Capital Group History

OUR HISTORY

We trace our roots back to the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl. Our founder, Jonathan Bell Lovelace, was an investing pioneer whose emphasis on fundamental research continues to guide us. Through periods of prosperity and uncertainty, market bubbles and declines, we’ve always put investors first.

Here’s a brief look at our history and some of Capital Group’s pioneering endeavours:

The 1930s

1931

Capital Group is founded in Los Angeles by Jonathan Bell Lovelace.

1934

We assume management of The Investment Company of America, Capital Group's first fund and still in our investment line-up today.

The 1940s

1943

Our New York office opens.

The 1950s

1950

We determine to sell investment funds only through financial advisers - our belief in the value of advice continues to this day.

1953

An investment in Royal Dutch Petroleum makes Capital Group one of the first U.S.-based firms to invest outside North America.

1958

The Capital System^TM, our approach to portfolio management, is established.

Capital Group History - 1960s

The 1960s

1962

Our first European office opens, in Geneva.

1965

Associates in our Geneva office create the Capital International indices (now known as the Morgan Stanley Capital International S.A. indices) — the first set of stock market indices for non-U.S. markets.

1969

Capital Group launches a global equity strategy as its first Luxembourg-based fund.

The 1970s

1973

Capital Group begins managing fixed income assets in dedicated bond portfolios.

1978

We begin managing segregated accounts outside the US.

1979

Our London office opens.

The 1980s

1982

Our Tokyo office opens, followed by Hong Kong in 1983.

1986

In response to the World Bank’s request for a vehicle for institutions to invest in developing nations, we launch an emerging markets growth fund — the first of its kind.

1987

Capital Group acquires its one millionth investor.

1989

Our Singapore office opens.

The 1990s

1997

Capital Group launches its first website.

The 2000s

2000

We begin offering investment management services for individuals in Canada.

2003

We begin offering investment management services for individuals in Europe.

2008-2009

Our office in Mumbai, India, opens, followed by our office in Beijing, China. Both offices expand our emerging markets reach.

The 2010s

2011

We open an office in Sydney.

2012

We open an office in Luxembourg.

2013

We open distribution offices in Milan and Zurich.

2014

We open a distribution office in Madrid.

2015

We open a distribution office in Frankfurt.

2016

We launch ‘Capital Ideas’, a content platform that shares investment knowledge and insights across Europe and Asia.

2017

We open a distribution office in Amsterdam.

2019

Our Luxembourg fund range reaches its 50th anniversary. Our London office reaches its 40th anniversary and our Singapore office its 30th anniversary.

We publish our first annual Global Citizenship Report, outlining how we invest on behalf of our clients, communities, employees and environment.

2020

We launch a firmwide ESG data platform ‘Ethos’, which allows the systematic integration of third-party and proprietary ESG information across the business.

Our research analysts and portfolio managers conduct more than 20,000 meetings with companies during the year as our investment group meets the challenges of investing through the global pandemic.

2021

Capital Group celebrates 90 years of helping clients reach their financial goals.

We celebrate 35 years of investing in emerging markets, having launched a pioneering emerging markets fund in 1986.