     (4.12 )     (.88 )     (.59 )     (1.47 )     43.81       (8.44 )     90       .69       1.07  
3/31/2015     48.89       .51       .74       1.25       (.74 )           (.74 )     49.40       2.62       96       .67       1.04  
Class R-1:                                                                                                
3/31/2019     54.46       .31       (3.37 )     (3.06 )     (.30 )     (2.24 )     (2.54 )     48.86       (5.71 )     209       1.60       .61  
3/31/2018     47.49       .05       9.14       9.19       (.09 )     (2.13 )     (2.22 )     54.46       19.82       263       1.60       .09  
3/31/2017     42.69       .08       4.96       5.04       (.24 )           (.24 )     47.49       11.86       247       1.61       .19  
3/31/2016     48.14       .07       (4.50 )     (4.43 )     (.43 )     (.59 )     (1.02 )     42.69       (9.28 )     248       1.61       .15  
3/31/2015     47.64       .06       .72       .78       (.28 )           (.28 )     48.14       1.67       285       1.59       .12  
Class R-2:                                                                                                
3/31/2019     54.93       .31       (3.39 )     (3.08 )     (.31 )     (2.24 )     (2.55 )     49.30       (5.71 )     690       1.60       .61  
3/31/2018     47.88       .06       9.21       9.27       (.09 )     (2.13 )     (2.22 )     54.93       19.84       818       1.58       .11  
3/31/2017     43.01       .09       5.00       5.09       (.22 )           (.22 )     47.88       11.88       767       1.60       .20  
3/31/2016     48.49       .08       (4.53 )     (4.45 )     (.44 )     (.59 )     (1.03 )     43.01       (9.25 )     800       1.58       .18  
3/31/2015     47.96       .07       .73       .80       (.27 )           (.27 )     48.49       1.70       975       1.57       .15  
Class R-2E:                                                                                                
3/31/2019     55.76       .77       (3.74 )     (2.97 )     (.13 )     (2.24 )     (2.37 )     50.42       (5.46 )     89       1.31       1.47  
3/31/2018     48.59       .20       9.38       9.58       (.28 )     (2.13 )     (2.41 )     55.76       20.19       254       1.29       .38  
3/31/2017     43.79       .18       5.14       5.32       (.52 )           (.52 )     48.59       12.25       189       1.28       .40  
3/31/2016     49.67       .52       (4.89 )     (4.37 )     (.92 )     (.59 )     (1.51 )     43.79       (8.89 )     8       1.18       1.25  
3/31/20155,10     50.08       .10       .27       .37       (.78 )           (.78 )     49.67       .82 7     4     1.26 8     .28 8
   
26 EuroPacific Growth Fund
 
          (Loss) income from
investment operations1
    Dividends and distributions                                
Period ended   Net asset
value,
beginning
of period
    Net
investment
income
    Net (losses)
gains on
securities
(both
realized and
unrealized)
    Total from
investment
operations
    Dividends
(from net
investment
income)
    Distributions
(from capital
gains)
    Total
dividends
and
distributions
    Net asset
value,
end
of period
    Total
return2
    Net assets,
end of period
(in millions)
    Ratio of
expenses to
average
net assets
    Ratio of
net income
to average
net assets
 
Class R-3:                                                                                                
3/31/2019   $ 55.48     $ .55     $ (3.45 )   $ (2.90 )   $ (.48 )   $ (2.24 )   $ (2.72 )   $ 49.86       (5.26 )%   $ 3,446       1.14 %     1.08 %
3/31/2018     48.32       .30       9.31       9.61       (.32 )     (2.13 )     (2.45 )     55.48       20.36       4,631       1.14       .56  
3/31/2017     43.40       .30       5.04       5.34       (.42 )           (.42 )     48.32       12.40       4,505       1.14       .66  
3/31/2016     48.93       .29       (4.59 )     (4.30 )     (.64 )     (.59 )     (1.23 )     43.40       (8.87 )     5,029       1.14       .62  
3/31/2015     48.40       .28       .74       1.02       (.49 )           (.49 )     48.93       2.16       6,482       1.13       .59  
Class R-4:                                                                                                
3/31/2019     55.52       .69       (3.46 )     (2.77 )     (.60 )     (2.24 )     (2.84 )     49.91       (4.99 )     7,715       .84       1.37  
3/31/2018     48.35       .46       9.32       9.78       (.48 )     (2.13 )     (2.61 )     55.52       20.76       10,278       .83       .85  
3/31/2017     43.45       .43       5.03       5.46       (.56 )           (.56 )     48.35       12.70       9,854       .85       .96  
3/31/2016     48.99       .43       (4.59 )     (4.16 )     (.79 )     (.59 )     (1.38 )     43.45       (8.58 )     11,310       .85       .92  
3/31/2015     48.48       .42       .74       1.16       (.65 )           (.65 )     48.99       2.45       13,488       .84       .88  
Class R-5E:                                                                                                
3/31/2019     56.29       .62       (3.33 )     (2.71 )     (.76 )     (2.24 )     (3.00 )     50.58       (4.78 )     1,511       .63       1.24  
3/31/2018     49.02       .59       9.45       10.04       (.64 )     (2.13 )     (2.77 )     56.29       21.01       603       .62       1.06  
3/31/2017     44.14       .53       5.09       5.62       (.74 )           (.74 )     49.02       12.89       9       .62       1.14  
3/31/20165,11     48.16       .20       (2.65 )     (2.45 )     (.98 )     (.59 )     (1.57 )     44.14       (5.19 )7     4     .25 7     .46 7
Class R-5:                                                                                                
3/31/2019     56.57       .89       (3.57 )     (2.68 )     (.77 )     (2.24 )     (3.01 )     50.88       (4.71 )     7,283       .54       1.72  
3/31/2018     49.22       .64       9.48       10.12       (.64 )     (2.13 )     (2.77 )     56.57       21.09       8,944       .53       1.16  
3/31/2017     44.22       .58       5.13       5.71       (.71 )           (.71 )     49.22       13.07       8,721       .54       1.27  
3/31/2016     49.85       .58       (4.68 )     (4.10 )     (.94 )     (.59 )     (1.53 )     44.22       (8.32 )     9,285       .54       1.21  
3/31/2015     49.32       .59       .74       1.33       (.80 )           (.80 )     49.85       2.77       11,418       .53       1.19  
Class R-6:                                                                                                
3/31/2019     56.63       .86       (3.52 )     (2.66 )     (.80 )     (2.24 )     (3.04 )     50.93       (4.66 )     68,234       .49       1.68  
3/31/2018     49.27       .65       9.51       10.16       (.67 )     (2.13 )     (2.80 )     56.63       21.17       68,770       .49       1.18  
3/31/2017     44.27       .60       5.14       5.74       (.74 )           (.74 )     49.27       13.10       51,100       .50       1.30  
3/31/2016     49.90       .60       (4.67 )     (4.07 )     (.97 )     (.59 )     (1.56 )     44.27       (8.26 )     41,539       .50       1.27  
3/31/2015     49.38       .60       .74       1.34       (.82 )           (.82 )     49.90       2.80       38,346       .49       1.20  
                     
    Year ended March 31
    2019   2018   2017   2016   2015
Portfolio turnover rate for all share classes   35%   29%   36%   30%   28%
   
1 Based on average shares outstanding.
2 Total returns exclude any applicable sales charges, including contingent deferred sales charges.
3 All or a significant portion of assets in this class consisted of seed capital invested by CRMC and/or its affiliates. Fees for distribution services are not charged or accrued on these seed capital assets. If such fees were paid by the fund on seed capital assets, fund expenses would have been higher and net income and total return would have been lower.
4 Amount less than $1 million.
5 Based on operations for a period that is less than a full year.
6 Class T and 529-T shares began investment operations on April 7, 2017.
7 Not annualized.
8 Annualized.
9 Class F-3 shares began investment operations on January 27, 2017.
10 Class R-2E shares began investment operations on August 29, 2014.
11 Class R-5E shares began investment operations on November 20, 2015.

