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Form N-CSR AMERICAN FUNDS GLOBAL For: Feb 29

April 29, 2016 12:41 PM EDT

 

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: 811-22745

 

 

 

American Funds Global High-Income Opportunities Fund

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

6455 Irvine Center Drive

Irvine, California 92618

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

 

 

 

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

 

Date of fiscal year end: February 28 or 29

 

Date of reporting period: February 29, 2016

 

 

 

 

 

Steven I. Koszalka

American Funds Global High-Income Opportunities Fund

333 South Hope Street

Los Angeles, California 90071

(Name and Address of Agent for Service)

 

 

 

 
 

 

ITEM 1 – Reports to Stockholders

 

 

American Funds
Global High-Income
Opportunities FundSM

 

Annual report
for the year ended
February 29, 2016

 


 

 

American Funds Global High-Income Opportunities Fund seeks to provide, over the long term, a high level of total return largely comprising current income.

 

This fund is one of more than 40 offered by one of the nation’s largest mutual fund families, American Funds, from Capital Group. For more than 80 years, Capital 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 3.75%) 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. Investments are not FDIC-insured, nor are they deposits of or guaranteed by a bank or any other entity, so they may lose value.

 

Here are the average annual total returns on a $1,000 investment with all distributions reinvested for periods ended March 31, 2016 (the most recent calendar quarter-end):

 

        Lifetime
Class A shares   1 year   (since 12/14/12)
         
Reflecting 3.75% maximum sales charge   –9.60%   –2.26%

 

The fund’s estimated gross expense ratio for Class A shares is 1.35% as of the prospectus dated May 1, 2016 (unaudited). The net expense ratio is 1.07% (unaudited).

 

Investment results assume all distributions are reinvested and reflect applicable fees and expenses. The investment adviser is currently reimbursing a portion of other expenses for Class A shares. This reimbursement will be in effect through at least May 1, 2017, unless modified or terminated by the fund’s board. The adviser may elect at its discretion to extend, modify or terminate the reimbursement at that time. Investment results shown reflect the reimbursement, without which the results would have been lower.

 

Although the fund has plans of distribution for Class A shares, fees for distribution services are not paid by the fund on amounts invested in the fund by the fund’s investment adviser. Expenses shown assume fees for distribution services were charged on these assets. However, because fees for distribution services were not charged on these assets, actual fund expenses were lower and total return was higher. See the “Plans of distribution” section of the prospectus for information on the distribution services fees permitted to be charged by the fund.

 

The fund’s 30-day yield for Class A shares as of March 31, 2016, reflecting the 3.75% maximum sales charge and calculated in accordance with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission formula, was 4.94% (4.45% without the reimbursement).

 

The return of principal for bond funds and for funds with significant underlying bond holdings is not guaranteed. Fund shares are subject to the same interest rate, inflation and credit risks associated with the underlying bond holdings. High-yield bonds are subject to greater fluctuations in value and risk of loss of income and principal than investment-grade bonds. Investing in bonds issued outside the U.S. may be subject to additional risks. They include currency fluctuations, political and social instability, differing securities regulations and accounting standards, higher transaction costs, possible changes in taxation, 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.

 
Contents
1   Letter to investors
2   The value of a $10,000 investment
3   Investment portfolio
8   Financial statements
22   Board of trustees and other officers

 

Fellow investors:

 

For the fiscal year ended February 29, 2016, American Funds Global High-Income Opportunities Fund declined 11.32%, with all distributions reinvested. By way of comparison, the fund’s benchmark, the unmanaged Barclays Global High Income Broad Index, fell 5.88%.The Custom Lipper Blended Index, a composite of peer funds tracked by Lipper, sank 8.35%.

 

For the 12 months, the fund paid dividends totaling 21.3 cents a share. This resulted in an income return of 2.29% for investors who chose to reinvest their dividends and 2.27% for those who took them in cash. The fund’s share price dropped from $9.37 to $8.11.

 

At period-end, 56.3% of the fund was invested in corporate bonds, notes and loans, with another 36.1% in non–U.S. sovereign debt. The remainder of the portfolio consisted of other securities, forward currency contracts, short-term obligations and cash.

 

Cordially,

 

 

Robert H. Neithart
President

 

April 12, 2016

 

Results at a glance

For periods ended February 29, 2016, with all distributions reinvested

 

                  Average annual
    Cumulative total returns   total returns
    Lifetime
    6 months   1 year   (since 12/14/12)
           
American Funds Global High-Income Opportunities Fund (Class A shares)     –5.76 %       –11.32 %       –2.47 %
Barclays Global High Income Broad Index*     –2.61         –5.88         0.01  
Custom Lipper Blended Index     –4.44         –8.35         –1.86  

 

* The market index is unmanaged and, therefore, has no expenses. Investors cannot invest directly in an index.
The Custom Lipper Blended Index blends the Lipper High Yield Funds Index, Lipper Emerging Markets Hard Currency Debt Funds Index and the Lipper Emerging Markets Local Currency Debt Funds Index by weighting their total returns at 50%, 30% and 20%, respectively. The portfolio is rebalanced monthly. Lipper indexes track the largest mutual funds (no more than 30), represented by one share class per fund, in the corresponding Lipper category.
   
American Funds Global High-Income Opportunities Fund 1
 

The value of a $10,000 investment

 

How a $10,000 investment has fared (for the period December 14, 2012, through February 29, 2016, with dividends reinvested)

 

Fund results shown reflect deduction of the maximum sales charge of 3.75% on the $10,000 investment.1 Thus, the net amount invested was $9,625.

 

 

1 As outlined in the prospectus, the sales charge is reduced for accounts (and aggregated investments) of $100,000 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 market index is unmanaged and, therefore, has no expenses. Investors cannot invest directly in an index.
3 Includes reinvested dividends of $1,243 and reinvested capital gains of $13.
4 For the period December 14, 2012, commencement of operations, through December 31, 2012.

 

Past results are not predictive of results for future periods. The results shown are before taxes on fund distributions and sale of fund shares.

 

Average annual total returns based on a $1,000 investment (for the periods ended February 29, 2016)*

 

        Lifetime
    1 year   (since 12/14/12)
         
Class A shares   –14.69%   –3.62%

 

* Assumes reinvestment of all distributions and payment of the maximum 3.75% sales charge.

 

Investment results assume all distributions are reinvested and reflect applicable fees and expenses. The investment adviser is currently reimbursing a portion of other expenses for Class A shares. This reimbursement will be in effect through at least May 1, 2017, unless modified or terminated by the fund’s board. The adviser may elect at its discretion to extend, modify or terminate the reimbursement at that time. Investment results shown reflect the reimbursement, without which the results would have been lower. Refer to the fund’s prospectus for details.

 

Although the fund has plans of distribution for Class A shares, fees for distribution services are not paid by the fund on amounts invested in the fund by the fund’s investment adviser. Because fees for distribution services were not charged on these assets, total returns were higher. See the “Plans of distribution” section of the prospectus for information on the distribution services fees permitted to be charged by the fund.

