Selected American Shares Inc. Class S (SLASX) N-CSRCertified annual shareholder report (management investment company)

The Funds have adopted Portfolio Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures under which the Funds vote proxies relating to securities held by the Funds. A description of the Funds’ Portfolio Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures is available (i) without charge, upon request, by calling the Funds toll-free at 1-800-243-1575, (ii) on the Funds’ website at www.selectedfunds.com, and (iii) on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

In addition, the Funds are required to file Form N-PX, with their complete proxy voting record for the 12 months ended June 30^th, no later than August 31^st of each year. The Funds’ Form N-PX filing is available (i) without charge, upon request, by calling the Funds toll-free at 1-800-243-1575, (ii) on the Funds’ website at www.selectedfunds.com, and (iii) on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

Dear Fellow Shareholder,

As stewards of our customers’ savings, the management team and Directors of the Selected Funds recognize the importance of candid, thorough, and regular communication with our shareholders. In our Annual and Semi-Annual Reports, we include all of the required quantitative information, such as audited financial statements, detailed footnotes, performance reports, fund holdings, and performance attribution. Also included is a list of positions opened and closed.

In addition, we produce a Manager Commentary for each Fund. In this commentary, we give a more qualitative perspective on fund performance, discuss our thoughts on individual holdings, and share our investment outlook. You may obtain a copy of the current Manager Commentary either on the Funds’ website at www.selectedfunds.com, or by calling 1-800-243-1575.

We value the trust you have placed in us and look forward to continuing our investment journey together.

Sincerely,

The Standard & Poor’s 500^® Index is an unmanaged index of 500 selected common stocks, most of which are listed on the New York Stock Exchange. The Index is adjusted for dividends, weighted towards stocks with large market capitalizations, and represents approximately two-thirds of the total market value of all domestic common stocks. Investments cannot be made directly in the Index.

A number of the Fund’s holdings in the Industrials sector were weak performers during the period. They included Didi Chuxing (down 18%), InterGlobe Aviation (down 30%), China Index Holdings (down 46%), and Azul (down 32%). The Fund liquidated its position in both InterGlobe Aviation and Azul.

The remaining securities on the top ten detractor list included iQIYI (down 17%) from the Communication Services sector and Metro Bank (down 30%) and Bank of N.T. Butterfield (down 10%) from the Financials sector. The Fund maintained a large position in repurchase agreements during the period (9% of net assets at the end of the period), which hindered performance.

On May 1, 2011, the Fund changed its name from Selected Special Shares to Selected International Fund and changed its investment strategy from investing primarily in domestic equity securities to investing primarily in foreign equity securities.  Performance prior to that date is unlikely to be relevant to future performance.

The Fund’s performance benefited from IPO purchases in 2014. After purchase, the IPOs rapidly increased in value. The Adviser purchases shares intending to benefit from long-term growth of the underlying company; the rapid appreciation of the IPOs were unusual occurrences.

The MSCI ACWI^® ex USA is a free float-adjusted market capitalization weighted index designed to measure the equity market performance of developed and emerging markets, excluding the United States. The Index includes reinvestment of dividends, net of foreign withholding taxes. Investments cannot be made directly in the Index.

As a shareholder of each Fund, you incur ongoing costs, including advisory and administrative fees, distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees, and other Fund expenses. As a shareholder of Selected International Fund, you may also incur transaction costs, which consist of redemption fees. The Expense Example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in each Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The Expense Example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period indicated, which for each class is for the six-month period ended December 31, 2020.

The information represented in the row entitled “Actual” provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this row, 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 under the heading “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period. An annual maintenance fee of $15, charged on retirement plan accounts per Social Security Number, is not included in the Expense Example. This fee will be waived for accounts sharing the same Social Security Number if the accounts total at least $50,000 at Selected Funds. If this fee was included, the estimate of expenses you paid during the period would be higher, and your ending account value would be lower, by this amount.

The information represented in the row entitled “Hypothetical” provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on each Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. 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% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds. An annual maintenance fee of $15, charged on retirement plan accounts per Social Security Number, is not included in the Expense Example. This fee will be waived for accounts sharing the same Social Security Number if the accounts total at least $50,000 at Selected Funds. If this fee was included, the estimate of expenses you paid during the period would be higher, and your ending account value would be lower, by this amount.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as redemption fees. Therefore, the information in the row entitled “Hypothetical” 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 be higher.