 

See notes to financial statements

 

EuroPacific Growth Fund 27
 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Shareholders and Board of Trustees of EuroPacific Growth Fund:

 

Opinion on the Financial Statements and Financial Highlights

 

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of EuroPacific Growth Fund (the “Fund”), including the summary investment portfolio, as of March 31, 2019, the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, and the related notes. In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund as of March 31, 2019, and the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

Basis for Opinion

 

These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Fund’s financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Fund in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Fund is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.

 

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements and financial highlights, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements and financial highlights. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements and financial highlights. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of March 31, 2019, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

Deloitte & Touche LLP

 

Costa Mesa, California
May 13, 2019

 

We have served as the auditor of one or more American Funds investment companies since 1956.

 

28 EuroPacific Growth Fund
 
Expense example unaudited

 

As a fund shareholder, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, such as initial sales charges on purchase payments and contingent deferred sales charges on redemptions (loads), and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution and service (12b-1) fees, and other expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the fund so you can compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire six-month period (October 1, 2018, through March 31, 2019).

 

Actual expenses:

The first line of each share class in the table on the following page provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading titled “Expenses paid during period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

 

Hypothetical example for comparison purposes:

The second line of each share class in the table on the following page provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the actual expense ratio for the share class and an assumed rate of return of 5.00% per year before expenses, which is not the actual return of the share class. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the fund and other funds. To do so, compare this 5.00% hypothetical example with the 5.00% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

 

Notes:

Retirement plan participants may be subject to certain fees charged by the plan sponsor, and Class F-1, F-2, F-3 and 529-F-1 shareholders may be subject to fees charged by financial intermediaries, typically ranging from 0.75% to 1.50% of assets annually depending on services offered. You can estimate the impact of these fees by adding the amount of the fees to the total estimated expenses you paid on your account during the period as calculated above. In addition, your ending account value would be lower by the amount of these fees.

 

Note that the expenses shown in the table on the following page are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as sales charges (loads). Therefore, the second line of each share class in the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

EuroPacific Growth Fund 29
 
    Beginning
account value
10/1/2018
    Ending
account value
3/31/2019
    Expenses paid
during period*
    Annualized
expense ratio
 
Class A – actual return   $ 1,000.00     $ 987.73     $ 4.16       .84 %
Class A – assumed 5% return     1,000.00       1,020.74       4.23       .84  
Class C – actual return     1,000.00       984.01       7.96       1.61  
Class C – assumed 5% return     1,000.00       1,016.90       8.10       1.61  
Class T – actual return     1,000.00       988.90       2.98       .60  
Class T – assumed 5% return     1,000.00       1,021.94       3.02       .60  
Class F-1 – actual return     1,000.00       987.60       4.36       .88  
Class F-1 – assumed 5% return     1,000.00       1,020.54       4.43       .88  
Class F-2 – actual return     1,000.00       988.95       2.98       .60  
Class F-2 – assumed 5% return     1,000.00       1,021.94       3.02       .60  
Class F-3 – actual return     1,000.00       989.52       2.48       .50  
Class F-3 – assumed 5% return     1,000.00       1,022.44       2.52       .50  
Class 529-A – actual return     1,000.00       987.36       4.46       .90  
Class 529-A – assumed 5% return     1,000.00       1,020.44       4.53       .90  
Class 529-C – actual return     1,000.00       983.94       8.16       1.65  
Class 529-C – assumed 5% return     1,000.00       1,016.70       8.30       1.65  
Class 529-E – actual return     1,000.00       986.38       5.55       1.12  
Class 529-E – assumed 5% return     1,000.00       1,019.35       5.64       1.12  
Class 529-T – actual return     1,000.00       988.60       3.27       .66  
Class 529-T – assumed 5% return     1,000.00       1,021.64       3.33       .66  
Class 529-F-1 – actual return     1,000.00       988.64       3.32       .67  
Class 529-F-1 – assumed 5% return     1,000.00       1,021.59       3.38       .67  
Class R-1 – actual return     1,000.00       983.99       7.96       1.61  
Class R-1 – assumed 5% return     1,000.00       1,016.90       8.10       1.61  
Class R-2 – actual return     1,000.00       984.08       7.96       1.61  
Class R-2 – assumed 5% return     1,000.00       1,016.90       8.10       1.61  
Class R-2E – actual return     1,000.00       985.26       6.53       1.32  
Class R-2E – assumed 5% return     1,000.00       1,018.35       6.64       1.32  
Class R-3 – actual return     1,000.00       986.43       5.70       1.15  
Class R-3 – assumed 5% return     1,000.00       1,019.20       5.79       1.15  
Class R-4 – actual return     1,000.00       987.92       4.21       .85  
Class R-4 – assumed 5% return     1,000.00       1,020.69       4.28       .85  
Class R-5E – actual return     1,000.00       988.74       3.17       .64  
Class R-5E – assumed 5% return     1,000.00       1,021.74       3.23       .64  
Class R-5 – actual return     1,000.00       989.21       2.68       .54  
Class R-5 – assumed 5% return     1,000.00       1,022.24       2.72       .54  
Class R-6 – actual return     1,000.00       989.47       2.43       .49  
Class R-6 – assumed 5% return     1,000.00       1,022.49       2.47       .49  

 

* The “expenses paid during period” are equal to the “annualized expense ratio,” multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days in the period, and divided by 365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

 

30 EuroPacific Growth Fund
 
Tax information unaudited

 

We are required to advise you of the federal tax status of certain distributions received by shareholders during the fiscal year. The fund hereby designates the following amounts for the fund’s fiscal year ended March 31, 2019:

 

Long-term capital gains   $ 6,707,449,000
Foreign taxes   $ 0.10 per share
Foreign source income   $ 1.20 per share
Qualified dividend income     100%
Corporate dividends received deduction   $ 10,511,000
U.S. government income that may be exempt from state taxation   $ 100,220,000

 

Individual shareholders should refer to their Form 1099 or other tax information, which will be mailed in January 2020, to determine the calendar year amounts to be included on their 2019 tax returns. Shareholders should consult their tax advisors.

 

EuroPacific Growth Fund 31
 

Approval of Investment Advisory and Service Agreement

 

EuroPacific Growth Fund’s board has approved the fund’s Investment Advisory and Service Agreement (the “agreement”) with Capital Research and Management Company (“CRMC”) for an additional one-year term through January 31, 2020. The agreement was amended to add an additional advisory fee breakpoint if and when the fund’s net assets exceed $186 billion. The board approved the agreement following the recommendation of the fund’s Contracts Committee (the “committee”), which is composed of all of the fund’s independent board members. The board and the committee determined in the exercise of their business judgment that the fund’s advisory fee structure was fair and reasonable in relation to the services provided, and that approving the agreement was in the best interests of the fund and its shareholders.

 

In reaching this decision, the board and the committee took into account information furnished to them throughout the year and otherwise provided to them, as well as information prepared specifically in connection with their review of the agreement, and were advised by their independent counsel. They considered the following factors, among others, but did not identify any single issue or particular piece of information that, in isolation, was the controlling factor, and each board and committee member did not necessarily attribute the same weight to each factor.

 

1. Nature, extent and quality of services

 

The board and the committee considered the depth and quality of CRMC’s investment management process, including its global research capabilities; the experience, capability and integrity of its senior management and other personnel; the low turnover rates of its key personnel; the overall financial strength and stability of CRMC and the Capital Group organization; the resources and systems CRMC devotes to investment management, compliance, trading, portfolio accounting and other services; and the ongoing evolution of CRMC’s organizational structure designed to maintain and strengthen these qualities. The board and the committee also considered the nature, extent and quality of administrative, compliance and shareholder services provided by CRMC to the fund under the agreement and other agreements, as well as the benefits to fund shareholders from investing in a fund that is part of a large family of funds. The board and the committee concluded that the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by CRMC have benefited and should continue to benefit the fund and its shareholders.