 

2 American Funds Global High-Income Opportunities Fund
 

Investment portfolio February 29, 2016

 

Portfolio by type of security Percent of net assets

 

 

Portfolio quality summary*   Percent of net assets  
A/A     4.05 %
BBB/Baa     15.20  
Below investment grade     64.31  
Unrated     8.81  
Other     .96  
Short-term securities & other assets less liabilities     6.67  

 

* Bond ratings, which typically range from AAA/Aaa (highest) to D (lowest), are assigned by credit rating agencies such as Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s and/or Fitch as an indication of an issuer’s creditworthiness. In assigning a credit rating to a security, the fund looks specifically to the ratings assigned to the issuer of the security by Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s and/or Fitch. If agency ratings differ, the security will be considered to have received the highest of those ratings, consistent with the fund’s investment policies. Securities in the “unrated” category (above) have not been rated by a rating agency; however, the investment adviser performs its own credit analysis and assigns comparable ratings that are used for compliance with the fund’s investment policies. The ratings are not covered by the Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

 

Bonds, notes & other debt instruments 92.37%   Principal amount
(000)
    Value
(000)
 
Corporate bonds & notes 56.28%            
Telecommunication services 10.24%            
Digicel Group Ltd. 8.25% 2020   $ 450     $ 353  
Digicel Group Ltd. 6.00% 20211     400       346  
Frontier Communications Corp. 6.25% 2021     200       178  
Frontier Communications Corp. 10.50% 20221     270       275  
Frontier Communications Corp. 11.00% 20251     265       266  
Intelsat Luxembourg Holding Co. 6.75% 2018     200       121  
LightSquared, Term Loan, 9.75% 20202,3,4     250       220  
MetroPCS Wireless, Inc. 6.25% 2021     125       132  
MetroPCS Wireless, Inc. 6.625% 2023     125       131  
Millicom International Cellular SA 4.75% 20201     500       459  
Millicom International Cellular SA 6.625% 20211     200       189  
Numericable Group SA 4.875% 20191     300       301  
Sprint Nextel Corp. 7.00% 2020     575       452  
T-Mobile US, Inc. 6.731% 2022     100       105  
Trilogy International Partners, LLC 10.25% 20161     375       336  
Wind Acquisition SA 7.375% 20211     325       301  
              4,165  
                 
Energy 9.36%                
American Energy - Woodford LLC 12.00% 20201,5     74       9  
American Energy (Marcellus), Term Loan A, 8.50% 20212,3,4     25       1  
American Energy (Permian Basin) 7.125% 20201     175       42  
American Energy (Permian Basin) 7.375% 20211     75       18  
Chesapeake Energy Corp. 4.875% 2022     200       43  
CONSOL Energy Inc. 5.875% 2022     500       329  
Energy Transfer Partners, LP 5.875% 2024     500       415  
Jupiter Resources Inc. 8.50% 20221     175       58  
NGPL PipeCo LLC 7.119% 20171     575       539  
NGPL PipeCo LLC 9.625% 20191     25       24  
Odebrecht Offshore Drilling Finance Ltd. 6.75% 20221,3     179       37  
Odebrecht Offshore Drilling Finance Ltd., First Lien, 6.625% 20231,3     184       39  

 

American Funds Global High-Income Opportunities Fund 3
 
Bonds, notes & other debt instruments (continued)   Principal amount
(000)
    Value
(000)
 
Corporate bonds & notes (continued)                
Energy (continued)                
Peabody Energy Corp. 6.00% 2018   $ 450     $ 15  
Petrobras Global Finance Co. 6.85% 2115     130       81  
Petróleos Mexicanos 8.00% 2019     25       27  
Petróleos Mexicanos 5.50% 2021     55       56  
Petróleos Mexicanos 6.875% 20261     115       119  
Sabine Pass Liquefaction, LLC 5.625% 2021     400       384  
Sabine Pass Liquefaction, LLC 5.75% 2024     200       185  
Targa Resources Corp. 4.125% 2019     125       111  
Targa Resources Partners LP 6.75% 20241     75       64  
Teekay Corp. 8.50% 2020     350       222  
Teekay Corp. 8.50% 20201     100       64  
Weatherford International PLC 6.75% 2040     500       307  
Williams Companies, Inc. 3.70% 2023     500       372  
YPF Sociedad Anónima 8.50% 20251     250       245  
              3,806  
                 
Health care 8.25%                
Centene Corp. 5.625% 20211     50       53  
Centene Corp. 4.75% 2022     75       76  
Centene Corp. 6.125% 20241     50       53  
DJO Finco Inc. 8.125% 20211     355       299  
Endo Finance LLC & Endo Finco Inc. 6.00% 20231     200       205  
Endo Pharmaceuticals Holdings Inc. 5.75% 20221     70       70  
HCA Inc. 3.75% 2019     150       153  
HealthSouth Corp. 5.75% 20241     200       203  
inVentiv Health Inc. 10.00% 2018     178       170  
inVentiv Health Inc. 12.00% 20181,5     304       299  
inVentiv Health Inc., Term Loan B4, 7.75% 20182,3,4     125       124  
Kinetic Concepts, Inc. 10.50% 2018     375       348  
Kinetic Concepts, Inc. 12.50% 2019     225       175  
Molina Healthcare, Inc. 5.375% 20221     20       20  
Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics Inc. 6.625% 20221     140       101  
Quintiles Transnational Corp. 4.875% 20231     235       243  
Tenet Healthcare Corp. 6.75% 2023     90       82  
Tenet Healthcare Corp., First Lien, 4.75% 2020     275       279  
VPI Escrow Corp. 6.375% 20201     275       254  
VRX Escrow Corp. 6.125% 20251     180       146  
              3,353  
                 
Materials 7.71%                
ArcelorMittal 7.75% 2041     700       560  
Blue Cube Spinco Inc. (Olin Corp.) 9.75% 20231     20       22  
Blue Cube Spinco Inc. (Olin Corp.) 10.00% 20251     20       22  
CEMEX Finance LLC 9.375% 2022     250       264  
Chemours Co. 6.625% 20231     220       160  
Chemours Co. 7.00% 20251     195       142  
Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. 8.25% 20201     500       381  
First Quantum Minerals Ltd. 6.75% 20201     354       186  
First Quantum Minerals Ltd. 7.00% 20211     254       132  
Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. 3.55% 2022     495       332  
JMC Steel Group Inc. 8.25% 20181     550       475  
LSB Industries, Inc. 7.75% 2019     150       130  
Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc. 5.50% 20241     270       219  
Ryerson Inc. 11.25% 2018     167       111  
              3,136  
                 
Consumer discretionary 6.46%                
Burger King Corp. 6.00% 20221     225       235  
CCO Holdings LLC and CCO Holdings Capital Corp. 5.75% 20261     100       101  
Cequel Communications Holdings I, LLC and Cequel Capital Corp. 6.375% 20201     300       295  
Delta 2 (Formula One), Term Loan B, 7.75% 20222,3,4     100       87  
DISH DBS Corp. 4.25% 2018     200       203  
Family Tree Escrow LLC 5.25% 20201     25       26  
Family Tree Escrow LLC 5.75% 20231     50       53  
Grupo Televisa, SAB 7.25% 2043   MXN 2,000       92  
Guitar Center, Inc. 9.625% 20201   $ 125       84  
iHeartCommunications, Inc. 10.625% 2023     195       129  