The Selected Funds (“Funds”) consist of Selected American Shares, Inc. (a Maryland corporation) (“Selected American Shares”) and Selected International Fund, Inc. (a Maryland corporation) (“Selected International Fund”). The Funds are registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, as diversified, open-end management investment companies. The Funds follow the reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946, Financial Services – Investment Companies.

Selected American Shares’ investment objective is to achieve both capital growth and income. The Fund principally invests in common stocks issued by large companies with market capitalizations of at least $10 billion.

Selected International Fund’s investment objective is to achieve capital growth. The Fund principally invests in common stocks issued by foreign companies, including companies in developed or emerging markets. The Fund may invest in large, medium, or small companies without regard to market capitalization.

An investment in the Funds, as with any mutual fund, includes risks that vary depending upon the Funds’ investment objectives and policies. There is no assurance that the investment objective of any fund will be achieved. Each Fund’s return and net asset value will fluctuate.

Class S and Class D shares are sold at net asset value. Income, expenses (other than those attributable to a specific class), and gains and losses are allocated daily to each class of shares based on the relative proportion of net assets represented by each class. Operating expenses directly attributable to a specific class are charged against the operations of that class. All classes have identical rights with respect to voting (exclusive of each class’ distribution arrangement), liquidation, and distributions. Selected International Fund assesses a 2% fee on the proceeds of Fund shares that are redeemed (either by selling or exchanging into Selected American Shares) within 30 days of their purchase. The fee, which is retained by the Fund, is accounted for as an addition to paid-in capital.

Eligible Class S shares can be converted to Class D shares upon request. Class D shares offer lower expenses for shareholders who have chosen not to use an intermediary, but instead invest directly with the Funds. These conversions are non-taxable events. On August 1, 2019, all qualifying shareholder accounts were automatically converted from Class S to Class D shares unless the shareholder objected to the conversion.

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Funds in the preparation of their financial statements.

Security Valuation - The Funds calculate the net asset value of their shares as of the close of the New York Stock Exchange (“Exchange”), normally 4:00 P.M. Eastern time, on each day the Exchange is open for business. Securities listed on the Exchange (and other national exchanges including NASDAQ) are valued at the last reported sales price on the day of valuation. Listed securities for which no sale was reported on that date are valued at the last quoted bid price. Securities traded on foreign exchanges are valued based upon the last sales price on the principal exchange on which the security is traded prior to the time when the Funds’ assets are valued. Securities (including restricted securities) for which market quotations are not readily available or securities whose values have been materially affected by what Davis Selected Advisers, L.P. (“Adviser”), the Funds’ investment adviser, identifies as a significant event occurring before the Funds’ assets are valued, but after the close of their respective exchanges will be fair valued using a fair valuation methodology applicable to the security type or the significant event as previously approved by the Funds’ Pricing Committee and Board of Directors. The Pricing Committee considers all facts it deems relevant that are reasonably available, through either public information or information available to the Adviser’s portfolio management team, when determining the fair value of a security. To assess the appropriateness of security valuations, the Adviser may consider (i) comparing prior day prices and/or prices of comparable securities; (ii) comparing sale prices to the prior or current day prices and challenge those prices exceeding certain tolerance levels with the third-party pricing service or broker source; (iii) new rounds of financing; (iv) the performance of the market or the issuer’s industry; (v) the liquidity of the security; (vi) the size of the holding in a fund; and/or (vii) any other appropriate information. The determination of a security’s fair value price often involves the consideration of a number of subjective factors and is therefore subject to the unavoidable risk that the value assigned to a security may be higher or lower than the security’s value would be if a reliable market quotation of the security was readily available. Fair value determinations are subject to review, approval, and ratification by the Funds’ Board of Directors at its next regularly scheduled meeting covering the calendar quarter in which the fair valuation was determined. Fair valuation methods used by the Funds may include, but are not limited to, valuing securities initially at cost (excluding commissions) and subsequently adjusting the value due to: additional transactions by the issuer, changes in company specific fundamentals and changes in the value of similar securities. Values may be further adjusted for any discounts related to security-specific resale restrictions.

Short-term securities purchased within 60 days to maturity are valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value.

The Funds’ valuation procedures are reviewed and subject to approval by the Board of Directors. There have been no significant changes to the fair valuation procedures during the period.

The inputs or methodologies used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risks associated with investing in those securities nor can it be assured that the Funds can obtain the fair value assigned to a security if they were to sell the security.