 

2. Investment results

 

The board and the committee considered the investment results of the fund in light of its objective of pursuing long-term growth of capital. They compared the fund’s investment results with those of other funds (including funds that currently form the basis of the Lipper index for the category in which the fund is included), and data such as relevant market and fund indexes, over various periods through May 31, 2018. This report, including the letter to shareholders and related disclosures, contains certain information about the fund’s investment results. The board and the committee reviewed the fund’s investment results measured against various indexes, including the Lipper International Funds Index, the MSCI All Country World ex USA Index and the MSCI EAFE Index. They reviewed the results for the one-year, three-year, five-year, 10-year, 20-year and lifetime periods, and placed greater emphasis on longer-term periods. They noted that the investment results of the fund compared favorably to the results of these indexes for all periods. The board and the committee concluded that the fund’s investment results have been satisfactory for renewal of the agreement and that CRMC’s record in managing the fund indicated that its continued management should benefit the fund and its shareholders.

 

3. Advisory fees and total expenses

 

The board and the committee compared the advisory fees and total expense levels of the fund to those of other relevant funds. They observed that the fund’s advisory fees and expenses generally compared favorably to those of other similar funds included in the Lipper International Funds category. The board and the committee also considered the breakpoint discounts in the fund’s advisory fee structure that reduce the level of fees charged by CRMC to the fund as fund assets increase. In addition, they reviewed information regarding the effective advisory fees charged to non-mutual fund clients by CRMC and its affiliates. They noted that, to the extent there were differences between the advisory fees paid by the fund and the advisory fees paid by those clients, the differences appropriately reflected the investment, operational, regulatory and market differences between advising the fund and the other clients. The board and the committee concluded that the fund’s cost structure was fair and reasonable in relation to the services provided, and that the fund’s shareholders receive reasonable value in return for the advisory fees and other amounts paid to CRMC by the fund.

 

32 EuroPacific Growth Fund
 

4. Ancillary benefits

 

The board and the committee considered a variety of other benefits that CRMC and its affiliates receive as a result of CRMC’s relationship with the fund and other American Funds, including fees for administrative services provided to certain share classes; fees paid to CRMC’s affiliated transfer agent; sales charges and distribution fees received and retained by the fund’s principal underwriter, an affiliate of CRMC; and possible ancillary benefits to CRMC and its institutional management affiliates in managing other investment vehicles. The board and the committee reviewed CRMC’s portfolio trading practices, noting that through December 31, 2018, CRMC benefited from receiving research obtained with commissions from portfolio transactions made on behalf of the fund and since that time has undertaken to bear the cost for such services. The board and the committee took these ancillary benefits into account in evaluating the reasonableness of the advisory fees and other amounts paid to CRMC by the fund.

 

5. Adviser financial information

 

The board and the committee reviewed information regarding CRMC’s costs of providing services to the American Funds, including personnel, systems and resources of investment, compliance, trading, accounting and other administrative operations. They considered CRMC’s costs and related cost allocation methodology as well as its willingness to invest in technology, infrastructure and staff to maintain and expand services and capabilities, respond to industry and regulatory developments, and attract and retain qualified personnel. They noted information regarding the compensation structure for CRMC’s investment professionals. They reviewed information on the profitability of the investment adviser and its affiliates. The board and the committee also compared CRMC’s profitability and compensation data to the reported results and data of several large, publicly held investment management companies. The board and the committee noted the competitiveness and cyclicality of both the mutual fund industry and the capital markets, and the importance in that environment of CRMC’s long-term profitability for maintaining its independence, company culture and management continuity. They further considered the breakpoint discounts in the fund’s advisory fee structure and CRMC’s sharing of potential economies of scale, or efficiencies, through breakpoints and other fee reductions and costs voluntarily absorbed. The board and the committee concluded that the fund’s advisory fee structure reflected a reasonable sharing of benefits between CRMC and the fund’s shareholders.

 

EuroPacific Growth Fund 33
 

This page was intentionally left blank.

 

34 EuroPacific Growth Fund
 

This page was intentionally left blank.

 

EuroPacific Growth Fund 35
 

This page was intentionally left blank.

 

36 EuroPacific Growth Fund
 

This page was intentionally left blank.

 

EuroPacific Growth Fund 37
 

Board of trustees and other officers

 

Independent trustees1

 

Name and year of birth   Year first
elected
a trustee
of the fund2
  Principal occupation(s) during past five years   Number of
portfolios in fund
complex overseen
by trustee3
  Other directorships4
held by trustee
Elisabeth Allison, 1946   1991   Trustee and Co-Director, The Stanton Foundation   3   None
Vanessa C. L. Chang, 1952   2005   Former Director, EL & EL Investments (real estate)   17   Edison International; Sykes Enterprises; Transocean Ltd.
Pablo R. González Guajardo, 1967   2014   CEO, Kimberly-Clark de México, S.A.B. de C.V.   17   América Móvil, S.A.B. de C.V.; Grupo Lala, S.A.B. de C.V.; Grupo Sanborns, S.A.B. de C.V.; Kimberly-Clark de México, S.A.B. de C.V.
Martin E. Koehler, 1957   2015   Independent management consultant   3   Deutsche Lufthansa AG
Pascal Millaire, 1983   2019   CEO, CyberCube Analytics, Inc. (cyber risk software for insurers); former Vice President and General Manager, Symantec Corporation (cybersecurity company); former President, Fingi Inc. (enterprise software)   3   None
William I. Miller, 1956
Chairman of the Board (Independent and Non-Executive)
  1992   President, The Wallace Foundation   3   Cummins, Inc.
Alessandro Ovi, 1944   2002   Publisher and Editor, Technology Review; President, TechRev.srl   3   Landi Renzo SpA; ST Microelectronics SNV
Josette Sheeran, 1954   2015   President and CEO, Asia Society; United Nations Special Envoy for Haiti   7   None
Amy Zegart, 1967   2019   Senior Fellow, Hoover Institution, Stanford University; Senior Fellow, Freeman Spogli Institute, Stanford University; Director, Kratos Defense & Security Solutions   3   Kratos Defense & Security Solutions

 

We are deeply saddened by the loss of Nicholas Donatiello, Jr., who passed away on June 27, 2018. Mr. Donatiello served as an independent director/trustee on the boards of EuroPacific Growth Fund, New Perspective Fund and New World Fund, Inc. since 2009. His wise counsel and friendship will be missed.

 

Interested trustees5,6

 

Name, year of birth and
position with fund
  Year first
elected
a trustee
or officer
of the fund2
  Principal occupation(s) during past five years
and positions held with affiliated entities or
the principal underwriter of the fund
  Number of
portfolios in fund
complex overseen
by trustee3
  Other directorships4
held by trustee
Carl M. Kawaja, 1964
Co-President and Trustee
  2003   Partner — Capital World Investors, Capital Research and Management Company; Partner — Capital World Investors, Capital Bank and Trust Company; Chairman and Director, Capital Research and Management Company; Director, The Capital Group Companies, Inc.7   3   None
Joanna F. Jonsson, 1963
Trustee
  2019   Partner — Capital World Investors, Capital Research and Management Company; Vice Chair, Capital Research and Management Company; Director, The Capital Group Companies, Inc.7   3   None

 

The fund’s statement of additional information includes further details about fund trustees and is available without charge upon request by calling American Funds Service Company at (800) 421-4225 or by visiting the American Funds website at americanfunds.com. The address for all trustees and officers of the fund is 333 South Hope Street, Los Angeles, CA 90071, Attention: Secretary.