 

4 American Funds Global High-Income Opportunities Fund
 
Bonds, notes & other debt instruments (continued)   Principal amount
(000)
    Value
(000)
 
Corporate bonds & notes (continued)            
Consumer discretionary (continued)            
Laureate Education, Inc. 10.00% 20191   $ 200     $ 103  
McClatchy Co. 9.00% 2022     500       442  
MGM Resorts International 8.625% 2019     200       227  
Neiman Marcus Group LTD Inc. 8.00% 20211     125       89  
Neiman Marcus Group LTD Inc. 8.75% 20211,5     75       46  
PETsMART, Inc. 7.125% 20231     75       77  
Sotheby’s Holdings, Inc. 5.25% 20221     200       178  
Standard Pacific Corp. 5.875% 2024     150       158  
              2,625  
                 
Industrials 6.24%                
ADT Corp. 4.125% 2019     150       159  
Associated Materials, LLC and AMH New Finance, Inc. 9.125% 2017     250       176  
Brunswick Rail Finance Ltd. 6.50% 2017     250       99  
Builders Firstsource 7.625% 20211     100       102  
CEVA Group PLC 7.00% 20211     100       81  
Corporate Risk Holdings LLC 9.50% 20191     316       269  
Hardwoods Acquisition Inc 7.50% 20211     100       48  
HD Supply, Inc. 5.25% 20211     75       79  
Navios Maritime Acquisition Corp. and Navios Acquisition Finance (US) Inc. 8.125% 20211     200       141  
Navios Maritime Holdings Inc. 7.375% 20221     200       65  
Navios Maritime Holdings Inc. and Navios Maritime Finance II (US) Inc. 8.125% 2019     300       71  
Nortek Inc. 8.50% 2021     525       545  
Ply Gem Industries, Inc. 6.50% 2022     400       344  
R.R. Donnelley & Sons Co. 7.25% 2018     159       167  
R.R. Donnelley & Sons Co. 7.875% 2021     50       47  
Silver II Borrower S.C.A./Silver II U.S. Holdings, LLC 7.75% 20201     200       144  
              2,537  
                 
Financials 3.79%                
BBVA Bancomer SA 6.50% 2021     200       214  
CIT Group Inc. 5.00% 2017     225       230  
CIT Group Inc. 3.875% 2019     100       100  
Communications Sales & Leasing, Inc. 6.00% 20231     150       145  
Crescent Resources 10.25% 20171     400       397  
Icahn Enterprises Finance Corp. 6.00% 2020     150       140  
iStar Financial Inc. 4.875% 2018     200       187  
iStar Financial Inc., Series B, 9.00% 2017     125       128  
              1,541  
                 
Information technology 2.62%                
First Data Corp. 7.00% 20231     200       200  
Freescale Semiconductor, Inc. 5.00% 20211     250       260  
NXP BV and NXP Funding LLC 3.75% 20181     475       481  
Serena Software, Inc., Term Loan B, 7.50% 20202,3,4     136       125  
              1,066  
                 
Utilities 1.61%                
Comision Federal de Electricidad 4.875% 2021     225       231  
Dynegy Finance Inc. 7.625% 2024     200       167  
Emgesa SA ESP 8.75% 2021   COP 300,000       85  
NRG Energy, Inc. 6.625% 2023   $ 200       170  
              653  
                 
Total corporate bonds & notes             22,882  
                 
Bonds & notes of governments & government agencies outside the U.S. 36.09%                
Angola (Repulic of) 9.50% 20251     335       289  
Argentina (Republic of) 7.00% 2017     635       642  
Argentina (Republic of) 8.75% 20243     450       474  
Argentina (Republic of) 8.28% 20333,5,6     491       490  
Argentina (Republic of) 0.00% 2035     3,430       399  
Armenia (Republic of) 7.15% 20251     200       194  
Brazil (Federal Republic of) 10.00% 2017   BRL 1,000       242  
Colombia (Republic of), Series B, 10.00% 2024   COP 1,300,000       424  
Colombia (Republic of), Series B, 6.00% 2028     310,000       73  

 

American Funds Global High-Income Opportunities Fund 5
 
Bonds, notes & other debt instruments (continued)   Principal amount
(000)
    Value
(000)
 
Bonds & notes of governments & government agencies outside the U.S. (continued)            
Colombia (Republic of) Global 4.375% 2021   $ 450     $ 456  
Croatian Government 6.375% 2021     200       217  
Dominican Republic 5.50% 2025     250       242  
Dominican Republic 5.50% 20251     200       194  
Dominican Republic 7.45% 2044     300       299  
Ethiopia (Republic of) 6.625% 20241     300       266  
Gabonese Republic 6.375% 20243     200       163  
Ghana (Republic of) 8.50% 2017     350       338  
Ghana (Republic of) 10.75% 20301,3     200       184  
Greek Government 4.75% 2019   100       88  
Hungarian Government, Series 25/B, 5.50% 2025   HUF 54,420       230  
India (Republic of) 8.60% 2028   INR 60,000       914  
Indonesia (Republic of) 7.875% 2019   IDR 3,640,000       272  
Indonesia (Republic of) 4.75% 20261   $ 300       310  
Indonesia (Republic of) 8.375% 2034   IDR 3,800,000       274  
Iraq (Republic of) 5.80% 20283   $ 700       443  
Ivory Coast Governement 5.75% 20323     350       310  
Kenya (Republic of) 6.875% 20241     400       369  
Kenya (Republic of) 6.875% 2024     300       277  
Kingdom of Jordan 6.125% 20261     480       491  
Malaysian Government, Series 0315, 3.659% 2020   MYR 1,725       413  
Morocco Government 4.25% 2022   $ 300       308  
Nigeria (Republic of) 6.375% 2023     450       403  
Peru (Republic of) 2.75% 2026   185       198  
Philippines (Republic of) 4.95% 2021   PHP 16,000       346  
Polish Government, Series 0922, 5.75% 2022   PLN 675       203  
South Africa (Republic of), Series R-214, 6.50% 2041   ZAR 7,500       321  
Sri Lanka (Republic of) 6.25% 2021   $ 250       235  
Turkey (Republic of) 9.50% 2022   TRY 1,500       486  
Turkey (Republic of) 2.40% 20247     1,027       342  
Turkey (Republic of) 6.875% 2036   $ 425       479  
United Mexican States Government Global, Series A, 5.125% 2020     120       132  
United Mexican States Government Global, Series A, 4.00% 2023     200       206  
United Mexican States Government, Series M20, 10.00% 2024   MXN 7,000       493  
Zambia (Republic of) 8.50% 20241   $ 475       356  
Zambia (Republic of) 8.97% 20271,3     250       186  
              14,671  
                 
Total bonds, notes & other debt instruments (cost: $44,403,000)             37,553  
                 