The following is a summary of the inputs used as of December 31, 2020 in valuing each Fund’s investments carried at value:

The following table reconciles the valuation of assets in which significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) were used in determining fair value during the year ended December 31, 2020. The net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) during the period on Level 3 securities still held at December 31, 2020 was $(11,108,706) and $(873,870) for Selected American Shares and Selected International Fund, respectively. There were no transfers of investments into or out of Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy during the period. The cost of purchases or proceeds from sales may include securities received or delivered through corporate actions or exchanges. Realized and unrealized gains (losses) are included in the related amounts on investments in the Statements of Operations.

The following table is a summary of those assets in which significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) were used by the Adviser in determining fair value. Note that these amounts exclude any valuations provided by a pricing service or broker.

The significant unobservable inputs listed in the above table are used in the fair value measurement of equity securities, and if changed, would affect the fair value of the Funds’ investments. The transaction price inputs are attributable to private securities and include assumptions made from private transactions. The “Impact to Valuation from an Increase in Input” represents the change in fair value measurement resulting from an increase in the corresponding input. A decrease in the input would have the opposite effect.

Master Repurchase Agreements - The Funds, along with other affiliated funds, may transfer uninvested cash balances into one or more master repurchase agreement accounts. These balances are invested in one or more repurchase agreements, secured by U.S. Government securities. A custodian bank holds securities pledged as collateral for repurchase agreements until the agreements mature. Each agreement requires that the market value of the collateral be sufficient to cover payments of interest and principal; however, in the event of default by the other party to the agreement, retention of the collateral may be subject to legal proceedings.

Currency Translation - The market values of all assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are recorded in the financial statements after translation to the U.S. Dollar on the date of valuation using exchange rates determined as of the close of trading on the Exchange. The cost basis of such assets and liabilities is determined based upon historical exchange rates. Income and expenses are translated at average exchange rates in effect as accrued or incurred.

Foreign Currency - The Funds may enter into forward purchases or sales of foreign currencies to hedge certain foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities against declines in market value relative to the U.S. Dollar. Forward currency contracts are marked-to-market daily and the change in market value is recorded by the Funds as an unrealized gain or loss. When the forward currency contract is closed, the Funds record a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the forward currency contract at the time it was opened and value at the time it was closed. Investments in forward currency contracts may expose the Funds to risks resulting from unanticipated movements in foreign currency exchange rates or failure of the counter-party to the agreement to perform in accordance with the terms of the contract. There were no forward contracts entered into by the Funds.

Reported net realized foreign exchange gains or losses arise from the sales of foreign currencies, currency gains or losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on security transactions, the difference between the amounts of dividends, interest, and foreign withholding taxes recorded on the Funds’ books, and the U.S. Dollar equivalent of the amounts actually received or paid. Net unrealized foreign exchange gains or losses arise from changes in the value of assets and liabilities, other than investments in securities at fiscal period end, resulting from changes in the exchange rate. The Funds include foreign currency gains and losses realized on the sales of investments together with market gains and losses on such investments in the Statements of Operations.

Federal Income Taxes - It is each Fund’s policy to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies, and to distribute substantially all of its taxable income, including any net realized gains on investments not offset by loss carryovers, to shareholders. Therefore, no provision for federal income or excise tax is required. The Adviser analyzed the Funds’ tax positions taken on federal and state income tax returns for all open tax years and concluded that as of December 31, 2020, no provision for income tax is required in the Funds’ financial statements related to these tax positions. The Funds’ federal and state (Arizona) income and federal excise tax returns for tax years for which the applicable statutes of limitations have not expired are subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service and state Department of Revenue. The earliest tax year that remains subject to examination by these jurisdictions is 2017.

Capital losses will be carried forward to future years if not offset by gains. At December 31, 2020, Selected International Fund had available for federal income tax purposes unused capital loss carryforwards as follows:

Additionally, based on the Funds’ understanding of the tax rules and rates related to income, gains, and transactions for the foreign jurisdictions in which they invest, the Funds will provide for foreign taxes, and where appropriate, deferred foreign taxes.

At December 31, 2020, the aggregate cost of investments and unrealized appreciation (depreciation) for federal income tax purposes were as follows:

Securities Transactions and Related Investment Income - Securities transactions are accounted for on the trade date (date the order to buy or sell is executed) with realized gain or loss on the sale of securities being determined based upon identified cost. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date. Interest income, which includes accretion of discount and amortization of premium, is accrued as earned.

Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders - Dividends and distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Net investment income (loss), net realized gains (losses), and net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments [collectively “Distributable earnings (losses)”] may differ for financial statement and tax purposes primarily due to permanent and temporary differences which may include wash sales, foreign currency transactions, equalization, corporate actions, partnership income, Directors’ deferred compensation, net operating losses, and passive foreign investment company shares. The character of dividends and distributions made during the fiscal year from net investment income and net realized securities gains may differ from their ultimate characterization for federal income tax purposes. Also, due to the timing of dividends and distributions, the fiscal year in which amounts are distributed may differ from the fiscal year in which income or realized gain was recorded by the Funds. The Funds adjust certain components of capital to reflect permanent differences between financial statement amounts and net income and realized gains/losses determined in accordance with income tax rules. The Funds’ net assets have not been affected by these reclassifications. During the year ended December 31, 2020, amounts have been reclassified to reflect increases (decreases) as follows:

The tax character of distributions paid during the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 was as follows:

As of December 31, 2020, the components of distributable earnings on a tax basis were as follows:

Indemnification - Under the Funds’ organizational documents, their officers and directors are indemnified against certain liabilities arising out of the performance of their duties to the Funds. In addition, some of the Funds’ contracts with their service providers contain general indemnification clauses. The Funds’ maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown since the amount of any future claims that may be made against the Funds cannot be determined and the Funds have no historical basis for predicting the likelihood of any such claims.

Use of Estimates in Financial Statements - In preparing financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, management makes estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, as well as the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

Directors Fees and Expenses - The Funds set up a Rabbi Trust to provide for the deferred compensation plan for Independent Directors that enables them to elect to defer receipt of all or a portion of annual fees they are entitled to receive. The value of an eligible Director’s account is based upon years of service and fees paid to each Director during the years of service. The amount paid to the Director by the Trust under the plan will be determined based upon the performance of the Funds in which the amounts are invested.

The cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of investment securities (excluding short-term securities) during the year ended December 31, 2020 were as follows:

Davis Selected Advisers-NY, Inc. (“DSA-NY”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Adviser, acts as sub-adviser to the Funds. DSA-NY performs research and portfolio management services for the Funds under a Sub-Advisory Agreement with the Adviser. The Funds pay no fees directly to DSA-NY.

All officers of the Funds (including Interested Directors) hold positions as executive officers with the Adviser or its affiliates.

As of December 31, 2020, related shareholders with greater than 20% of outstanding shares were as follows:

Investment activities of this shareholder could have a material impact on the Fund.

Investment Advisory Fees and Reimbursement of Expenses - Advisory fees are paid monthly to the Adviser. The annual rate for Selected American Shares is 0.55% of the average net assets for the first $3 billion, 0.54% on the next $1 billion, 0.53% on the next $1 billion, 0.52% on the next $1 billion, 0.51% on the next $1 billion, 0.50% on the next $3 billion, and 0.485% of the average net assets in excess of $10 billion. Advisory fees paid during the year ended December 31, 2020 approximated 0.55% of the average net assets for Selected American Shares. The fixed annual rate for Selected International Fund is 0.55% of the average net assets. The Adviser was contractually committed to waive fees and/or reimburse Selected International Fund’s expenses to the extent necessary to cap total annual Fund operating expenses (Class S shares, 1.15%) until May 1, 2021. Effective October 1, 2020, the cap on total annual fund operating expenses for each share class is: Class S shares, 1.05%, and class D shares, 0.80%, until May 1, 2022. After that date, there is no assurance that the Adviser will continue to cap expenses. The expense cap cannot be terminated prior to that date without the consent of the Board of Directors. During the year ended December 31, 2020, such reimbursements for Class S and Class D of Selected International Fund amounted to $25,831 and $8,869, respectively, and are not subject to future recoupment.

Transfer Agent and Accounting Fees - DST Asset Manager Solutions, Inc. is the Funds’ primary transfer agent. The Adviser is also paid for certain transfer agent services. The fees paid to the Adviser during the year ended December 31, 2020 were $158,647 and $13,939 for Selected American Shares and Selected International Fund, respectively. State Street Bank and Trust Company (“State Street Bank”) is the Funds’ primary accounting provider. Fees for such services are included in the custodian fees as State Street Bank also serves as the Funds’ custodian.

Distribution Service Fees - For services under the distribution agreement, the Funds’ Class S shares pay an annual fee of 0.25% of average daily net assets. During the year ended December 31, 2020, Selected American Shares and Selected International Fund incurred distribution service fees totaling $1,329,364 and $19,374, respectively.

There are no distribution service fees for the Funds’ Class D shares.