 

38 EuroPacific Growth Fund
 

Other officers6

 

Name, year of birth and
position with fund
  Year first
elected
an officer
of the fund2
  Principal occupation(s) during past five years and positions held with affiliated entities
or the principal underwriter of the fund
Christopher Thomsen, 1970
Co-President
  2015   Partner — Capital Research Global Investors, Capital Research Company 7; Director, Capital Research and Management Company
Walter R. Burkley, 1966
Executive Vice President
  2012   Senior Vice President and Senior Counsel — Fund Business Management Group, Capital Research and Management Company; Director, Capital Research Company 7
Mark E. Denning, 1957
Senior Vice President
  1994   Partner — Capital World Investors, Capital Research Company;7
Partner — Capital World Investors, Capital International, Inc.;7
Partner — Capital World Investors, Capital Bank and Trust Company
Jonathan Knowles, 1961
Senior Vice President
  2012   Partner — Capital World Investors, Capital International, Inc.7
Sung Lee, 1966
Senior Vice President
  2003   Partner — Capital Research Global Investors, Capital International, Inc.7
Nicholas J. Grace, 1966
Vice President
  2004   Partner — Capital Research Global Investors, Capital Research Company;7
Director, The Capital Group Companies, Inc.7
Leo Hee, 1971
Vice President
  2014   Partner — Capital World Investors, Capital International, Inc.7
Jesper Lyckeus, 1967
Vice President
  2010   Partner — Capital Research Global Investors, Capital Research Company7
Lara Pellini, 1975
Vice President
  2015   Partner — Capital World Investors, Capital Research Company 7
Joerg Sponer, 1972
Vice President
  2010   Partner — Capital Research Global Investors, Capital Research Company7
Michael W. Stockton, 1967
Secretary
  2013   Senior Vice President — Fund Business Management Group, Capital Research and Management Company
Brian C. Janssen, 1972
Treasurer
  2010   Vice President — Investment Operations, Capital Research and Management Company
Jennifer L. Butler, 1966
Assistant Secretary
  2013   Assistant Vice President — Fund Business Management Group, Capital Research and Management Company
Dori Laskin, 1951
Assistant Treasurer
  2010   Vice President — Investment Operations, Capital Research and Management Company
Gregory F. Niland, 1971
Assistant Treasurer
  2016   Vice President — Investment Operations, Capital Research and Management Company

 

1 The term independent trustee refers to a trustee who is not an “interested person” of the fund within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940.
2 Trustees and officers of the fund serve until their resignation, removal or retirement.
3 Funds managed by Capital Research and Management Company or its affiliates.
4 This includes all directorships/trusteeships (other than those in the American Funds or other funds managed by Capital Research and Management Company or its affiliates) that are held by each trustee as a trustee or director of a public company or a registered investment company.
5 The term interested trustee refers to a trustee who is an “interested person” 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).
6 All of the trustees and/or officers listed, with the exception of Leo Hee, Lara Pellini and Joerg Sponer, are officers and/or directors/trustees of one or more of the other funds for which Capital Research and Management Company serves as investment adviser.
7 Company affiliated with Capital Research and Management Company.

 

EuroPacific Growth Fund 39
 

Board of trustees and other officers (continued)

 

Results of special meeting of shareholders

 

Held November 28, 2018

 

Shares outstanding (all classes) on August 31, 2018 (record date):

3,072,009,465

 

Total shares voting on November 28, 2018:

1,891,482,130 (61.6% of shares outstanding)

 

The proposal: to elect board members

 

 

    Votes for   Percent
of shares
voting for
  Votes
withheld
  Percent
of shares
withheld
Elisabeth Allison   1,869,186,672     98.8 %     22,295,458       1.2 %
Vanessa C. L. Chang   1,865,849,903     98.6       25,632,227       1.4  
Pablo R. González Guajardo   1,473,170,466     77.9       418,311,664       22.1  
Joanna F. Jonsson   1,870,083,271     98.9       21,398,858       1.1  
Carl M. Kawaja   1,868,830,437     98.8       22,651,692       1.2  
Martin E. Koehler   1,869,265,305     98.8       22,216,825       1.2  
Pascal Millaire   1,869,507,242     98.8       21,974,887       1.2  
William I. Miller   1,831,094,607     96.8       60,387,523       3.2  
Alessandro Ovi   1,855,239,694     98.1       36,242,436       1.9  
Josette Sheeran   1,869,843,785     98.9       21,638,345       1.1  
Amy Zegart   1,870,421,693     98.9       21,060,437       1.1  

 

40 EuroPacific Growth Fund
 

Offices of the fund and of the investment adviser

Capital Research and Management Company
333 South Hope Street
Los Angeles, CA 90071-1406

 

6455 Irvine Center Drive
Irvine, CA 92618-4518

 

Transfer agent for shareholder accounts

American Funds Service Company
(Write to the address near you.)

 

P.O. Box 6007
Indianapolis, IN 46206-6007

 

P.O. Box 2280
Norfolk, VA 23501-2280

 

Custodian of assets

JPMorgan Chase Bank
270 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10017-2070

 

Counsel

Dechert LLP
One Bush Street, Suite 1600
San Francisco, CA 94104-4446

 

Independent registered public accounting firm

Deloitte & Touche LLP
695 Town Center Drive
Suite 1000
Costa Mesa, CA 92626-7188

 

Principal underwriter

American Funds Distributors, Inc.
333 South Hope Street
Los Angeles, CA 90071-1406

 

Investors should carefully consider investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. This and other important information is contained in the fund prospectus and summary prospectus, which can be obtained from your financial professional and should be read carefully before investing. You may also call American Funds Service Company (AFS) at (800) 421-4225 or visit the American Funds website at americanfunds.com. Fund shares offered through American Funds Distributors, Inc.

 

“American Funds Proxy Voting Procedures and Principles” — which describes how we vote proxies relating to portfolio securities — is available on the American Funds website or upon request by calling AFS. The fund files its proxy voting record with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for the 12 months ended June 30 by August 31. The proxy voting record is available free of charge on the SEC website at sec.gov and on the American Funds website.

 

A complete March 31, 2019, portfolio of EuroPacific Growth Fund’s investments is available free of charge by calling AFS or visiting the SEC website (where it is part of Form N-CSR).

 

EuroPacific Growth Fund files a complete list of its portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-PORT-EX. This filing is available free of charge on the SEC website. Additionally, the list of portfolio holdings is available by calling AFS.

 

This report is for the information of shareholders of EuroPacific Growth Fund, but it also may be used as sales literature when preceded or accompanied by the current prospectus or summary prospectus, which gives details about charges, expenses, investment objectives and operating policies of the fund. If used as sales material after June 30, 2019, this report must be accompanied by an American Funds statistical update for the most recently completed calendar quarter.

 

The Standard & Poor’s 500 Composite Index is a product of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and/or its affiliates and has been licensed for use by Capital Group. Copyright © 2019 S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, a division of S&P Global, and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Redistribution or reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited without written permission of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC.

 

The Capital Advantage®

 

Since 1931, Capital Group, home of American Funds, has helped investors pursue long-term investment success. Our consistent approach — in combination with The Capital SystemSM — has resulted in superior outcomes.

 

Aligned with investor success

We base our decisions on a long-term perspective, which we believe aligns our goals with the interests of our clients. Our portfolio managers average 27 years of investment experience, including 20 years at our company, reflecting a career commitment to our long-term approach.1

 

The Capital System

The Capital System combines individual accountability with teamwork. Funds using The Capital System are divided into portions that are managed independently by investment professionals with diverse backgrounds, ages and investment approaches. An extensive global research effort is the backbone of our system.

 

American Funds’ superior outcomes

Equity funds have beaten their Lipper peer indexes in 92% of 10-year periods and 99% of 20-year periods.2 Fixed income funds have helped investors achieve diversification through attention to correlation between bonds and equities.3 Fund management fees have been among the lowest in the industry.4

 

  1 Portfolio manager experience as of December 31, 2018.
  2 Based on Class F-2 share results for rolling periods through December 31, 2018. Periods covered are the shorter of the fund’s lifetime or since the comparable Lipper index inception date (except Capital Income Builder and SMALLCAP World Fund, for which the Lipper average was used). Expenses differ for each share class, so results will vary.
  3 Based on Class F-2 share results, as of December 31, 2018. Fourteen of our 15 American Funds fixed income funds that have been in existence for the three-year period showed a three-year correlation below 0.2. Standard & Poor’s 500 Composite Index was used as an equity market proxy. Correlation based on monthly total returns. Correlation is a statistical measure of how two securities move in relation to each other. A correlation ranges from –1 to 1. A positive correlation close to 1 implies that as one security moves, either up or down, the other security will move in “lockstep,” in the same direction. A negative correlation close to –1 indicates that the securities have moved in the opposite direction.
  4 On average, our management fees were in the lowest quintile 70% of the time, based on the 20-year period ended December 31, 2018, versus comparable Lipper categories, excluding funds of funds.