Convertible stocks 0.47%   Shares          
Industrials 0.47%                
CEVA Group PLC, Series A-2, 2.622% convertible preferred8,9     231       104  
CEVA Group PLC, Series A-1, 3.622% convertible preferred8,9     145       89  
                 
Total convertible stocks (cost: $427,000)             193  
                 
Common stocks 0.49%                
Industrials 0.12%                
CEVA Group PLC1,8,10     106       48  
                 
Miscellaneous 0.37%                
Other common stocks in initial period of acquisition             151  
                 
Total common stocks (cost: $586,000)             199  

 

6 American Funds Global High-Income Opportunities Fund
 
Short-term securities 3.20%   Principal amount
(000)
  Value
(000)
 
BNP Paribas Finance Inc. 0.27% due 3/1/2016   $ 1,000   $ 1,000  
Old Line Funding, LLC 0.42% due 3/3/20161     300     300  
               
Total short-term securities (cost: $1,300,000)           1,300  
Total investment securities 96.53% (cost: $46,716,000)           39,245  
Other assets less liabilities 3.47%           1,410  
               
Net assets 100.00%         $ 40,655  

 

As permitted by U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission regulations, “Miscellaneous” securities include holdings in their first year of acquisition that have not previously been publicly disclosed.

 

Forward currency contracts

 

The fund has entered into a forward currency contract as shown in the following table. The average month-end notional amount of open forward currency contracts while held was $799,000.

 

            Contract amount     Unrealized
appreciation
 
    Settlement       Receive     Deliver     at 2/29/2016  
    date   Counterparty   (000)     (000)     (000)  
Sales:                                
Euros   4/8/2016   HSBC Bank     $246       €225       $1  

 

1 Acquired in a transaction exempt from registration under Rule 144A or Section 4(2) 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 $14,302,000, which represented 35.18% of the net assets of the fund.
2 Coupon rate may change periodically.
3 Principal payments may be made periodically. Therefore, the effective maturity date may be earlier than the stated maturity date.
4 Loan participations and assignments; may be subject to legal or contractual restrictions on resale. The total value of all such loans was $557,000, which represented 1.37% of the net assets of the fund.
5 Payment in kind; the issuer has the option of paying additional securities in lieu of cash.
6 Scheduled interest and/or principal payment was not received.
7 Index-linked bond whose principal amount moves with a government price index.
8 Valued under fair value procedures adopted by authority of the board of trustees. The total value of all such securities was $241,000, which represented .59% of the net assets of the fund.
9 Acquired through a private placement transaction exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933. May be subject to legal or contractual restrictions on resale. Further details on these holdings appear below.
10 Security did not produce income during the last 12 months.

 

                Percent  
    Acquisition   Cost   Value   of net  
Private placement securities   dates   (000)   (000)   assets  
CEVA Group PLC, Series A-2, 2.622% convertible preferred   12/14/2012-12/21/2015   $280   $104   .25 %
CEVA Group PLC, Series A-1, 3.622% convertible preferred   11/25/2015-12/21/2015   147   89   .22  
Total private placement securities       $427   $193   .47 %

 

Key to abbreviations and symbol

BRL = Brazilian reais
COP = Colombian pesos
€ = Euros
HUF = Hungarian forints
IDR = Indonesian rupiah
INR = Indian rupees
MXN = Mexican pesos
MYR = Malaysian ringgits
PHP = Philippine pesos
PLN = Polish zloty
TRY = Turkish lira
ZAR = South African rand

 

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

American Funds Global High-Income Opportunities Fund 7
 

Financial statements

 

Statement of assets and liabilities
at February 29, 2016
(dollars in thousands)

 

Assets:                
Investment securities, at value (cost: $46,716)           $ 39,245  
Cash denominated in currencies other than U.S. dollars (cost: $15)             15  
Cash             124  
Unrealized appreciation on open forward currency contracts             1  
Receivables for:                
Sales of investments   $ 533          
Interest     919          
Other     71       1,523  
              40,908  
Liabilities:                
Payables for:                
Purchases of investments     154          
Closed forward currency contracts     7          
Investment advisory services     18          
Trustees’ deferred compensation     *        
Other     74       253  
Net assets at February 29, 2016           $ 40,655  
                 
Net assets consist of:                
Capital paid in on shares of beneficial interest           $ 50,288  
Undistributed net investment income             205  
Accumulated net realized loss             (2,367 )
Net unrealized depreciation             (7,471 )
Net assets at February 29, 2016           $ 40,655  

 

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

 

Shares of beneficial interest issued and outstanding (no stated par value) —
unlimited shares authorized (5,013 total shares outstanding)

 

          Shares     Net asset value  
    Net assets     outstanding     per share  
Class A   $ 40,655       5,013     $ 8.11  

 

* Amount less than one thousand.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

8 American Funds Global High-Income Opportunities Fund
 
Statement of operations  
for the year ended February 29, 2016 (dollars in thousands)

 

Investment income:                
Income:                
Interest (net of non-U.S. taxes of $12)           $ 2,895  
Fees and expenses*:                
Investment advisory services   $ 249          
Transfer agent services            
Administrative services     4          
Reports to shareholders     14          
Registration statement and prospectus     10          
Trustees’ compensation     1          
Auditing and legal     99          
Custodian     10          
Other     17          
Total fees and expenses before reimbursement     404          
Less reimbursement of fees and expenses     126          
Total fees and expenses after reimbursement             278  
Net investment income             2,617  
                 
Net realized loss and unrealized depreciation:                
Net realized (loss) gain on:                
Investments     (3,930 )        
Forward currency contracts     138          
Currency transactions     (23 )     (3,815 )
Net unrealized (depreciation) appreciation on:                
Investments     (4,046 )        
Forward currency contracts     2          
Currency translations     10       (4,034 )
Net realized loss and unrealized depreciation             (7,849 )
                 
Net decrease in net assets resulting from operations           $ (5,232 )

 

* Additional information related to class-specific fees and expenses is included in the Notes to Financial Statements.
Amount less than one thousand.

 

Statements of changes in net assets  
  (dollars in thousands)

 

    Year ended     Year ended  
    February 29,     February 28,  
    2016     2015  
Operations:                
Net investment income   $ 2,617     $ 2,845  
Net realized loss     (3,815 )     (472 )
Net unrealized depreciation     (4,034 )     (2,264 )
Net (decrease) increase in net assets resulting from operations     (5,232 )     109  
                 
Dividends paid to shareholders from net investment income     (1,079 )     (2,396 )
                 
Net capital share transactions     (1,158 )     1,446  
                 
Total decrease in net assets     (7,469 )     (841 )
                 
Net assets:                
Beginning of year     48,124       48,965  
End of year (including undistributed net investment income: $205 and $480,respectively)   $ 40,655     $ 48,124  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

American Funds Global High-Income Opportunities Fund 9
 

Notes to financial statements

 

1. Organization

 

American Funds Global High-Income Opportunities Fund (the “fund”) is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 as an open-end, nondiversified management investment company. The fund seeks to provide, over the long term, a high level of total return largely comprising current income.