At December 31, 2020, there were 600 million shares of capital stock of Selected American Shares ($1.25 par value per share) and 50 million shares of capital stock of Selected International Fund ($0.25 par value per share) authorized. Transactions in capital stock were as follows:

The Funds have entered into a securities lending arrangement with State Street Bank. Under the terms of the agreement, the Funds receive fee income from lending transactions; in exchange for such fees, State Street Bank is authorized to loan securities on behalf of the Funds, against receipt of collateral at least equal to the value of the securities loaned. As of December 31, 2020, the Funds did not have any securities on loan. The Funds bear the risk of any deficiency in the amount of the collateral available for return to a borrower due to a loss in an approved investment.

Restricted securities are not registered under the Securities Act of 1933 and may have contractual restrictions on resale. They are fair valued under methods approved by the Board of Directors. The aggregate value of restricted securities in Selected American Shares amounted to $52,317,386 or 2.85% of the Fund’s net assets as of December 31, 2020. The aggregate value of restricted securities in Selected International Fund amounted to $5,197,134 or 6.17% of the Fund’s net assets as of December 31, 2020. Information regarding restricted securities is as follows:

The rapid and global spread of a highly contagious novel coronavirus respiratory disease, COVID-19, has resulted in extreme volatility in the financial markets and severe losses; reduced liquidity of many instruments; significant disruptions to business operations (including business closures); disruptions to supply chains, consumer demand and employee availability; and widespread uncertainty regarding the duration and long-term effects of this pandemic. Some sectors of the economy and individual issuers have experienced particularly large losses. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic may result in a sustained economic downturn or a global recession. The ultimate economic fallout from the pandemic, and the long-term impact on economies, markets, industries and individual issuers, are not known. The COVID-19 pandemic could adversely affect the value and liquidity of a fund’s investments, impair a fund’s ability to satisfy redemption requests, and negatively impact fund performance. In addition, the outbreak of COVID-19, and measures taken to mitigate its effects, could result in disruptions to the services provided to a fund by its service providers.

In early 2021, shareholders received information regarding all dividends and distributions paid to them by the Funds during the calendar year 2020. Regulations of the U.S. Treasury Department require the Funds to report this information to the Internal Revenue Service.

The information and distributions reported herein may differ from the information reported as distributions taxable to certain shareholders for the calendar year 2020 with their 2020 Form 1099-DIV.

The information is presented to assist shareholders in reporting dividends and distributions received from the Funds to the Internal Revenue Service. Because of the complexity of the federal regulations that may affect your individual tax return and the many variations in state and local tax regulations, we recommend that you consult your tax adviser for specific guidance.

Each Fund designates the following amounts distributed during the calendar year ended December 31, 2020, if any, as dividends eligible for the corporate dividends-received deduction, qualified dividend income, and long-term capital gain distributions.

*Selected American Shares designated long-term capital gain distributions in the amount of $41,791,187. The Fund utilized equalization accounting for tax purposes, whereby a portion of redemption payments were treated as distributions of long-term capital gain.

While you generally will be dealing with a broker-dealer or other financial adviser, we may collect information about you from your account application and other forms that you may deliver to us. We use this information to process your requests and transactions; for example, to provide you with additional information about our Funds, to open an account for you, or to process a transaction. In order to service your account and execute your transactions, we may provide your personal information to firms that assist us in servicing your account, such as our transfer agent. We may also provide your name and address to one of our agents for the purpose of mailing to you your account statement and other information about our products and services. We may also gather information through the use of “cookies” when you visit our website. These files help us to recognize repeat visitors and allow easy access to and use of the website. We require these outside firms and agents to protect the confidentiality of your information and to use the information only for the purpose for which the disclosure is made. We do not provide customer names and addresses to outside firms, organizations, or individuals except in furtherance of our business relationship with you or as otherwise allowed by law.

We restrict access to nonpublic personal information about you to those employees who need to know that information to provide products or services to you. We maintain physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards that comply with federal standards to guard your personal information.

The Funds may, on occasion, mail notices, reports, prospectuses, or proxy material to shareholders. To avoid sending duplicate copies of materials to households, the Funds will mail only one copy of these items to shareholders having the same last name and address on the Funds’ records. The consolidation of these mailings, called householding, benefits the Funds through reduced mailing expense. If you have a direct account with the Funds and you do not want the mailing of these documents to be combined with those to other members of your household, please contact Selected Funds by phone at 1-800-243-1575. Your instructions will become effective within 30 days of your notice to the Funds.