 

Class F-2 shares were first offered on August 1, 2008. Class F-2 share results prior to the date of first sale are hypothetical based on Class A share results without a sales charge, adjusted for typical estimated expenses. Results for certain funds with an inception date after August 1, 2008, also include hypothetical returns because those funds’ Class F-2 shares sold after the funds’ date of first offering. Please see americanfunds.com for more information on specific expense adjustments and the actual dates of first sale.

 

All Capital Group trademarks mentioned are owned by The Capital Group Companies, Inc., an affiliated company or fund. All other company and product names mentioned are the property of their respective companies.

 

 

 

ITEM 2 – Code of Ethics

 

The Registrant has adopted a Code of Ethics that applies to its Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer. The Registrant undertakes to provide to any person without charge, upon request, a copy of the Code of Ethics. Such request can be made by calling 800/421-4225 or to the Secretary of the Registrant, 333 South Hope Street, Los Angeles, California 90071.

 

ITEM 3 – Audit Committee Financial Expert

 

The Registrant’s board has determined that Elisabeth Allison, a member of the Registrant’s audit committee, is an “audit committee financial expert” and "independent," as such terms are defined in this Item. This designation will not increase the designee’s duties, obligations or liability as compared to his or her duties, obligations and liability as a member of the audit committee and of the board, nor will it reduce the responsibility of the other audit committee members. There may be other individuals who, through education or experience, would qualify as "audit committee financial experts" if the board had designated them as such. Most importantly, the board believes each member of the audit committee contributes significantly to the effective oversight of the Registrant’s financial statements and condition.

 

ITEM 4 – Principal Accountant Fees and Services

 

ITEM 4 – Principal Accountant Fees and Services EUPAC
     
Registrant:  
     

a)  Audit Fees:
Audit 2018                                                                           139,000
  2019                                                                                3,000
   
b)  Audit-Related Fees:
  2018                                                                              42,000
  2019                                                                              38,000
   
c)  Tax Fees:
  2018                                                                              33,000
  2019                                                                              19,000
  The tax fees consist of professional services relating to the preparation of the Registrant’s tax returns.
   
d)  All Other Fees:
  2018 None
  2019 None
   
  Adviser and affiliates (includes only fees for non-audit services billed to the adviser and affiliates for engagements that relate directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Registrant and were subject to the pre-approval policies described below):
a)  Audit Fees:
  Not Applicable
   
b)  Audit-Related Fees:
  2018                                                                        1,064,000
  2019                                                                        2,515,000
  The audit-related fees consist of assurance and related services relating to the examination of the Registrant’s transfer agent, principal underwriter and investment adviser conducted in accordance with Statement on Standards for Attestation Engagements Number 16 issued by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
   

c)  Tax Fees:
  2018  None
  2019  None
  The tax fees consist of consulting services relating to the Registrant’s investments.
     
     
d)  All Other Fees:
  2018  None
  2019  None
  The other fees consist of subscription services related to an accounting research tool.
   
     
  All audit and permissible non-audit services that the Registrant’s audit committee considers compatible with maintaining the independent registered public accounting firm’s independence are required to be pre-approved by the committee.  The pre-approval requirement will extend to all non-audit services provided to the Registrant, the investment adviser, and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the investment adviser that provides ongoing services to the Registrant, if the engagement relates directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Registrant. The committee will not delegate its responsibility to pre-approve these services to the investment adviser. The committee may delegate to one or more committee members the authority to review and pre-approve audit and permissible non-audit services.  Actions taken under any such delegation will be reported to the full committee at its next meeting. The pre-approval requirement is waived with respect to non-audit services if certain conditions are met. The pre-approval requirement was not waived for any of the non-audit services listed above provided to the Registrant, adviser and affiliates.
     
  Aggregate non-audit fees paid to the Registrant’s auditors, including fees for all services billed to the Registrant, adviser and affiliates that provide ongoing services to the Registrant, were $1,197,000 for fiscal year 2018 and $2,748,000 for fiscal year 2019. The non-audit services represented by these amounts were brought to the attention of the committee and considered to be compatible with maintaining the auditors’ independence.

 

 

ITEM 5 – Audit Committee of Listed Registrants

 

Not applicable to this Registrant, insofar as the Registrant is not a listed issuer as defined in Rule 10A-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

ITEM 6 – Schedule of Investments

 

 

 

 

EuroPacific Growth Fund®

Investment portfolio

March 31, 2019

 

 

 

 

Common stocks 93.54%
Financials 17.43%
Shares Value
(000)
HDFC Bank Ltd. 112,173,464 $3,754,876
HDFC Bank Ltd. (ADR) 7,727,242 895,665
AIA Group Ltd. 452,940,000 4,509,233
Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd. 94,883,478 1,827,817
Prudential PLC 74,885,038 1,499,585
Barclays PLC 550,719,268 1,109,495
Housing Development Finance Corp. Ltd. 31,813,425 903,887
China Construction Bank Corp., Class H 949,336,140 813,895
B3 SA - Brasil, Bolsa, Balcao 90,072,000 738,915
Axis Bank Ltd.1 64,612,400 724,937
Sberbank of Russia PJSC (ADR) 51,802,911 686,907
UniCredit SpA 48,921,728 627,145
DBS Group Holdings Ltd. 31,495,000 586,326
Brookfield Asset Management Inc., Class A 11,160,000 520,614
Bank Central Asia Tbk PT 250,700,000 488,548
PICC Property and Casualty Co. Ltd., Class H 424,863,869 482,778
Toronto-Dominion Bank (CAD denominated) 7,670,000 416,230
Itaú Unibanco Holding SA, preferred nominative (ADR) 44,167,500 389,116
Banco Santander, SA 74,415,245 345,963
Agricultural Bank of China Ltd., Class H 664,100,000 306,249
Deutsche Boerse AG 2,336,540 299,582
London Stock Exchange Group PLC 4,698,000 290,709
Bank of China Ltd., Class H 554,573,555 251,502
FinecoBank SpA 18,278,998 240,415
The People’s Insurance Co. (Group) of China Ltd., Class H 560,870,215 240,068
IndusInd Bank Ltd. 8,687,596 223,225
Ayala Corp. 12,080,000 216,248
BNP Paribas SA 4,457,000 213,035
Zurich Insurance Group AG 640,500 212,010
Credit Suisse Group AG 18,050,954 210,375
Capitec Bank Holdings Ltd. 2,222,071 207,903
ICICI Bank Ltd. 33,944,000 196,241
Bank of Ireland Group PLC 31,687,838 188,393
Hana Financial Group Inc. 5,867,064 188,143
BOC Hong Kong (Holdings) Ltd. 44,382,000 183,748
Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd., subordinate voting shares (CAD denominated) 251,000 116,264
Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd., subordinate voting shares 124,291 57,809
Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. 105,383,312 160,353
3i Group PLC 11,950,000 153,277
Société Générale 4,766,872 137,825
CaixaBank, SA 42,615,000 133,085
Banco BPM SpA1 59,907,284 123,771
Burford Capital Ltd. 5,540,000 121,655
Shinhan Financial Group Co., Ltd. 3,182,000 117,738
Türkiye Garanti Bankasi AS 73,363,000 109,739
Grupo Financiero Galicia SA, Class B (ADR) 4,191,050 106,956
Royal Bank of Canada 1,251,000 94,381

 

EuroPacific Growth Fund — Page 1 of 9

 


 

 

 