 

The fund has 18 share classes consisting of five retail share classes (Classes A, B and C, as well as two F share classes, F-1 and F-2), five 529 college savings plan share classes (Classes 529-A, 529-B, 529-C, 529-E 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 3.75%   None (except 1% for certain redemptions within one year of purchase without an initial sales charge)   None
Classes B and 529-B*   None   Declines from 5% to 0% for redemptions within six years of purchase   Classes B and 529-B convert to Classes A and 529-A, respectively, after eight years
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   None
Class 529-E   None   None   None
Classes F-1, F-2 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 B and 529-B shares of the fund are not available for purchase.

 

On November 20, 2015, the fund made an additional retirement plan share class (Class R-5E) available for sale pursuant to an amendment to its registration statement filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Refer to the fund’s prospectus for more details.

 

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. 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.

 

10 American Funds Global High-Income Opportunities Fund
 

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.

 

Dividends and distributions to shareholders — Dividends and distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date.

 

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
Mortgage-backed; asset-backed obligations   Standard inputs and cash flows, prepayment information, default rates, delinquency and loss assumptions, collateral characteristics, credit enhancements and specific deal information
Municipal securities   Standard inputs and, for certain distressed securities, cash flows or liquidation values using a net present value calculation based on inputs that include, but are not limited to, financial statements and debt contracts

 

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. 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.

 

American Funds Global High-Income Opportunities Fund 11
 

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 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 with supplemental information to support the changes. 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 February 29, 2016 (dollars in thousands):

 

    Investment securities  
    Level 1     Level 2     Level 3     Total  
Assets:                                
Bonds, notes & other debt instruments:                                
Corporate bonds & notes   $     $ 22,882     $     $ 22,882  
Bonds & notes of governments & government agencies outside the U.S.           14,671             14,671  
Convertible stocks           193             193  
Common stocks     151       48             199  
Short-term securities           1,300             1,300  
Total   $ 151     $ 39,094     $     $ 39,245  
                                 
    Other investments*  
    Level 1     Level 2     Level 3     Total  
Assets:                                
Unrealized appreciation on open forward currency contracts   $     $ 1     $     $ 1  

 

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

 

12 American Funds Global High-Income Opportunities Fund
 

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 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 or governmental agency 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 and strategic initiatives such as mergers, acquisitions or dispositions and the market response to any such initiatives.

 

Investing in debt instruments — The prices of, and the income generated by, bonds and other debt securities held by the fund may be affected by changing interest rates and by changes in the effective maturities and credit ratings of these securities.

 

Rising interest rates will generally cause the prices of bonds and other debt securities to fall. Falling interest rates may cause an issuer to redeem, call or refinance a debt security before its stated maturity, which may result in the fund having to reinvest the proceeds in lower yielding securities. Longer maturity debt securities generally have greater sensitivity to changes in interest rates and may be subject to greater price fluctuations than shorter maturity debt securities.

 

Bonds and other debt securities are also subject to credit risk, which is the possibility that the credit strength of an issuer will weaken and/or an issuer of a debt security will fail to make timely payments of principal or interest and the security will go into default. Lower quality debt securities generally have higher rates of interest and may be subject to greater price fluctuations than higher quality debt securities. Credit risk is gauged, in part, by the credit ratings of the debt securities in which the fund invests. However, ratings are only the opinions of the rating agencies issuing them and are not guarantees as to credit quality or an evaluation of market risk. The fund’s investment adviser relies on its own credit analysts to research issuers and issues in seeking to mitigate various credit and default risks.

 

Investing in lower rated debt instruments — Lower rated bonds and other lower rated debt securities generally have higher rates of interest and involve greater risk of default or price declines due to changes in the issuer’s creditworthiness than those of higher quality debt securities. The market prices of these securities may fluctuate more than the prices of higher quality debt securities and may decline significantly in periods of general economic difficulty. These risks may be increased with respect to investments in junk bonds.

 

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 the imposition of price controls or punitive taxes, that could adversely impact revenues. 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.

 

Thinly traded securities — There may be little trading in the secondary market for particular bonds or other debt securities, which may make them more difficult to value, acquire or sell.

 

Nondiversification risk — As a nondiversified fund, the fund has the ability to invest a larger percentage of its assets in the securities of a smaller number of issuers than a diversified fund. Although the fund does not intend to limit its investments to the securities of a small number of issuers, if it were to do so, poor performance by a single large holding could adversely impact the fund’s investment results more than if the fund were invested in a larger number of issuers.

 

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 employed by the investment adviser in this process 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.

 

American Funds Global High-Income Opportunities Fund 13
 

5. Certain investment techniques

 

Loan transactions — The fund has entered into loan transactions in which the fund acquires a loan either through an agent, by assignment from another holder, or as a participation interest in another holder’s portion of a loan. The loan is often administered by a financial institution that acts as agent for the holders of the loan, and the fund may be required to receive approval from the agent and/or borrower prior to the sale of the investment. The loan’s interest rate and maturity date may change based on the terms of the loan, including potential early payments of principal.

 

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 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 following tables present the financial statement impacts resulting from the fund’s use of forward currency contracts as of, or for the year ended, February 29, 2016 (dollars in thousands):

 

        Assets     Liabilities
Contract   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   $ 1     Unrealized depreciation on open forward currency contracts   $  
Forward currency   Currency   Receivables for closed forward currency contracts         Payables for closed forward currency contracts     7  
            $ 1         $ 7  
                             
        Net realized gain     Net unrealized appreciation
Contract   Risk type   Location on statement of
operations
    Value     Location on statement of
operations
    Value  
Forward currency   Currency   Net realized gain on forward currency contracts   $ 138     Net unrealized appreciation on forward currency contracts   $ 2  

 

Collateral — The fund participates in a collateral program due to its use of forward currency contracts. The program calls for the fund to either receive or pledge 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 obligations.

 

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.

 

14 American Funds Global High-Income Opportunities Fund
 

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 February 29, 2016 (dollars in thousands) if close-out netting was exercised:

 

    Gross amounts
recognized in the
    Gross amounts not offset in the
statement of assets and liabilities and
subject to a master netting agreement
       
    statement of assets     Available     Non-cash     Cash     Net  
Counterparty   and liabilities     to offset     collateral*     collateral     amount  
Assets:                                        
HSBC Bank   $1       $—       $—       $—       $1  
Liabilities:                                        
Citibank     $7       $—       $—       $—       $7  

 

* Non-cash 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 February 29, 2016, 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 interest or penalties.

 

The fund is not subject to examination by U.S. federal and state tax authorities for tax years before 2012, the year the fund commenced operations.

 

Non-U.S. taxation — Interest income is 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. 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 are subject to non-U.S. taxes. The fund records a 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; net capital losses; amortization of premiums and discounts; 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.

 

During the year ended February 29, 2016, the fund reclassified $1,813,000 from undistributed net investment income to accumulated net realized loss to align financial reporting with tax reporting.