Common stocks (continued)
Financials (continued)
Shares Value
(000)
BB Seguridade Participações SA 13,844,900 $93,776
Macquarie Group Ltd. 985,000 90,516
Eurobank Ergasias SA1 108,860,228 86,701
Bharat Financial Inclusion Ltd.1 5,120,000 83,531
Hiscox Ltd. 4,038,809 82,061
Standard Life Aberdeen PLC 23,836,253 81,945
Intesa Sanpaolo SpA 29,468,000 71,764
KB Financial Group Inc. 1,891,600 69,741
RSA Insurance Group PLC 6,184,000 40,900
Akbank TAS1 32,500,000 36,840
Credicorp Ltd. 130,000 31,193
ABN AMRO Group NV, depository receipts 1,325,361 29,883
Sony Financial Holdings Inc. 1,545,000 29,107
Unione di Banche Italiane SpA 10,625,571 28,106
    27,278,695
Consumer discretionary 14.43%    
Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. (ADR)1 21,324,295 3,890,618
MercadoLibre, Inc.1,2 3,424,500 1,738,721
LVMH Moët Hennessy-Louis Vuitton SE 4,636,000 1,705,222
Galaxy Entertainment Group Ltd.2 224,749,000 1,530,307
Sony Corp. 30,665,500 1,285,223
adidas AG 4,984,373 1,211,058
Naspers Ltd., Class N 3,786,500 874,445
Industria de Diseño Textil, SA 26,741,966 785,942
Kering SA 1,340,165 768,502
Melco Resorts & Entertainment Ltd. (ADR)2 32,297,140 729,592
EssilorLuxottica 6,613,801 722,465
Meituan Dianping, Class B1 103,390,504 696,738
Volkswagen AG, nonvoting preferred 3,605,000 567,441
Sands China Ltd. 111,933,200 562,521
Ryohin Keikaku Co., Ltd.2 2,164,000 547,492
Just Eat PLC1,2 54,396,000 532,069
Hyundai Motor Co. 4,647,572 489,283
Nitori Holdings Co., Ltd. 2,725,000 351,597
Carnival Corp., units 6,570,000 333,231
Suzuki Motor Corp. 7,343,000 324,515
Rakuten, Inc. 31,230,800 295,316
Midea Group Co., Ltd., Class A 34,305,936 248,762
ASOS PLC1,2 5,897,884 245,814
GVC Holdings PLC2 31,312,683 227,978
Accor SA 5,624,811 227,841
Hermès International 345,000 227,636
Paddy Power Betfair PLC 2,325,681 179,357
Merlin Entertainments PLC 35,160,000 157,211
Samsonite International SA 47,820,400 153,209
Eicher Motors Ltd. 479,508 142,227
Wynn Macau, Ltd. 46,334,000 109,196
Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd. 547,600 100,586
Ctrip.com International, Ltd. (ADR)1 2,280,000 99,613
Melco International Development Ltd. 39,692,000 93,037
Motherson Sumi Systems Ltd. 33,195,000 71,733
Valeo SA, non-registered shares 2,230,000 64,664
Li & Fung Ltd. 324,078,000 58,211
Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. 575,000 55,384

 

EuroPacific Growth Fund — Page 2 of 9

 


 

 

 

Common stocks (continued)
Consumer discretionary (continued)
Shares Value
(000)
William Hill PLC 24,489,000 $51,209
Fast Retailing Co., Ltd. 105,400 49,481
Ferrari NV 334,313 44,814
HUGO BOSS AG 598,134 40,848
    22,591,109
Information technology 12.29%    
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. 79,274,796 3,118,333
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., nonvoting preferred 2,440,000 77,923
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd. 271,072,329 2,159,221
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (ADR) 8,247,523 337,818
ASML Holding NV 11,654,828 2,185,940
SK hynix, Inc. 30,309,200 1,981,273
Keyence Corp. 2,593,780 1,614,121
Amadeus IT Group SA, Class A, non-registered shares 14,826,852 1,187,526
Tokyo Electron Ltd. 5,805,800 838,156
PagSeguro Digital Ltd., Class A1,2 24,308,238 725,601
Halma PLC2 22,653,157 493,317
Largan Precision Co., Ltd. 3,210,000 479,097
Worldpay, Inc., Class A (GBP denominated)1 4,020,941 449,917
Temenos AG 2,956,524 435,870
Capgemini SE 3,554,000 430,962
Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. 8,408,178 418,171
SAP SE 3,380,000 390,526
Adyen NV1 477,800 374,109
Hexagon AB, Class B 5,122,000 267,193
Xiaomi Corp., Class B1 181,029,800 262,437
Hamamatsu Photonics KK 5,051,000 195,058
AAC Technologies Holdings Inc. 23,003,877 136,119
TravelSky Technology Ltd., Class H 48,723,000 128,791
TDK Corp. 1,479,000 115,699
Infineon Technologies AG 5,573,000 110,558
WiseTech Global Ltd. 6,676,617 109,606
Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Co., Ltd., Class A 17,699,965 92,369
OBIC Co., Ltd. 765,000 77,031
Shimadzu Corp. 690,800 19,945
Renesas Electronics Corp.1 3,247,200 15,001
    19,227,688
Industrials 10.62%    
Airbus SE, non-registered shares 32,152,127 4,252,258
SMC Corp. 2,409,700 902,958
International Consolidated Airlines Group, SA (CDI)2 129,105,675 860,947
Safran SA 6,107,000 837,477
Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC1 63,482,720 746,793
MTU Aero Engines AG2 3,144,000 711,705
Melrose Industries PLC2 290,421,746 692,783
Yamato Holdings Co., Ltd.2 25,518,093 658,271
Komatsu Ltd. 24,009,232 556,850
Adani Ports & Special Economic Zone Ltd. 83,826,574 457,582
Ryanair Holdings PLC (ADR)1 5,806,000 435,102
Nidec Corp. 3,367,100 426,090
DCC PLC 4,784,045 413,426
Edenred SA 8,850,000 402,758
DSV A/S 4,420,000 365,533

 

EuroPacific Growth Fund — Page 3 of 9

 


 

 

 

Common stocks (continued)
Industrials (continued)
Shares Value
(000)
KONE Oyj, Class B 6,411,000 $323,332
SK Holdings Co., Ltd. 1,351,955 322,178
Recruit Holdings Co., Ltd. 11,044,300 314,996
Airports of Thailand PCL, foreign registered 145,700,000 312,198
Jardine Matheson Holdings Ltd. 4,367,800 272,376
Schindler Holding AG, participation certificate 1,300,000 269,465
Schindler Holding AG 2,000 414
Rentokil Initial PLC 53,636,506 246,811
Thales 1,916,500 229,495
Knorr-Bremse AG, non-registered shares1 2,181,023 216,594
Rheinmetall AG 1,981,200 206,418
Spirax-Sarco Engineering PLC 2,131,000 199,560
Bunzl PLC 4,494,514 148,220
Shanghai International Airport Co., Ltd., Class A 15,342,341 141,890
Eiffage SA 1,385,500 133,131
Vinci SA 1,281,018 124,615
DP World PLC 6,640,000 106,240
SNC-Lavalin Group Inc. 2,454,000 62,270
NIBE Industrier AB, Class B 4,770,000 61,079
Aalberts Industries NV, non-registered shares 1,507,000 52,117
Rational AG 70,400 43,434
Rumo SA1 7,800,800 38,154
Alliance Global Group, Inc. 123,500,000 38,007
Babcock International Group PLC 5,100,438 32,784
    16,616,311
Health care 8.68%    
Novartis AG 20,856,600 2,006,171
Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd.3 34,141,000 1,728,867
AstraZeneca PLC 11,519,100 920,129
Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. 13,055,158 896,416
Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. 21,696,653 885,054
Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (ADR)1 52,991,159 830,901
Koninklijke Philips NV 17,302,000 704,820
Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA 11,409,000 636,831
CSL Ltd. 4,441,000 614,711
HOYA Corp. 8,511,951 561,345
Grifols, SA, Class B, nonvoting preferred, non-registered shares 13,451,154 266,771
Grifols, SA, Class A, non-registered shares 6,401,000 179,221
Grifols, SA, Class B (ADR) 3,541,478 71,219
NMC Health PLC2 12,262,303 364,779
Hikma Pharmaceuticals PLC2 14,615,045 341,019
GW Pharmaceuticals PLC (ADR)1,2 1,816,499 306,207
Aier Eye Hospital Group Co., Ltd., Class A 48,271,868 244,225
Novo Nordisk A/S, Class B 4,313,500 225,805
Sartorius AG, nonvoting preferred, non-registered shares 1,196,011 205,135
Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA 2,398,000 193,408
Merck KGaA 1,678,000 191,335
Roche Holding AG, nonvoting, non-registered shares 595,500 164,073
Galapagos NV1 1,350,000 157,342
Straumann Holding AG 150,000 122,395
Yunnan Baiyao Group Co., Ltd., Class A 9,588,823 121,997
Sysmex Corp. 1,865,300 112,595
WuXi Biologics (Cayman) Inc.1 10,329,347 100,465
bioMérieux SA 1,125,000 93,007

 

EuroPacific Growth Fund — Page 4 of 9

 


 

 

 

Common stocks (continued)
Health care (continued)
Shares Value
(000)
Demant A/S1 2,509,762 $74,214
Bayer AG 1,055,043 68,169
Asahi Intecc Co., Ltd. 1,400,000 65,686
Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corp. Ltd. 3,950,000 42,232
Hypera SA, ordinary nominative 4,229,700 27,979
Coloplast A/S, Class B 243,609 26,728
Argenx SE (ADR)1 212,300 26,504
    13,577,755
Materials 8.18%    
Vale SA, ordinary nominative (ADR) 178,882,800 2,336,209
Vale SA, ordinary nominative 49,698,378 646,466
Glencore PLC 254,215,191 1,052,741
Teck Resources Ltd., Class B 42,384,000 980,666
Koninklijke DSM NV 7,657,619 834,598
Asahi Kasei Corp.2 76,292,742 786,126
Chr. Hansen Holding A/S2 7,314,000 741,357
Sika AG 4,814,521 672,558
First Quantum Minerals Ltd.2 54,022,483 612,445
Rio Tinto PLC 9,410,000 546,743
Linde PLC (EUR denominated) 1,966,580 344,138
Linde PLC 986,600 173,572
Akzo Nobel NV 3,930,711 348,289
CCL Industries Inc., Class B, nonvoting shares 8,200,000 331,964
ArcelorMittal SA 12,916,112 261,636
LafargeHolcim Ltd. 4,618,000 228,129
Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. 5,003,412 217,648
HeidelbergCement AG 2,670,684 192,213
Indorama Ventures PCL, foreign registered 113,541,600 177,996
Evonik Industries AG 6,320,756 172,153
Fortescue Metals Group Ltd. 30,607,839 154,522
Yara International ASA 3,632,000 148,565
CRH PLC 4,403,868 136,592
UltraTech Cement Ltd. 2,112,000 121,898
MMG Ltd.1 269,296,554 109,435
Barrick Gold Corp. (GBP denominated) 7,365,856 100,978
Aluminum Corp. of China Ltd., Class H1 256,356,000 94,379
Air Liquide SA, non-registered shares 628,000 79,850
Klabin SA, units 17,463,500 75,958
BASF SE 1,016,500 74,721
Hindalco Industries Ltd. 16,253,000 48,213
    12,802,758
Energy 6.19%    
Reliance Industries Ltd. 196,635,942 3,869,563
Royal Dutch Shell PLC, Class B 18,856,544 596,310
Royal Dutch Shell PLC, Class A (GBP denominated) 10,516,976 330,597
Royal Dutch Shell PLC, Class A (EUR denominated) 122,980 3,860
Petróleo Brasileiro SA (Petrobras), ordinary nominative (ADR) 50,670,000 806,666
Petróleo Brasileiro SA (Petrobras), preferred nominative (ADR) 8,293,760 118,601
Canadian Natural Resources, Ltd. (CAD denominated) 19,315,225 530,307
Canadian Natural Resources, Ltd. 4,342,000 119,405
Cenovus Energy Inc.2 69,818,000 606,045
TOTAL SA 10,226,978 568,099
Oil Search Ltd.2 94,187,800 524,993

 

EuroPacific Growth Fund — Page 5 of 9

 


 

 

 

Common stocks (continued)
Energy (continued)
Shares Value
(000)
Enbridge Inc. (CAD denominated) 13,269,930 $480,611
Tourmaline Oil Corp.2 16,547,000 255,569
Suncor Energy Inc. 7,666,900 248,478
Saipem SpA, Class S1 28,172,263 149,005
Ultrapar Participacoes SA, ordinary nominative 9,220,000 110,677
BP PLC 14,320,000 104,166
CNOOC Ltd. 38,800,000 72,658
China Petroleum & Chemical Corp., Class H 80,800,000 63,714
LUKOIL Oil Co. PJSC (ADR) 610,000 54,656
Seven Generations Energy Ltd., Class A1 5,877,600 42,443
Novatek PJSC (GDR) 207,000 35,480
    9,691,903
Consumer staples 5.99%    
Nestlé SA 14,341,399 1,366,808
British American Tobacco PLC 31,185,430 1,297,322
Pernod Ricard SA 5,360,610 962,122
Kao Corp. 8,994,200 707,493
Kweichow Moutai Co., Ltd., Class A 5,017,538 637,619
Thai Beverage PCL 825,350,000 514,607
Associated British Foods PLC 15,999,485 508,252
Kirin Holdings Co., Ltd. 17,329,745 413,190
JBS SA, ordinary nominative 80,809,704 328,576
Treasury Wine Estates Ltd. 27,974,734 296,561
Philip Morris International Inc. 2,810,000 248,376
Glanbia PLC 11,840,579 231,641
Uni-Charm Corp. 6,933,000 229,140
Coca-Cola European Partners PLC 4,291,645 222,050
KOSÉ Corp. 1,048,500 192,331
CP ALL PCL, foreign registered 72,596,966 170,998
Ambev SA 35,791,000 153,846
LG Household & Health Care Ltd. 123,000 153,547
Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc., Class B 2,500,000 147,267
Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV 1,693,000 141,978
Coca-Cola HBC AG (CDI) 3,562,746 121,344
Meiji Holdings Co., Ltd. 1,391,300 112,856
Wal-Mart de México, SAB de CV, Series V 40,980,000 109,616
Fomento Económico Mexicano, SAB de CV 9,055,000 83,574
Godrej Consumer Products Ltd. 2,339,970 23,172
    9,374,286
Communication services 5.30%    
Nintendo Co., Ltd.2 9,070,426 2,582,899
Tencent Holdings Ltd. 49,853,911 2,292,660
SoftBank Group Corp. 16,261,400 1,576,547
Baidu, Inc., Class A (ADR)1 1,743,000 287,334
Altice Europe NV, Class A1,2 62,627,628 164,461
Altice Europe NV, Class B1,2 14,777,869 38,525
China Unicom (Hong Kong) Ltd. 153,430,000 194,476
United Internet AG 5,075,000 185,189
ITV PLC 78,811,903 130,466
Advanced Info Service PCL, foreign registered 22,200,000 128,716
SK Telecom Co., Ltd. 457,000 101,256
América Móvil, SAB de CV, Series L (ADR) 5,873,819 83,878
América Móvil, SAB de CV, Series L 18,821,401 13,459

 

EuroPacific Growth Fund — Page 6 of 9

 


 

 

 

Common stocks (continued)
Communication services (continued)
Shares Value
(000)
ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE 5,899,222 $84,174
Intouch Holdings PCL, foreign registered 41,950,000 76,008
YY Inc., Class A (ADR)1 856,000 71,913
Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp. 1,648,900 69,970
LG Uplus Corp. 5,053,000 68,777
TalkTalk Telecom Group PLC 35,499,000 50,998
Axel Springer SE 963,068 49,738
Yandex NV, Class A1 1,289,000 44,264
BT Group PLC 2,679,658 7,781
    8,303,489
Utilities 2.89%    
Ørsted AS 19,677,485 1,491,319
ENN Energy Holdings Ltd.2 77,627,000 750,564
China Gas Holdings Ltd. 208,024,600 731,403
Enel SpA 78,250,000 500,680
China Resources Gas Group Ltd. 76,616,000 361,122
ENGIE SA 7,833,600 116,696
ENGIE SA, bonus shares3 4,756,000 70,849
E.ON SE 14,250,000 158,443
Guangdong Investment Ltd. 76,500,000 147,739
SSE PLC 4,695,000 72,585
Naturgy Energy Group, SA 2,357,183 65,919
Pampa Energía SA (ADR)1 2,085,000 57,483
    4,524,802
Real estate 1.54%    
China Overseas Land & Investment Ltd. 152,358,000 578,382
Sun Hung Kai Properties Ltd. 20,975,083 359,919
Ayala Land, Inc. 390,814,709 334,176
Ayala Land, Inc., preference shares1,3,4 481,283,600 825
Vonovia SE 6,367,739 330,150
Henderson Land Development Co. Ltd. 41,037,973 260,867
CK Asset Holdings Ltd. 18,470,000 164,231
China Resources Land Ltd. 34,970,000 156,809
Longfor Group Holdings Ltd. 34,291,500 120,785
Central Pattana PCL, foreign registered 43,975,000 101,502
    2,407,646
Total common stocks (cost: $107,146,634,000)   146,396,442
Rights & warrants 0.08%
Real estate 0.08%
   