 

As of February 29, 2016, the tax basis components of distributable earnings, unrealized appreciation (depreciation) and cost of investment securities were as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

Undistributed ordinary income   $ 208  
Capital loss carryforward*     (2,308 )
Gross unrealized appreciation on investment securities     209  
Gross unrealized depreciation on investment securities     (7,739 )
Net unrealized depreciation on investment securities     (7,530 )
Cost of investment securities     46,775  

 

* The capital loss carryforward will be used to offset any capital gains realized by the fund in future years. The fund will not make distributions from capital gains while a capital loss carryforward remains.

 

American Funds Global High-Income Opportunities Fund 15
 

Tax-basis distributions paid to shareholders from ordinary income were as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

    Year ended     Year ended  
    February 29,     February 28,  
Share class   2016     2015  
Class A   $ 1,079     $ 2,396  
Total   $ 1,079     $ 2,396  

 

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. These fees are based on an annual rate of 0.570% of daily net assets. For the year ended February 29, 2016, the investment advisory services fee was $249,000.

 

CRMC has agreed to reimburse a portion of the fees and expenses of the fund during its startup period. This reimbursement may be adjusted or discontinued by CRMC, subject to any restrictions in the fund’s prospectus. For the year ended February 29, 2016, total fees and expenses reimbursed by CRMC were $126,000. Fees and expenses in the statement of operations are presented gross of any reimbursements from CRMC.

 

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, 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 0.30% 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.

 

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 limit of 0.30% is not exceeded. As of February 29, 2016, there were no unreimbursed expenses subject to reimbursement for Class A or 529-A shares.

 

Share class   Currently approved limits   Plan limits
Class A     0.30 %     0.30 %
Class 529-A     0.30       0.50  
Classes B and 529-B     1.00       1.00  
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 F-1, 529-F-1 and R-4     0.25       0.50  

 

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, F, 529 and R shares. These services include, but are not limited to, coordinating,

 

16 American Funds Global High-Income Opportunities Fund
 

monitoring, assisting and overseeing third parties that provide services to fund shareholders. Under the agreement, Class A shares pay an annual fee of 0.01% and Class C, 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 529 college savings plan. The quarterly fee is based on a series of decreasing annual rates beginning with 0.10% on the first $30 billion of the net assets invested in Class 529 shares of the American Funds and decreasing to 0.05% on such assets in excess of $70 billion. The fee for any given calendar quarter is accrued and calculated on the basis of the average net assets of Class 529 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.

 

For the year ended February 29, 2016, class-specific expenses under the agreements were as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

    Distribution   Transfer agent   Administrative   529 plan
Share class   services   services   services   services
Class A   $—   $—*   $4   Not applicable
Total class-specific expenses   $—   $—*   $4   Not applicable

 

* 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 in the fund’s statement of operations reflects the current fees (either paid in cash or deferred) and the net increase or decrease 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.

 

8. Capital share transactions

 

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

 

                Reinvestments of                 Net (decrease)  
    Sales     dividends     Repurchases     increase  
Share class   Amount     Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount     Shares  
                                                               
Year ended February 29, 2016                                  
                                                               
Class A   $           $ 14     2     $ (1,172 )     (128 )   $ (1,158 )     (126 )
Total net increase (decrease)   $           $ 14     2     $ (1,172 )     (128 )   $ (1,158 )     (126 )
                                                               
Year ended February 28, 2015                                  
                                                               
Class A   $ 3,350       337     $ 96     10     $ (2,000 )     (208 )   $ 1,446       139  
Total net increase (decrease)   $ 3,350       337     $ 96     10     $ (2,000 )     (208 )   $ 1,446       139  

 

9. Investment transactions

 

The fund made purchases and sales of investment securities, excluding short-term securities and U.S. government obligations, if any, of $22,488,000 and $20,616,000, respectively, during the year ended February 29, 2016.

 

10. Ownership concentration

 

At February 29, 2016, CRMC held nearly 100% of the fund’s outstanding shares. The ownership represents the seed money invested in the fund when it began operations on December 14, 2012, and any subsequent investments and reinvestments of distributions received.

 

American Funds Global High-Income Opportunities Fund 17
 

Financial highlights

 

        (Loss) income from                                                
        investment operations1     Dividends and distributions                                
            Net (losses)                                                        
            gains on                                         Ratio of     Ratio of        
    Net asset       securities           Dividends           Total     Net asset           expenses to     expenses to     Ratio of  
    value,   Net   (both     Total from     (from net     Distributions     dividends     value,       Net assets,   average net     average net     net income  
    beginning    investment   realized and     investment     investment     (from capital     and     end    Total     end of period   assets before     assets after     to average  
    of period   income   unrealized)     operations     income)     gains)     distributions     of period return2,3     (in thousands)   reimbursements     reimbursements2     net assets2  
Class A:                                                                                              
Year ended 2/29/2016   $ 9.37   $ .52   $ (1.57 )   $ (1.05 )   $ (.21 )   $     $ (.21 )   $ 8.11   (11.32 )%4   $ 40,655     .93 %4     .64 %4     5.99 %4
Year ended 2/28/2015     9.79     .55     (.51 )     .04       (.46 )           (.46 )     9.37   .37 4     48,124     .94 4     .64 4     5.63 4
Year ended 2/28/2014     10.20     .56     (.43 )     .13       (.53 )     (.01 )     (.54 )     9.79   1.47 4     48,965     .69 4     .64 4     5.69 4
Period from 12/14/2012 to 2/28/20135,6     10.00     .11     .11       .22       (.02 )                 10.20   2.20 4,7     50,996     .19 4,7     .13 4,7     1.04 4,7

 

    Year ended February 28 or 29     For the period  
    2016     2015     2014     12/14/2012 to 2/28/20135,6,7  
Portfolio turnover rate for all share classes     52%       49%       44%       8%  

 

1 Based on average shares outstanding.
2 This column reflects the impact, if any, of certain reimbursements from CRMC. During the periods shown, CRMC reimbursed other fees and expenses.
3 Total returns exclude any applicable sales charges, including contingent deferred sales charges.
4 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.
5 For the period December 14, 2012, commencement of operations, through February 28, 2013.
6 Based on operations for the period shown and, accordingly, is not representative of a full year.
7 Not annualized.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

18 American Funds Global High-Income Opportunities Fund
 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Shareholders and Board of Trustees of American Funds Global High-Income Opportunities Fund:

 

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of American Funds Global High-Income Opportunities Fund (the “Fund”), including the investment portfolio, as of February 29, 2016, and 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, and the financial highlights for each of the periods presented. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). 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. The Fund is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, 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. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of February 29, 2016, by correspondence with the custodian, brokers, and agent banks; where replies were not received from brokers and agent banks, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

In our opinion, such financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of American Funds Global High-Income Opportunities Fund as of February 29, 2016, 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 periods presented, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

Deloitte & Touche LLP

 

Costa Mesa, California

 

April 12, 2016

 

American Funds Global High-Income Opportunities Fund 19
 
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 (September 1, 2015, through February 29, 2016).

 

Actual expenses:

The first line of the share class in the table below 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 entitled “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 the share class in the table below 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 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 below 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.

 

    Beginning     Ending              
    account value     account value     Expenses paid     Annualized  
    9/1/2015     2/29/2016     during period*     expense ratio  
Class A – actual return   $ 1,000.00     $ 942.40     $ 3.09       .64 %
Class A – assumed 5% return     1,000.00       1,021.68       3.22       .64  

 

* 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 366 (to reflect the one-half year period).