Vinhomes JSC, warrants, expire 20191,3 33,474,875 132,001
Total rights & warrants (cost: $138,006,000)   132,001
Bonds, notes & other debt instruments 0.12%
U.S. Treasury bonds & notes 0.06%
U.S. Treasury 0.06%
Principal amount
(000)
 
U.S. Treasury 1.50% 20195 $100,000 99,461
Total U.S. Treasury bonds & notes   99,461

 

EuroPacific Growth Fund — Page 7 of 9

 


 

 

 

Bonds, notes & other debt instruments (continued)
Corporate bonds & notes 0.05%
Financials 0.05%
Principal amount
(000)
Value
(000)
UniCredit SpA 5.861% 20326,7 $19,000 $17,534
UniCredit SpA, Contingent Convertible, 5.375% (undated)7 €5,375 5,187
UniCredit SpA, Contingent Convertible, 6.625% (undated)7 21,245 23,227
UniCredit SpA, Contingent Convertible, 8.00% (undated)7 $27,075 25,415
    71,363
Total corporate bonds & notes   71,363
Bonds & notes of governments & government agencies outside the U.S. 0.01%    
Argentine Republic (Argentina Central Bank 7D Repo Reference Rate) 54.47% 20208 ARS116,033 2,991
Argentine Republic (Badlar Private Banks ARS Index + 2.00%) 51.542% 20228 332,144 7,449
    10,440
Total bonds, notes & other debt instruments (cost: $179,071,000)   181,264
Short-term securities 6.20%
Money market investments 5.95%
Shares  
Capital Group Central Cash Fund2 93,044,336 9,302,573
Bonds & notes of governments & government agencies outside the U.S. 0.25% Principal amount
(000)
 
Argentinian Treasury Bills (17.02%)–2.81% due 4/30/2019–4/30/2020 ARS14,609,946 395,081
Total short-term securities (cost: $9,778,246,000)   9,697,654
Total investment securities 99.94% (cost: $117,241,957,000)   156,407,361
Other assets less liabilities 0.06%   98,240
Net assets 100.00%   $156,505,601

Forward currency contracts


 

Contract amount Counterparty Settlement
date
Unrealized
(depreciation)
appreciation
at 3/31/2019
(000)
Purchases
(000)
Sales
(000)
USD62,400 INR4,462,500 HSBC Bank 4/5/2019 $(1,948)
USD82,916 INR5,925,000 JPMorgan Chase 4/8/2019 (2,480)
USD187,594 GBP141,350 Citibank 4/26/2019 3,233
USD133,465 GBP100,572 JPMorgan Chase 4/26/2019 2,290
USD64,334 INR4,462,500 Citibank 4/26/2019 199
USD42,159 INR2,925,000 HSBC Bank 5/7/2019 179
        $1,473

 

EuroPacific Growth Fund — Page 8 of 9

 


 

 

 

1 Security did not produce income during the last 12 months.
2 Represents an affiliated company as defined under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
3 Valued under fair value procedures adopted by authority of the board of trustees. The total value of all such securities was $1,932,542,000, which represented 1.23% of the net assets of the fund.
4 Value determined using significant unobservable inputs.
5 All or a portion of this security was pledged as collateral. The total value of pledged collateral was $2,860,000, which represented less than .01% of the net assets of the fund.
6 Acquired in a transaction exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. May be resold in the U.S. in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. The total value of all such securities was $17,534,000, which represented .01% of the net assets of the fund.
7 Step bond; coupon rate may change at a later date.
8 Coupon rate may change periodically.

 

Key to abbreviations and symbols
ADR = American Depositary Receipts
ARS = Argentine pesos
CAD = Canadian dollars
CDI = CREST Depository Interest
EUR/€ = Euros
GBP = British pounds
GDR = Global Depositary Receipts
INR = Indian rupees
USD/$ = U.S. dollars

Additional financial disclosures are included in the fund’s current shareholder report and should be read in conjunction with this report.

Investments are not FDIC-insured, nor are they deposits of or guaranteed by a bank or any other entity, so they may lose value.

Investors should carefully consider investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. This and other important information is contained in the fund prospectus and summary prospectus, which can be obtained from your financial professional and should be read carefully before investing. You may also call American Funds Service Company (AFS) at (800) 421-4225 or visit the American Funds website at americanfunds.com. Fund shares offered through American Funds Distributors, Inc.

All Capital Group trademarks mentioned are owned by The Capital Group Companies, Inc., an affiliated company or fund. All other company and product names mentioned are the property of their respective companies.

© 2019 Capital Group. All rights reserved.

 

 

MFGEFPX-016-0519O-S66069 EuroPacific Growth Fund — Page 9 of 9

 

 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM ON INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO

 

To the Shareholders and Board of Trustees of EuroPacific Growth Fund:

 

Opinion on the Investment Portfolio

 

We have audited the accompanying investment portfolio of EuroPacific Growth Fund (the “Fund”), as of March 31, 2019, and the related notes (“investment portfolio”) (included in Item 6 of this Form N-CSR). In our opinion, the investment portfolio presents fairly, in all material respects, the investments in securities of the Fund as of March 31, 2019, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

Basis for Opinion

 

The investment portfolio is the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the investment portfolio based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Fund in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

 

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the investment portfolio is free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Fund is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audit we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Fund's internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.

 

Our audit included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the investment portfolio, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the investment portfolio. Our audit also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the investment portfolio. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

 

DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

 

 

Costa Mesa, California

 

May 13, 2019

 

We have served as the auditor of one or more American Funds investment companies since 1956.

 

 

ITEM 7 – Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies

 

Not applicable to this Registrant, insofar as the Registrant is not a closed-end management investment company.

 

ITEM 8 – Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies

 

Not applicable to this Registrant, insofar as the Registrant is not a closed-end management investment company.

 

ITEM 9 – Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers

 

Not applicable to this Registrant, insofar as the Registrant is not a closed-end management investment company.

 

ITEM 10 – Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

 

There have been no material changes to the procedures by which shareholders may recommend nominees to the Registrant’s board of trustees since the Registrant last submitted a proxy statement to its shareholders. The procedures are as follows. The Registrant has a nominating and governance committee comprised solely of persons who are not considered ‘‘interested persons’’ of the Registrant within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. The committee periodically reviews such issues as the board’s composition, responsibilities, committees, compensation and other relevant issues, and recommends any appropriate changes to the full board of trustees. 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 and governance committee of the Registrant, c/o the Registrant’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 for consideration of his or her name by the nominating and governance committee.

 

ITEM 11 – Controls and Procedures

 

(a) The Registrant’s Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer have concluded, based on their evaluation of the Registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 30a-3 under the Investment Company Act of 1940), that such controls and procedures are adequate and reasonably designed to achieve the purposes described in paragraph (c) of such rule.
   
(b)

There were no changes in the Registrant’s internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) that occurred during the Registrant’s semi-annual period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

 

ITEM 12 – Exhibits

 

(a)(1) The Code of Ethics that is the subject of the disclosure required by Item 2 is attached as an exhibit hereto.
   
(a)(2) The certifications required by Rule 30a-2 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 and Sections 302 and 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 are attached as exhibits hereto.
 
 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

  EUROPACIFIC GROWTH FUND
   
  By __/s/ Walter R. Burkley________________
 

Walter R. Burkley, Executive Vice President and

Principal Executive Officer

   
  Date: May 31, 2019

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

 

 

By _ /s/ Walter R. Burkley_____________

Walter R. Burkley, Executive Vice President and

Principal Executive Officer

 
Date: May 31, 2019

 

 

 

By ___/s/ Brian C. Janssen__________________

Brian C. Janssen, Treasurer and

Principal Financial Officer

 
Date: May 31, 2019

 

 

T