 

20 American Funds Global High-Income Opportunities 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 February 29, 2016:

 

Foreign taxes   $ 0.003 per share
Foreign source income   $ 0.34 per share
U.S. government income that may be exempt from state taxation   $ 1,000

 

Individual shareholders should refer to their Form 1099 or other tax information, which will be mailed in January 2017, to determine the calendar year amounts to be included on their 2016 tax returns. Shareholders should consult their tax advisors.

 

American Funds Global High-Income Opportunities Fund 21
 

Board of trustees and other officers

 

Independent trustees1

 

    Year first       Number of    
    elected       portfolios in fund    
    a trustee       complex overseen   Other directorships3
Name and year of birth   of the fund2   Principal occupation(s) during past five years   by trustee   held by trustee
William H. Baribault, 1945   2012   CEO and President, Richard Nixon Foundation; Chairman of the Board and CEO, Oakwood Enterprises (private investment and consulting)   81   General Finance Corporation
James G. Ellis, 1947   2012   Dean and Professor of Marketing, Marshall School of Business, University of Southern California   81   Mercury General Corporation
Leonard R. Fuller, 1946   2012   Private investor; former President and CEO, Fuller Consulting (financial management consulting)   81   None
R. Clark Hooper, 1946
Chairman of the Board (Independent and Non-Executive)
  2012   Private investor   83   The Swiss Helvetia Fund, Inc.
Merit E. Janow, 1958   2012   Dean and Professor, Columbia University, School of International and Public Affairs   80   MasterCard Incorporated; The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC; Trimble Navigation Limited
Laurel B. Mitchell, PhD, 1955   2012   Distinguished Professor of Accounting, University of Redlands; former Director, Accounting Program, University of Redlands   77   None
Frank M. Sanchez, 1943   2012   Principal, The Sanchez Family Corporation dba McDonald’s Restaurants (McDonald’s licensee)   77   None
Margaret Spellings, 1957   2012   President, The University of North Carolina; former President, George W.Bush Foundation; former President and CEO, Margaret Spellings & Company (public policy and strategic consulting); former President, U.S. Chamber Foundation and Senior Advisor to the President and CEO, U.S. Chamber of Commerce   82   ClubCorp Holdings, Inc.
Steadman Upham, PhD, 1949   2012   President and University Professor, The University of Tulsa   80   None

 

Interested trustees4,5

 

    Year first            
    elected       Number of    
    a trustee   Principal occupation(s) during past five years   portfolios in fund    
Name, year of birth and   or officer   and positions held with affiliated entities or   complex overseen   Other directorships3
position with fund   of the fund2   the principal underwriter of the fund   by trustee   held by trustee
John H. Smet, 1956
Vice Chairman of the Board
  2012   Partner — Capital Fixed Income Investors, Capital Research and Management Company; Director, Capital Research and Management Company   23   None
Michael C. Gitlin, 1970   2015   Partner — Capital Fixed Income Investors, Capital Research and Management Company; Director, Capital Research and Management Company; served as Head of Fixed Income at a large investment management firm prior to joining Capital Research and Management Company in 2015   19   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. The address for all trustees and officers of the fund is 333 South Hope Street, Los Angeles, CA 90071, Attention: Secretary.

 

22 American Funds Global High-Income Opportunities Fund
 

Other officers5

 

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
Robert H. Neithart, 1965 President   2012   Partner — Capital Fixed Income Investors, Capital Research and Management Company;
Chairman of the Board, Capital Strategy Research, Inc.6
Kristine M. Nishiyama, 1970 Senior Vice President   2012   Senior Vice President and Senior Counsel — Fund Business Management Group, Capital Research and Management Company; Senior Vice President and General Counsel, Capital Bank and Trust Company6
Steven I. Koszalka, 1964 Secretary   2012   Vice President — Fund Business Management Group, Capital Research and Management Company
Brian C. Janssen, 1972 Treasurer   2012   Vice President — Investment Operations, Capital Research and Management Company
Jane Y. Chung, 1974 Assistant Secretary   2014   Associate — Fund Business Management Group, Capital Research and Management Company
Dori Laskin, 1951
Assistant Treasurer
  2012   Vice President — Investment Operations, Capital Research and Management Company
Gregory F. Niland, 1971 Assistant Treasurer   2015   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 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.
4 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).
5 All of the directors/trustees and/or officers listed 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.
6 Company affiliated with Capital Research and Management Company.

 

American Funds Global High-Income Opportunities Fund 23
 

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

 

Investment adviser
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
State Street Bank and Trust Company
One Lincoln Street
Boston, MA 02111

 

Counsel
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
300 South Grand Avenue, 22nd Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90071-3132

 

Independent registered public accounting firm
Deloitte & Touche LLP
695 Town Center Drive
Suite 1200
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.

 

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.

 

American Funds Global High-Income Opportunities 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-Q. This filing is available free of charge on the SEC website. You may also review or, for a fee, copy this filing at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. Additional information regarding the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the SEC’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy at (800) SEC-0330.

 

24 American Funds Global High-Income Opportunities Fund
 

The American Funds AdvantageSM

 

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

 

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 22 years at our company, reflecting a career commitment to our long-term approach.1

 

The Capital SystemSM

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.

 

Superior long-term track record

Our equity funds have beaten their Lipper peer indexes in 91% of 10-year periods and 95% of 20-year periods. Our fixed-income funds have beaten their Lipper indexes in 58% of 10-year periods and 58% of 20-year periods.2 Our fund management fees have been among the lowest in the industry.3

 

1 Portfolio manager experience as of December 31, 2015.
2 Based on Class A share results for rolling periods through December 31, 2015. 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).
3 On average, our management fees were in the lowest quintile 68% of the time, based on the 20-year period ended December 31, 2015, versus comparable Lipper categories, excluding funds of funds.

 

 Printed on paper containing 10% post-consumer waste   Printed with inks containing soy and/or vegetable oil

Lit. No. MFGEARX-038-0416P  Litho in USA CT/10262-S47285

 

 

 

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 to American Funds Service Company at 800/421-9225 or to the Secretary of the Registrant, 6455 Irvine Center Drive, Irvine, California 92618.

 

 

ITEM 3 – Audit Committee Financial Expert

 

The Registrant’s board has determined that Laurel B. Mitchell, 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

 

  Registrant:
    a)  Audit Fees:
      2015 $115,000
      2016 $91,000
       
    b)  Audit-Related Fees:
      2015 None
      2016 None
      The audit-related fees consist of assurance and related services relating to the examination of the Registrant’s 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:
      2015 $2,000
      2016 $5,000

      The tax fees consist of professional services relating to the preparation of the Registrant’s tax returns including returns relating to the Registrant’s investments in non-U.S. jurisdictions.
       
    d)  All Other Fees:
      2015 None
      2016 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:
      2015 $1,105,000
      2016 $889,000
      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:
      2015 None
      2016 None
      The tax fees consist of consulting services relating to the Registrant’s investments.
       
    d)  All Other Fees:
      2015 $5,000
      2016 $3,000
      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 $1,513,000 for fiscal year 2015 and $1,058,000 for fiscal year 2016. 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

 

Not applicable, insofar as the schedule is included as part of the report to shareholders filed under Item 1 of this form.

 

 

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 second fiscal quarter of the 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.

 

  AMERICAN FUNDS GLOBAL HIGH-INCOME OPPORTUNITIES FUND
   
  By /s/ Robert H. Neithart
 

Robert H. Neithart, President and

Principal Executive Officer

   
  Date: April 29, 2016

 

 

 

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/ Robert H. Neithart

Robert H. Neithart, President and

Principal Executive Officer

 
Date: April 29, 2016

 

 

 

By /s/ Brian C. Janssen

Brian C. Janssen, Treasurer and

Principal Financial Officer

 
Date: April 29, 2016

 

 

Code of Ethics

 

The following Code of Ethics is in effect for the Registrant:

 

  The Fund has adopted the following standards in accordance with the requirements of Form N-CSR adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 406 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 for the purpose of deterring wrongdoing and promoting: 1) honest and ethical conduct, including handling of actual or apparent conflicts of interest between personal and professional relationships; 2) full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure in reports and documents that a fund files with or submits to the Commission and in other public communications made by the fund; 3) compliance with applicable governmental laws, rules and regulations; 4) the prompt internal reporting of violations of the Code to an appropriate person or persons identified in the Code; and 5) accountability for adherence to the Code.  These provisions shall apply to the principal executive officer or chief executive officer and treasurer (“Covered Officers”) of the Fund.
 
  (1) It is the responsibility of Covered Officers to foster, by their words and actions, a corporate culture that encourages honest and ethical conduct, including the ethical resolution of, and appropriate disclosure of conflicts of interest.  Covered Officers should work to assure a working environment that is characterized by respect for law and compliance with applicable rules and regulations.
 
  (2) Each Covered Officer must act in an honest and ethical manner while conducting the affairs of the Fund, including the ethical handling of actual or apparent conflicts of interest between personal and professional relationships.  Duties of Covered Officers include:
       
    Acting with integrity;
    Adhering to a high standard of business ethics; and
    Not using personal influence or personal relationships to improperly influence investment decisions or financial reporting whereby the Covered Officer would benefit personally to the detriment of the Fund;
       
  (3) Each Covered Officer should act to promote full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure in reports and documents that the Fund files with or submits to, the Securities and Exchange Commission and in other public communications made by the Fund.
       
    Covered Officers should familiarize themselves with disclosure requirements applicable to the Fund and disclosure controls and procedures in place to meet these requirements; and
    Covered Officers must not knowingly misrepresent, or cause others to misrepresent facts about the Fund to others, including the Fund’s auditors, independent trustees, governmental regulators and self-regulatory organizations.
       

  (4) Any existing or potential violations of this Code of Ethics should be reported to The Capital Group Companies’ Personal Investing Committee.  The Personal Investing Committee is authorized to investigate any such violations and report their findings to the Chairman of the Audit Committee of the Fund.  The Chairman of the Audit Committee may report violations of the Code of Ethics to the Board or other appropriate entity including the Audit Committee, if he or she believes such a reporting is appropriate.  The Personal Investing Committee may also determine the appropriate sanction for any violations of this Code of Ethics, including removal from office, provided that removal from office shall only be carried out with the approval of the Board.
     
  (5) Application of this Code of Ethics is the responsibility of the Personal Investing Committee, which shall report periodically to the Chairman of the Audit Committee of the Fund.
     
  (6) Material amendments to these provisions must be ratified by a majority vote of the Board.  As required by applicable rules, substantive amendments to the Code of Ethics must be filed or appropriately disclosed.

 

AF_ColorLogo_Letterhead

 

 

 

 

American Funds Global High-Income

Opportunities Fund

6455 Irvine Center Drive

Irvine, California 92618

(213) 486-9200

CERTIFICATION

I, Robert H. Neithart, certify that:

 

1. I have reviewed this report on Form N-CSR of American Funds Global High-Income Opportunities Fund;
   
2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
   
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations, changes in net assets, and cash flows (if the financial statements are required to include a statement of cash flows) of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
   
4. The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) and internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) for the registrant and have:
   
  a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
   
  b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
   
  c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this report based on such evaluation; and
   
  d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s second fiscal quarter of the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
   
5. The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's Board of Trustees (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
   
  a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial information; and
   
  b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

 

Date: April 29, 2016

 

/s/ Robert H. Neithart

Robert H. Neithart, President and

Principal Executive Officer

American Funds Global High-Income Opportunities Fund

 
 

 

AF_ColorLogo_Letterhead

 

 

 

 

American Funds Global High-Income

Opportunities Fund

6455 Irvine Center Drive

Irvine, California 92618

(213) 486-9200

CERTIFICATION

I, Brian C. Janssen, certify that:

 

1. I have reviewed this report on Form N-CSR of American Funds Global High-Income Opportunities Fund;
   
2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
   
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations, changes in net assets, and cash flows (if the financial statements are required to include a statement of cash flows) of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
   
4. The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) and internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) for the registrant and have:
   
  a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
   
  b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
   
  c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this report based on such evaluation; and
   
  d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s second fiscal quarter of the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
   
5. The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's Board of Trustees (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
   
  a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial information; and
   
  b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

 

Date: April 29, 2016

 

/s/ Brian C. Janssen

Brian C. Janssen, Treasurer and

Principal Financial Officer

American Funds Global High-Income Opportunities Fund

 

AF_ColorLogo_Letterhead

 

 

 

 

American Funds Global High-Income Opportunities Fund

6455 Irvine Center Drive

Irvine, California 92618

(213) 486-9200

 

 

 

 

 

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

 

 

ROBERT H. NEITHART, President and Principal Executive Officer, and BRIAN C. JANSSEN, Treasurer and Principal Financial Officer of American Funds Global High-Income Opportunities Fund (the "Registrant"), each certify to the best of his knowledge that:

 

1) The Registrant's periodic report on Form N-CSR for the period ended February 29, 2016 (the "Form N-CSR") fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and
   
2) The information contained in the Form N-CSR fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Registrant.

 

 

Principal Executive Officer Principal Financial Officer
   
AMERICAN FUNDS GLOBAL HIGH-INCOME OPPORTUNITIES FUND AMERICAN FUNDS GLOBAL HIGH-INCOME OPPORTUNITIES FUND
   
   
/s/ Robert H. Neithart /s/ Brian C. Janssen
Robert H. Neithart, President Brian C. Janssen, Treasurer
   
Date: April 29, 2016 Date: April 29, 2016

 

 

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 has been provided to AMERICAN FUNDS GLOBAL HIGH-INCOME OPPORTUNITIES FUND and will be retained by AMERICAN FUNDS GLOBAL HIGH-INCOME OPPORTUNITIES FUND and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") or its staff upon request.

 

This certification is being furnished to the Commission solely pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 and is not being filed as part of the Form N-CSR filed with the Commission.



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